Hoover High football handed season-opening loss by Hollywood

GLENDALE — After one game, Hoover High second-year football Coach Matt Andersen isn’t about to panic.

Hoover started its campaign Thursday night, looking to win its third straight season-opening game and end an eight-game losing streak.

Unfortunately for Hoover, it had a tough time getting on track, as it managed just 122 yards of total offense en route to a 35-7 defeat against Hollywood in an intersectional game at Glendale High’s Moyse Field.

“We won’t panic,” Andersen said. “We’ll get back and get ready for our next game.

“We are dealing with some injuries right now and we are carrying about 23 players. We’ll look to regroup and get our offense on track.”

Hollywood received three touchdowns from Reese Rothenberg to turn back the Tornadoes. He caught touchdown passes of 17, 36 and 20 yards from quarterback Spiro Grammenos, the final two coming in the second half.

The Sheiks saw Grammenos complete eight of nine passes for 154 yards. They also had two rushing touchdowns from Tyree Moore.

Hoover scored its lone touchdown on a nine-yard run by Davit Nersisyan with 3:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Hoover did have a bright spot in running back Elijah Augustine, who rushed for 49 yards in 14 carries. The senior had a 56-yard touchdown run called back following a holding penalty with 9:01 left in the second quarter that would have pulled the Tornadoes to within 14-7.

“Elijah ran hard and he’s got great vision,” Andersen said. “He was definitely a plus for us and it’s too bad he had that run called back because of the penalty.”

The Sheiks scored on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by Moore with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

Hollywood, which qualified for the L.A. City Section playoffs last season, stretched the advantage to 14-0 on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Grammenos to Rothenberg with 9:56 to play in the second quarter.

Hoover appeared to get back in the game on the ensuing possession with Augustine’s apparent touchdown, but the Tornadoes’ offense stalled after the score was called back.

Hollywood had a touchdown also called back with 2:08 to play in the first half. A 60-yard pass from Grammenos to Rothenberg was brought back because of an illegal procedure penalty. However, the Sheiks regrouped two plays later, when Moore scored on a 17-yard run to make it 21-0 with 1:41 left in the second quarter.

A 36-yard touchdown reception by Rothenberg raised the lead to 28-0 with 5:19 to go in the third quarter. He then hauled in a 20-yard pass for a score to make it 35-0 with 11:48 left in the fourth quarter before Nersisyan closed out the scoring.

Rothenberg finished with five catches for 94 yards.

Andersen said the Tornadoes will have a little extra time to regroup.

“We’ll watch film and try to work on some different things,” Andersen said.

Hoover quarterback Vaughn Parawan completed six of 13 passes for 54 yards. Hoover wide receiver Johnny Johnson caught four passes for 34 yards.

Hoover will next compete in another intersectional home contest against Sotomayor at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Moyse.
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Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich .