Game of the Week: Glendale looking to end La Cañada’s recent dominance

As first-year coaches, George Maiale and Ryan Zerbel are both obviously new to the Glendale-La Cañada matchup. It’s a contest that’s seen the Spartans have the upper hand, going 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.

Maiale will look to turn the tide while piloting Glendale and Zerbel will seek to extend La Cañada’s recent stretch of dominance when the teams kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Glendale High’s Moyse Field.

“I know that we’ll expect to see a physical game,” Maiale said. “La Cañada likes to come after people and their defense flies around.”

Glendale opened its season Friday with a 27-17 nonleague road win against San Gabriel. The Nitros have lost two straight games against the Spartans, including a 20-0 road defeat last season. Glendale last topped La Cañada in 2012, when it recorded a 21-3 win.

The Nitros will look to go 2-0 for the first time since 2008, when they finished 6-4.

“We have some things we can build from the San Gabriel game,” Maiale said. “We found ourselves in a physical game against San Gabriel, so we think that can help us this game.”

Glendale quarterback Tyler Artavia had a fine game rushing. Making his first varsity start, Artavia rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries.

After opening its season Aug. 28 with a 33-6 nonleague home win against Verbum Dei, La Cañada suffered a 27-0 nonleague road defeat against Salesian on Friday. The Spartans collected just 126 yards of total offense against Salesian and struggled on special teams. The Spartans missed three field-goal opportunities and gave up a punt return for a touchdown.

“We left some points out there in a game I thought we played very hard for three quarters,” Zerbel said. “Those are things that we can work on at practice and let’s see how we can respond.

“Glendale will be tough because they are coming off a win and it’s their home opener. [Artavia] is a pretty good quarterback and he can spread them out, so we’ll have to make adjustments.”

Golden Valley vs. Crescenta Valley at Moyse Field, 7 p.m. Thursday: The Falcons, who won the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division championship last season, will play their first home game of the season. Crescenta Valley began the season Sept. 3 with a 37-17 intersectional win against Verdugo Hills.

Crescenta Valley was led by a superb running attack. Running back Brandon Beardt rushed for 106 yards in 12 carries and two touchdowns. The Falcons finished with five rushing scores.

Bostin Lakin collected 134 total yards, including a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Tyler Hill rushed for two touchdowns and completed six of 13 passes for 119 yards.

On defense, the Falcons forced three turnovers and came up with five sacks while limiting Verdugo Hills to 103 yards of total offense. The Falcons have won 16 straight games and are 19-1 in their last 20 contests, dating back to 2013.

Crescenta Valley will seek to topple Golden Valley for the second straight season. The Falcons picked up a 48-25 road win in 2014.

Golden Valley started its season by splitting its first two games. After opening with a 23-6 nonleague home win against Antelope Valley, Golden Valley suffered a 31-26 nonleague road defeat against Royal on Friday. Quarterback Victor Corona completed 25 of 38 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns and wide receiver Julian Torres collected seven receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns against Royal.

Moorpark at St. Francis, 7 p.m. Friday: St. Francis began its season on the right note Friday with a convincing 36-24 nonleague home win against West Covina.

The Golden Knights saw quarterback Miles Bryant complete 16 of 21 passes for 243 yards against West Covina. They also got a big performance from wide receiver Jasher Foster, who finished with seven catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. The Golden Knights, who won the Angelus League championship last season, registered 11 sacks. The final came by way of a safety in the final minute.

St. Francis will meet Moorpark for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Golden Knights notched a 50-24 road win.

The Musketeers (2-0) have posted nonleague home victories against Quartz Hills and Palos Verdes so far. They recorded a 28-6 win against Palos Verdes on Friday. Moorpark has allowed just six points in its first two games. Moorpark led, 14-3, at halftime and scored a touchdown in the third quarter to extended its lead to 21-3.

Hoover at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. Friday: The Tornadoes enter their final nonleague matchup fresh off ending a nine-game losing streak with a 42-18 intersection home win against Sotomayor on Sept. 3. Hoover (1-1) will look to win two games in a row for the first time since 2012, when it opened the season at 2-0.

Hoover is 3-7 in its last 10 meetings against South Pasadena, including a 39-0 loss in 2014 at home. Hoover’s last victory against South Pasadena came in 2012, when it posted a 33-28 home win.

Against Sotomayor, Hoover received a big effort from running back Calvin Lopez, who rushed for 115 yards in six carries, including a 58-yard touchdown run. The Tornadoes finished with 410 yards of total offense. Maurice Herrera rolled up 122 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. James Tumbucon (92 yards rushing and a touchdown) and Ryan Williams (79 yards and one touchdown) also had big efforts against Sotomayor.

Under first-year coach CB Richards, South Pasadena opened its season Saturday on the road with a 31-28 nonleague win against Santa Clarita Christian. The Tigers scored 17 second-half points and held off a late comeback bid by Santa Clarita Christian in the closing minutes.

Flintridge Prep vs. Blair at Muir High, 7 p.m. Friday: Flintridge Prep (1-1) encountered a rough patch Saturday in a 48-26 nonleague home loss against La Jolla Country Day at Occidental College. Flintridge Prep’s defense gave up five touchdowns on just 13 total plays in the opening 24 minutes.

Flintridge Prep quarterback Andrew Tsangeos rushed for 78 yards in 16 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. He completed 10 of 26 passes for 169 yards.

Flintridge Prep will compete in its first road game of the season and look to get back on track against Blair (0-2). The Rebels posted a 45-0 nonleague home win against Blair at Occidental last season.

The Vikings have been blanked in their first two games. They opened with a 54-0 loss against Santa Clarita Christian before suffering a 77-0 defeat Friday against La Salle. Blair has been shut out in six of its last 12 games, dating back to the Flintridge Prep contest.