Glendale Routs Santa Barbara for 4th Win in Row

There are some new bullies on the block, and lately they have been serving up black eyes around the Western State Conference.

The bad boys from Glendale College picked on Santa Barbara City on Saturday night, punching out a 48-22 victory in a WSC Northern Division opener at Glendale High.

Glendale (5-1, 4-1 in conference play), which was ranked No. 17 last week in the state rankings, has won four consecutive games and has outscored the competition, 124-44, in its last three victories.

Glendale rolled up 494 yards against the WSC’s ninth-ranked defense.

Quarterback Eric Kiesau completed 11 of 15 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, and had one interception.

Three Glendale running backs--Pathon Rucker (90 yards, 12 carries), Andy Cleland (65 yards, 14 carries) and Leon Jones (62 yards, 10 carries)--combined for 217 yards. Rucker scored on runs of five and 34 yards, and Cleland scored on runs of one and two yards.

Glendale’s defense allowed 312 passing yards and 400 yards overall, but only 105 in the first half when the game was decided.

Shawn Ramirez, Santa Barbara’s backup quarterback, completed 18 of 34 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Glendale was in charge on both sides of the football in the first half, taking a 35-7 lead. The Glendale defense held Santa Barbara (3-3, 2-3) to 105 first-half yards. Kevin Hurley and Mark Garza each had an interception for the Vaqueros.

Hurley’s interception set up a two-yard touchdown run by Cleland, and Garza sprinted 69 yards for a touchdown with his interception as Glendale built a 14-0 lead midway through the first period.

The Glendale offense took over from there. Cleland capped a 62-yard drive with another two-yard scoring run, and Rucker’s five-yard touchdown run on Glendale’s next series culminated a 12-play, 69-yard march. Glendale scored again just before halftime when Kiesau tossed a 59-yard scoring pass to Sky Bushy.

Bushy caught the ball at the Santa Barbara 33, picked up a block from Angel Martinez, sidestepped James Mowrer, and raced down the left sideline.

Kiesau completed eight of 11 passes for 158 yards in the first half.