Crescenta Valley Loses but Still Makes Playoffs

Crescenta Valley High had control of its postseason destiny in a Pacific League football finale Friday night.

For a few plays, at least.

That’s about how long it took Arcadia to flex the collective muscle that earned the team a No. 2 ranking in the Southern Section Division II. Crescenta Valley was unable to cope with a punishing ground game and fell to the Apaches, 38-13, at Glendale High.

The loss forced Crescenta Valley (6-4 overall, 2-3 in league play) to bank on Muir to beat Pasadena in order to make the playoffs as a third-place team. Muir obliged, 27-0, allowing the Falcons to back in.

In addition to Arcadia’s high-powered rushing attack, quarterback Gino Aluzzi completed six of 10 passes for 156 yards and touchdowns of 73, seven and 28 yards.

Tailback Tim Pescatello touched the ball just 12 times but gained 128 yards and scored once.

Although his team had not made the playoffs since 1986, Crescenta Valley Coach Jim Beckenhauer was disappointed.

“It’s not the loss. We just came out flat,” he said. “We’ve been doing that too much lately.”

Despite throwing two interceptions, one of which was returned 70 yards for a score, Crescenta Valley’s Ryan Kadletz completed eight of 21 for 153 yards.

The performance gives Kadletz 1,108 passing yards, making him the first Falcon quarterback in eight seasons to surpass 1,000 yards, according to Beckenhauer.

Aluzzi capped his performance with a 28-yard scoring pass to Nick Paredes midway through the fourth quarter.

Tailback Javier Pimental, who led the Falcons with 58 yards in nine carries, scored from the Arcadia one in the third quarter to trim Arcadia’s lead to 31-13.

Kadletz hit Aaron Erikson on a slant pattern in the second quarter and Erikson was able to cut across field from the Apache 29 to account for Crescenta Valley’s first touchdown.

The play cut Arcadia’s lead to 10-7.