Muir Pinions Crescenta Valley’s Single Wing, 16-7

Without a quarterback in uniform Thursday night, Crescenta Valley High was forced to play the run-and-no-shoot against visiting Muir.

Muir, with speedy quarterback Andy Colbert and a pair of explosive running backs in Saladin McCullough and Linza Williams, executed the run with lots of gun.

In a game that was hardly an aerial show, Muir grinded out a 16-7 Pacific League victory at Glendale High.

Crescenta Valley (4-3, 0-2 in league play) took the field without the services of quarterback Aaron Schaeffer and backup David Fielder, who were dismissed from the team earlier this week because of disciplinary reasons.

As an adjustment, Coach Jim Beckenhauer employed an old-fashioned single-wing offense with running backs Paul Lopez and Brian Spayth alternating taking snaps and running behind inspired blocking.

The Falcons rushed for 84 yards, 66 of them by Lopez in 14 carries.

“We had no quarterback. We had to do it,” Beckenhauer said of the single wing. “We started working on it last night. I had a feeling it might work a little.”

It did.

Trailing, 7-0, in the first quarter, Crescenta Valley marched 81 yards in nine plays to pull even.

Lopez, who rushed for 66 yards on the drive, had runs of 38 and 17 yards before diving one yard for the score.

“We figured he had to do that, but it still gave us problems,” Muir Coach Mike Morris said.

“We had to teach our kids the single wing during the game.”

Muir (4-3, 2-0) adjusted after Crescenta Valley’s first drive, moving linebackers and defensive backs closer to the line of scrimmage to smother the run.

Lopez attempted only seven passes, completing two and throwing two interceptions.

An interception by Muir’s Ron Jones at the Muir 20-yard line with 17 seconds to play brought an end to the Falcons’ final drive.

Crescenta Valley spent the game trying unsuccessfully to contain Muir’s running attack, which rolled up 296 yards.

McCullough, a junior tailback, rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown in 20 carries. Williams, a senior fullback, rushed for 85 yards in 19 carries.

Colbert, who attempted only one pass, added 79 yards in 12 carries.

“There was no reason to run,” Morris said. “We were getting five yards a carry.”

Muir blazed 78 yards in 16 plays--all runs--on the game’s opening drive to take a 7-0 lead.

Williams, who carried 13 times for 65 yards on the drive, carried the final two yards on a dive play.

In the second quarter, McCullough bolted 51 yards for a touchdown to give Muir a 14-7 halftime lead.

Muir recorded a safety in the fourth quarter when running back Jon Berg was tackled in the end zone.