Glendale, Hobbled by Rucker Injury, Falls to Dana Hills

Glendale High’s offense was in trouble long before the Dynamiters took the field against Dana Hills on Friday night.

In fact, Glendale’s problems began three days ago when star running back Pathon Rucker suffered an ankle injury in practice.

The Dynamiters floundered without a healthy Rucker and lost to host Dana Hills, 28-7, in a quarterfinal-round Southern Section Division II playoff game in front of a wind-chilled assemblage of 1,000.

“With Pathon healthy and without this wind, it might have been a different game,” Glendale Coach Don Shoemaker said.

The Dynamiters (10-2), champions of the Pacific League, scored on their first possession to tie the score, 7-7, but could not sustain a drive thereafter.

Glendale’s offense was further stymied by an abysmal passing game. Senior quarterback Nathan Callister completed just one of 14 attempts and threw three interceptions.

The Dynamiters’ ground game was only a little better.

Rucker, who began the evening with 1,610 yards in 204 carries for an average of almost eight yards per try, finished with 56 yards in 14 carries.

Fullback Gill Friedman tried to take up the slack, but it wasn’t enough. Friedman, who rushed for 48 yards in 12 carries, scored Glendale’s only touchdown on a two-yard run late in the first quarter. On fourth down at Dana Hills’ two-yard line, he spun off a tackler and into the end zone.

The Dolphins (8-1-3), the South Coast League runner-up, kept the ball on the ground, rushing for 230 of their 271 offensive yards.

Senior tailback Marcus Jenkins paced the offense with 120 yards in 32 carries and scored twice on short runs.

Tied, 7-7, at intermission, Dana Hills took the lead for good on Jenkins’ two-yard run to open the second half.