Crescenta Valley football rushes to victory in opener over Verdugo Hills

TUJUNGA — Playing for the first time this season and since winning a CIF Southern Section Southeast Division championship last year, there were plenty of eyes on the Crescenta Valley High football team Thursday night.

Though a first game isn’t always a good precursor to the rest of the season, it’s clear some things have changed as the Falcons shook off some sloppy play and were carried by their rushing attack, as junior running back Brandon Beardt had 12 carries for 106 yards and two of his team’s five rushing touchdowns in a 37-17 nonleague win over host Verdugo Hills of the City Section.

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“We definitely need to improve on some things offensive and defensively,” said Beardt, who scored on a six-yard run in the second quarter to put the Falcons up, 21-7, and then sealed the game in the fourth with a 19-yard sprint for the final score. “Overall, we played our hearts out and had a great game.”

Crescenta Valley (1-0), ranked seventh in the Southeast Division, has now won three in a row against Verdugo Hills (0-1), seven straight nonleague games and 16 consecutive overall.

“The biggest thing that stood out was the physicalness,” said Falcons Coach Paul Schilling, who watched as four injury timeouts were called for the Dons, though none appeared serious. “Their guys were dropping and our guys were hitting.”

It came as the Falcons churned out 278 yards and five rushing touchdowns on 35 carries.

Bostin Lakin, who had 134 total yards (two carries for 79 yards, two catches for 55 yards) took the first play from scrimmage 73 yards to the house. Quarterback Tyler Hill also had two rushing touchdowns, finishing with 14 carries for 57 yards (he recovered two bad snaps for negative 34 yards) and completed six of 13 passes for 119 yards and two interceptions.

“For Ty, you gotta remember, this was his first game at quarterback,” said Schilling of Hill, who was an All-CIF safety last season.

Crescenta Valley’s defense was also staunch for the most part, forcing three turnovers, turning in five sacks and holding the Dons to 103 total yards.

However, the Falcons did stumble a bit in the second half and overall with penalties, two turnovers and two bad snaps.

Crescenta Valley started the game with Lakin’s touchdown scamper and the Dons tied it at 7 later in the first quarter on a two-yard sneak by Adam Moreno, though the drive came to be off an interception, while two penalties for 30 yards took up a major chunk of the 46-yard drive.

The Falcons then ran, while stopping the Dons in their tracks.

Verdugo Hills was held to 28 total yards in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Falcons scored on their final four drives of the half.

A 32-yard field goal by Alex Atanackovic for a 24-7 lead was the only touchdown respite for the Dons.

Before that, Hill had a one-yard sneak with seven seconds left in the first quarter to end a drive in which Beardt had six carries for 48 yards.

A 21-7 lead came to be with 8:17 left off Beardt’s first score.

CV’s final offensive drive of the half culminated with a 31-7 lead after another Hill one-yard sneak.

Verdugo Hills, using a ball-control offense and taking advantage of a CV turnover, cut the score to 31-17 with 11:06 to go in the game.

But a great 36-yard run by Hill started the ensuing drive and two players later, Beardt sealed the win.

“Everything’s new,” Schilling said. “It was OK. It’ll get better.”