Undefeated Glendale, La Cañada High football set to clash

The following are previews of the area’s upcoming high school football games this week.

Through the early stages of the season, there’s a lot for Glendale High football third-year Coach John Tuttle and La Cañada first-year Coach Ramses Lambert to be pleased with regarding their unbeaten teams. One thing that stands out is the ability for the Nitros and Spartans to force turnovers and capitalize on their opponents’ miscues.

Now, Glendale (1-0) and La Cañada (2-0) will get a crack at each other when the teams meet in a nonleague game at 7 p.m. Friday at La Cañada.

“Our defense has done a very good job at making the big plays and keeping us in games,” said Lambert, whose team forced five turnovers in a 23-7 nonleague victory against Alhambra on Sept. 4. “Getting those turnovers proved to be a huge difference.

“It’s a combination of things in why we’ve been able to win our first two games. First of all, we are well-conditioned and they trust the game plan and system.”

Glendale began its season Friday with a convincing 35-0 nonleague road win against San Gabriel.

“We came up with some big plays,” Tuttle said. “We know we have to continue to do that against La Cañada and we know we can’t turn the ball over against them.”

The Spartans, who qualified for the playoffs last season, encountered some difficulties on offense in the first half against Alhambra. They finished with 19 first-half yards of offense before getting back on track in the second half. La Cañada scored all of its points in a five-minute span in the third quarter, including a one-yard touchdown run by running back Anthony Connell that gave the Spartans a 14-7 lead. Connell finished with a pair of touchdowns. The Spartans also received a rushing touchdown from Ryan Breneman.

Lambert said he expects Glendale to provide La Cañada with a good test.

“They will be a quality opponent,” Lambert said. “They have some explosive players and they are coming off a big win, so we see it as a challenge.”

Glendale appeared sharp in most areas on offense against San Gabriel. It got big performances from the trio of running backs Daniel Jung and Luis Ruiz and wide receiver Ricky Loudermill. Ruiz finished with 123 yards rushing in 10 carries and two touchdowns.

Jung collected 50 yards rushing in nine carries and one touchdown. Loudermill had four catches for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We have some things we have to clean up overall,” Tuttle said. “Coach Lambert has done a good job and they play hard for him.”

The Spartans have gotten the better of the series since 2004, going 7-2-1 and posting shutout wins in 2004 and 2009. La Cañada picked up a 27-20 win at Glendale last season after Glendale posted a 21-3 victory in 2012 at La Cañada.

Flintridge Prep vs. Brethren Christian at Ocean View High, 7 p.m. Thursday: After splitting its first two nonleague contests at home at Occidental College, Flintridge Prep (1-1) will take part in its first road game. The Rebels will do so having one less day to prepare following a 42-14 nonleague defeat against Brentwood on Friday.

Flintridge Prep will look to get back on track after yielding 516 yards of total offense against Brentwood, including 328 in the first half. Flintridge Prep quarterback Andrew Tsangeos completed nine passes for 67 yards and rushed for a touchdown against Brentwood and teammate Derek Okuno rushed for 119 yards in 10 carries and scored a touchdown.

Brethren Christian is 2-0, though it won its latest game via forfeit. The Warriors originally lost to Whittier Christian on Thursday, but Whittier Christian was deemed to have used an ineligible player, thus giving the Warriors the win. Brethren Christian, coached by former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Pat McInally, has a balanced offensive attack. Brethren Christian quarterback Conner Miller completed 19 of 32 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns against Whittier Christian. Running back Andrew Assaf rushed for 160 yards in 23 carries and wide receiver Guy Demazeliere finished with six catches for 118 yards.

St. Francis at Moorpark, 7 p.m. Friday: St. Francis, ranked No. 1 in the latest CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll, opened its season Friday with a convincing 41-7 nonleague home win against Chino.

St. Francis senior quarterback Jeremiah Martin, making his first start at the varsity level, tossed three touchdown passes and running back Areg Nazarian ran for three first-half touchdowns to derail Chino. St. Francis scored all of its points in the first half. Martin completed 11 of 18 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns before being removed at halftime. Nazarian also competed only in the first half, finishing with 128 yards rushing in nine carries.

The Golden Knights, who reached the semifinals last season for the first time since 2005, figure to have a stiffer test against Moorpark (2-0). Moorpark overcame a 17-0 deficit to post a 24-20 victory against host Palos Verdes on Friday.

The Musketeers will look to counter St. Francis’ offense by turning to running back Manny Gutierrez, who had 97 yards rushing in 22 carries and one touchdown, and quarterback Nick Clarke, who completed 10 of 17 for 177 yards and two touchdowns against Palos Verdes.

Crescenta Valley vs. Golden Valley at Canyon Country Canyon High, 7 p.m. Friday: Behind a high-powered offensive attack that included three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Brian Gadsby, the Falcons, ranked ninth in the latest CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll, rolled to a season-opening 55-14 intersection home win against Verdugo Hills on Sept. 4. Gadsby completed 21 of 34 yards for 311 yards and added a rushing score. The Falcons also received a 99-yard interception return by Jordan Lobianco that began the scoring.

Connor Van Ginkel had nine receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown for the Falcons, who got five catches for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns from Chase Walker.

Crescenta Valley would gladly take similar numbers against Golden Valley, which dropped to 1-1 following a 29-14 nonleague defeat against Royal on Friday.

Golden Valley quarterback Erik Zarate completed 13 of 22 passes for 124 yards.

South Pasadena vs. Hoover at Glendale High’s Moyse Field, 7 p.m. Friday: The Tornadoes snapped a nine-game winning streak with a 26-12 intersection home victory against Sotomayor on Friday. Hoover (1-1) will remain home for the third consecutive week.

Hoover turned to its running game in regrouping following a season-opening defeat against Hollywood. Seniors Davit Nersisyan and Elijah Augustine combined to rush for 239 yards and three touchdowns to turn back Sotomayor. Nersisyan finished with 136 yards rushing and Augustine added 103.

South Pasadena began its season Friday with a 22-7 intersection home defeat against Eagle Rock on Friday. South Pasadena held a 7-0 halftime lead before Eagle Rock rallied in the second half.

The Tigers have won four straight contests against the Tornadoes, including a 21-7 victory at home last season. Hoover’s last win against South Pasadena came in 2009, when it notched a 16-13 victory.