Glendale Nails Down WSC Northern Division Title

Glendale College and Bobby Webster were each able to maintain impressive streaks Saturday. As a result, the Vaqueros are the champions of the Western State Conference’s Northern Division and Webster is the school’s single-season record-holder for rushing yardage.

Webster ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a 20-yard pass from Marco Arcipreste for a third score in leading Glendale to a 48-21 rout of Santa Barbara at Glendale High.

The win was the eighth in a row for Glendale (8-2, 8-1 in conference play, 5-0 in division play). It also marked the eighth consecutive game in which Webster has rushed for more than 100 yards and at least two touchdowns.

Webster increased his season rushing total to 1,360 yards, topping the mark of 1,343 set by Henry Longoria in 1975.

“I don’t think about records because that gets you out of the frame of the game. I’d rather get a win than break a record,” said Webster, who also added to his school records for touchdowns (22) and rushing touchdowns (21).

The win earned Glendale an invitation to the Western State Bowl on Dec. 1, an invitation the school might turn down.

“There have been people calling us saying there might be interest in the Orange County Bowl if they have two games, or maybe the Southern California Bowl,” Coach John Cicuto said. “Those are all opportunities that I think we will be strongly considered for. On Monday, things will be clearer as far as where we are going to be.”

The Vaqueros made things clear from the outset Saturday. Webster ran 26 yards for a score 5 minutes, 43 seconds into the game, seven plays after Lolesio Takapu recovered John Pyle’s fumble at the 50-yard line.

Webster’s three-yard run with 1:58 left in the first quarter increased Glendale’s lead to 14-0. Webster accounted for 27 yards on the 13-play, 76-yard drive and fullback Wes Bender (106 yards in 10 carries) added 30. Arcipreste, who was 10 of 15 for 173 yards, hit Orlando Cade with an 11-yard pass and Joe Wade with an eight-yard pass on the drive.

Santa Barbara (4-6, 3-6, 1-4) cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter on Pyle’s 10-yard run. But Glendale again took a 14-point lead on Arcipreste’s 20-yard pass to Webster, one play after Arcipreste combined with tight end Greg Thompson on a 53-yard pass. Martin Boskovich’s 36-yard field goal 13 seconds before halftime gave the Vaqueros a 24-7 lead.

Glendale added two more scores in a 16-second span in the second half, Bender running 55 yards for one and Keith Franklin returning an interception for the other.