Through two Pacific League games, the Crescenta Valley High football team’s defense is proving to be simply suffocating.
A week after shutting out Glendale, a quick and hard-hitting Falcons defense caused havoc for Hoover in Friday’s league contest.
Crescenta Valley limited Hoover to just 143 yards of total offense in a 45-7 victory at Moyse Field.
“We have great coaches,” said Crescenta Valley inside linebacker Brandon Beardt, who helped the Falcons defeat Glendale, 52-0, a week prior. “We just execute. We’re a good team and we have good chemistry.”
1/17
Crescenta Valley’s Brandon Beardt runs through the Hoover defense in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
2/17
Crescenta Valley receiver Andrew Traber runs with the ball after a catch against Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
3/17
Crescenta Valley’s Brandon Beardt walks into the endzone to score against Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
4/17
Hoover’s Andrew Rangel his hit by Crescenta Valley’s Will Rees and fumbles the ball out of bounds against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
5/17
Hoover’s Maurice Herrera runs inside against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
6/17
Hoover’s Quinton Smith runs for short yardage against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
7/17
Hoover’s Quinton Smith is hit, then hit again helmet-to-helmet resulting in a penalty against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
8/17
Crescenta Valley’s Will Rees, in the endzone, looks back for a pass as Hoover’s Maurice Herrera pulls on his jersey resulting in pass interference in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
9/17
Hoover’s leaders with the American Flag and the Hoover High School flag get tied up in the paper they are working on running through before their game against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
10/17
Crescenta Valley’s team runs onto the field for their game against Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
11/17
Crescenta Valley’s Joe Suh, on the first play of the game, is hit and fumbles the ball away to Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
12/17
Crescenta Valley’s Joe Suh breaks a tackle by Hoover’s Jordan Richardson in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
13/17
Crescenta Valley’s quarterback Cole Doyle turns to pass against Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
14/17
Hoover’s Quinton Smith on a run against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
15/17
Crescenta Valley’s Brandon Beardt runs with the ball against Hoover in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
16/17
Hoover’s Quinton Smith runs into the hole his blockers created against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
17/17
Hoover’s Andrew Rangel runs on a quarterback keeper against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League football game at Glendale High School on Friday, September 30, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
Beardt, along with linebacker Tyler Hill and defensive end Brian Erickson, among others, shut down the Tornadoes, who had trouble finding holes in their running schemes. Additionally, the Tornadoes barely had time to get a pass off as the Falcons consistently applied pressure while finishing with eight sacks, three from Hill.
“We have very good athletes playing defense,” Crescenta Valley defensive coordinator Dennis Gossard said. “They all run, they all play hard and they are all athletes.”
The only score the Falcons surrendered was a 39-yard scoring strike that quarterback Andrew Rangel threw to Maurice Herrera with 1:24 to play in the game, when Crescenta Valley was playing its reserves.
“They have a really good defense,” said Hoover Coach Matt Andersen, whose team will meet Burbank, one of the favorites to win league, on Friday at Burroughs’ Memorial Field. “They’re physical, they hit hard, they’re well-coached and they’re quick.”
The Falcons, who will next play host Muir on Friday, had an impressive on the offensive side of the ball, too.
Crescenta Valley (4-1, 2-0 in league) — ranked seventh in CIF Southern Section Division VI — needed just more than a quarter to begin pulling away from the Tornadoes (3-2, 0-2).
The Falcons scored 31 first-half points, including 28 in the second quarter. Beardt had three of his team’s first-half scores, with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs and a 41-yard interception return for a score. He finished with five receptions for 58 yards.
Crescenta Valley quarterback Cole Doyle completed 16 of 21 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Will Rees hauled in a 48-yard touchdown pass and Andrew Traber had two scores, a 10- and 18-yard touchdown catch.
The Falcons finished with 372 yards of total offense as 17 players had a rush or a reception.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Traber said. “We can spread it around the field.”
