When you carry an unbeaten record to this point of a high school football season, you are going to get the best shot out of the next team on your schedule just looking to pin that first loss on your record.

Consider that another challenge San Pedro High football plans to adapt to... and conquer.

This time it came from the form of a scrappy University of Los Angeles team that looked to use their speed to their advantage, and to a certain extent, it worked for a half on both ends of the field. However, the host Pirates were able to stave off the Wildcats and win, 30-14 in a nonleague battle at Pirate Stadium to remain undefeated at 4-0 thus far in the 2014 season.

San Pedro overcame two first half turnovers and inconsistent offensive play, but the defense once again stood their ground when it mattered most, plus it got inspired all-around play from junior RB/DE Donte Huddleston that allowed the Pirates to pull away from University (1-3).

Junior quarterback Jacob Miller was intercepted by University sophomore Monterrieo Wynn Jr., who read a pass intended for San Pedro sophomore wide receiver Raymond Geha and returned it 39 yards to set up a first-and-goal from the nine-yard line, and four plays later, junior quarterback Paul Davis' two-yard sneak on fourth-and-goal put the Wildcats up, 7-0 with 1:36 left in the first quarter.

The Pirates would cash in when a lateral pass from Davis was dropped and recovered by Huddleston. It took three runs by senior running back Chris Alvidrez of 36 yards to set up Huddleston's five-yard touchdown that evened the score at 7-7 with 8:16 remaining in the second quarter. University would reclaim the lead at 14-7 when senior WR/CB Michael Clay scooped up an Alvidrez fumble and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown with 4:46 left.

It would not take Miller and San Pedro long to respond, as Huddleston snuck out of the backfield and was left completely uncontested before Miller hit him with a perfect pass over the middle. Huddleston would out-race everyone en route to a 67-yard touchdown, and another tied score at 14-14 with 3:06 to play in the second.

University would drive down to San Pedro's three-yard line on the final possession of the first half, but senior kicker Edson Garcia badly hooked an easy 20-yard field goal as time expired, leaving the score tied at halftime.

The San Pedro defense forced a three-and-out on the first offensive possession of the third quarter, forcing a punt by University junior Roman Gonzalez, and that's when Huddleston would strike again, cutting through Wildcat blockers to block the punt and the ball sailed out of the end zone for a safety, and San Pedro's first lead at 16-14 with 10:18 to play in the quarter.

Huddleston's blocked punt completely turned the tide in the Pirates' favor, as the defense held University to 52 yards of offense in the second half, and stopping the Wildcats on downs twice.

Alvidrez's two touchdowns of four and five yards in the fourth quarter would be enough to seal the victory for San Pedro, who will play their final nonleague game of the season on Thursday at Fairfax of Los Angeles in a CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I first round playoff rematch. 

Alvidrez ran for a game-high 171 yards on 22 carries for San Pedro, while Miller, battling a fever, only completed 3-of-9 passes for 88 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

(Note: Photo by Vince Pirozzi)