Erickson Provides Late Spark to Ignite Glendale to 14-7 All-Star Football Win

Aaron Erickson of Crescenta Valley High caught only two passes Saturday night in the second Glendale-Burbank All-Star Football Game at La Canada High, but they were key receptions.

Erickson, running a post pattern, hauled in a seven-yard touchdown toss from Chris Bisgaard of Flintridge Prep late in the third quarter to lift Glendale to a 14-7 win.

“I was telling them that I could beat them on the play,” said Erickson, who was named the Glendale team’s most valuable player, “and it ended up working.”

Earlier in the seven-play drive, the Glendale College-bound Erickson pulled down a Bisgaard pass to complete a 40-yard play that moved the ball to the Burbank nine. Two plays later, Erickson caught what proved to be the deciding score.

“(Erickson) showed a lot of determination to make those catches,” Bisgaard said. “He really did a job and ran some great patterns. There’s not much more you can ask for.”

Bisgaard, playing in his first 11-man game, completed only three of eight passes, the other being a 27-yard pass to Flintridge Prep teammate David Swayne (two receptions, 47 yards).

“The field is wider and there are more options (in 11-man football),” Bisgaard said. “It makes it a lot easier to hit receivers.”

Bisgaard and Swayne, who is bound for Duke, helped lead Flintridge Prep to the Eight-Man Southern Section Large-Schools title last fall.

Paul Traughber of La Canada led the Glendale ground game, picking up 50 yards in 12 carries, including two five-yard runs with less than two minutes to play to help preserve the victory.

Montclair Prep’s Greg Coile, playing for Burbank, led all rushers with 62 yards in 10 carries. He had runs of 29 and 23 yards in the first half.

After a scoreless first quarter, Greg Andrachick of Notre Dame gave Burbank a 7-0 lead early in the second period with a 1-yard quarterback sneak to culminate an 11-play, four-and-a-half minute drive.

Chris Afarian of Notre Dame kicked the extra point.

Di’Allo Frazier of Van Nuys set up Andrachick’s run with a seven-yard scamper.

After being stopped at the line of scrimmage, Frazier broke away from the grasp of several defenders to make his way to the Glendale two.

Kevin Hurley of St. Francis set up the Glendale’s first score with a 51-yard punt return to the Burbank 16.

Three plays later, Santiago Alvarez of Franklin scored on a five-yard run down the left sideline with 2 minutes 51 seconds left before intermission. Ross Allan of La Canada added the extra point.

The game featured seniors from 26 area high schools.

The inaugural game ended in a 19-19 tie.