Vaqueros Bounce Back After Slow Start

Is Glendale College football back in business? Coach Jim Sartoris thinks so.

After dropping their first four games, the Vaqueros knocked off Hancock, 24-14, and Ventura, 28-15.

Three weeks into Western State Conference play, Glendale is 2-1. Finally.

“We have always felt that we were a good team,” Sartoris said. “But we weren’t making the big plays at the right time in some of the games we lost.”

On Saturday against Ventura, quarterback Chris Smith hit receiver Brian Kaloustian for a big gain at the right time--twice.

Smith and Kaloustian hooked up for touchdown passes of 80 and 51 yards. The former Burroughs High receiver ended the game with three receptions for 169 yards.

“Brian is a big-play guy,” Sartoris said. “It’s unfortunate that we haven’t been able to get him the ball more often.”

Kaloustian can thank Vaquero receiver Tuffy Reynolds, who was hampered by knee and foot problems. Reynolds had been the team’s receiving leader with an average of 20.3 yards a reception.

Before the Ventura game, Kaloustian had caught only two passes for 19 yards.

Add Glendale: Smith finally got to taste victory Saturday. After playing quarterback in the Vaqueros’ first four games--all losses--he missed the Hancock win with an injured shoulder. Freshman Keith Fitzgerald replaced Smith and completed 10 of 21 passes for 156 yards.

After missing Glendale’s first victory, Smith was hungry for a win.

“I know that in the back of his mind he was really hoping he could play in a win,” Sartoris said.

Against Ventura, Smith completed 12 of 22 passes for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Pumping Pumphrey: Glendale College running back Donnel Pumphrey rushed 16 times for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns Saturday. He has 540 yards this season with three games left.

Foot failure: With the help of Van Nuys kicker Fred Bryant, Verdugo Hills High won its first game of the season, 28-27, last Friday. Bryant missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt with five seconds left.

Add Verdugo Hills: Quarterback Darren Fitzgerald completed 10 of 22 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns for Verdugo Hills. Fitzgerald connected with wide receiver Amir Khalighi for touchdowns of two and seven yards. Running back Matt Fryer gained 98 yards on 23 carries and had 2 touchdowns.

Games to watch: Glendale will play host to Arcadia on Thursday night at 7:30.

On Friday at 7:30 p.m., St. Francis visits St. John Bosco, Crescenta Valley meets Muir at Glendale High and Monrovia visits La Canada. On Friday at 3 p.m., Verdugo Hills plays host to Belmont, Eagle Rock visits Lincoln and Marshall visits Hollywood.

On Saturday, Pater Noster plays host to Capistrano Valley Christian at 1:45 p.m., Hoover plays Pasadena at Pasadena City College at 7:30 p.m. and Franklin plays host to Narbonne at 8 p.m.