Glendale Sneaks Past Muir With Dramatic Field Goal

Rarely does a game and the inside track to a league championship rest on the shoulder pads of one player.

But such was the case Friday night at Pasadena City College as Glendale High’s Edward Nouriganiyan buckled his chin strap and battled the butterflies.

In one of the most dramatic finishes of the high school football season, Nouriganiyan booted a 24-yard field goal with no time on the clock to lift visiting Glendale to a 17-16 Pacific League victory over Muir.

Nouriganiyan’s right leg gave Glendale (8-1, 4-0 in league play) a one-game lead over Muir (5-4, 3-1) with one game remaining.

It also capped a gutsy drive that began at the Glendale 16-yard line with 1 minute 42 seconds to play and ended with Glendale players and followers celebrating.

“I was nervous, but as soon as I kicked it, I knew it was good,” said Nouriganiyan, a 5-foot-6, 155-pound junior. “I don’t look up at the goal posts. But as I followed through, I knew it was going to be perfect.”

Said a sweat-soaked Glendale Coach Don Shoemaker: “I’m flabbergasted. This game was like watching two heavyweights try to punch each other out.”

Glendale almost went down for the count with 4:10 to play when quarterback Nathan Callister fumbled the snap at the Glendale 23-yard line and Muir recovered. It was the game’s only turnover and gave Muir a chance to put the game away.

Glendale’s defense held, however, taking over on downs to set up the game-winning drive.

In the final 1:42, Callister, who completed seven of 17 passes for 118 yards, completed three passes to Mike Wright, who finished with six catches for 112 yards.

But the drive’s most significant gains came with the help of yellow flags.

Muir, which was penalized for 95 yards in the game, was flagged for pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct in the last two minutes. The second 15-yard penalty gave Glendale a first down at the Muir 14-yard line with 25 seconds to play.

Glendale twice came from behind to take the lead.

With Glendale trailing, 10-7, at halftime, senior tailback Pathon Rucker, who gained 90 hard-fought yards in 29 carries, capped a 59-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to give Glendale a 14-10 lead.

Muir opened the scoring with a bang four minutes into the game when Saladin McCullough returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown. McCullough cut back across the field and through virtually every Glendale defender, scoring untouched.