Pasadena Looms as Stern Challenge for Rucker and Unbeaten Glendale : Prep football: Marmonte League foes Thousand Oaks, Camarillo to match running games in another key matchup.

Glendale High passed what Coach Don Shoemaker said would be the Dynamiters’ first major test of the season against Arcadia last week.

With Pathon Rucker rushing for 284 yards and scoring five touchdowns, Glendale rolled up 426 yards on the ground in a 56-7 rout of the defending Pacific League football champion.

The Dynamiters (6-0, 1-0 in league play), are off to their best start in more than 20 years and are in contention for their first league title in 10 years. But Glendale, ranked eighth in the Southern Section Division II poll, faces a second stern test tonight when it meets Pasadena (3-3, 1-0) at home at 7:30.

“They’re an explosive team,” Glendale Coach Don Shoemaker said of Pasadena. “They possess a lot of speed and have the capability to break big plays.”

Rucker has been aided by the blocking of fullbacks Hector Maya and Kyiamo-Waki Jones and an offensive line made up of underclassmen with the exception of senior Alberto Ocon.

“We’re aware of Rucker and what he can do,” Pasadena Coach Gary Griffiths said. “Their fullbacks are very solid players and Rucker wouldn’t have been able to do as much without them.”

Pasadena, which defeated Hoover, 33-17, in its league opener, has been paced by running backs Mario Gulley and Jhayson Hall. Gulley rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns against Hoover. Hall has run for 604 yards and five touchdowns this season.

However, Gulley, Hall and lineman Seth Braithwaite (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) have been hampered by lingering injuries and may not play tonight.

In another game tonight, two Marmonte League teams with powerful rushing attacks will collide when Thousand Oaks plays host to Camarillo at 7:30.

Camarillo has lost five consecutive games to Thousand Oaks and has been shut out in three of them.

“Thousand Oaks is very steady and doesn’t beat themselves,” Camarillo Coach Carl Thompson said. “They’re a typical Thousand Oaks team.”

That would normally come as bad news to Thompson, whose team has won only nine of 25 meetings with the Lancers. Thousand Oaks (5-1, 3-0) is ranked fifth in Division II.

But Camarillo (4-2, 2-1) has established itself as a contender for the league title after a 26-20 win over previously unbeaten Royal. The Scorpions enter the contest with a wishbone offense that has gained an average of 257 yards a game.

Mike Madsen (394 yards), Corey Tucker (357), Brian Vellmure (330), Fahali Campbell (255) and Tag Johnson (204) are featured in Camarillo’s wishbone. They will collide with a Thousand Oaks defense that has allowed only six points in its past three games. The Lancers tied a school record with consecutive shutouts of Newbury Park and Channel Islands.

Camarillo’s defense has allowed an average of only 85 rushing yards a game, but will be tested by Thousand Oaks’ I-formation, which is led by junior tailback Cory Bowen (94 carries for 744 yards) and senior fullback Greg Buchanan (48 carries for 400 yards).

Thousand Oaks also has an accomplished passing attack led by quarterback Scott Peterson (32 completions in 81 attempts for 438 yards and eight touchdowns) and receiver Jeff Watts (19 receptions for 229 yards).

Camarillo inherited a victory when Oxnard was ordered to forfeit a 21-15 win from Sept. 7.