Crescenta Valley Dodges a Bullet : High school football: Falcons escape, 14-13, as 24-yard field-goal attempt by Glendale with less than a minute remaining hits upright.

As the ball sailed toward the uprights, Alan Eberhart’s heart sank.

His team, he thought, had made one too many mistakes to emerge with a victory.

But suddenly, the Crescenta Valley High coach’s players were celebrating. A 24-yard field-goal attempt by Glendale’s Alfred Megrabyan bounced off the left upright with 57 seconds to play and the Falcons held on for a 14-13 Pacific League victory Friday night at Glendale High.

“From the angle I had, I thought the ball went in,” Eberhart said. “Then I saw everyone jumping up and down.

“Last week (a 23-21 victory over Pasadena), I felt fortunate to win. This week I feel more than fortunate.”

The Falcons (7-1, 3-0 in league play) won despite three turnovers. The worst miscue came with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, when a snap from the Falcon 21 to punter Dave Fielder sailed high. Fielder chased the ball, scrambled and eventually popped a punt that rolled to the Falcon 43, giving Glendale (5-3, 1-2) excellent field position for a winning drive.

The Dynamiter advance stalled at the seven and Megrabyan lined up for the winning field goal. But the snap was low and the sophomore, who was called up the junior varsity before last week’s game, didn’t get off a solid kick.

“I was nervous,” Megrabyan admitted.

He had already missed field-goal attempts of 45 and 47 yards and an extra point.

The Crescenta Valley victory sets up a matchup next week against Muir, the only other 3-0 team in the league.

Both teams played without their starting quarterbacks. Crescenta Valley’s Fielder could not start because he was recovering from a separated right shoulder. Glendale’s Ramon Jose had a sprained ankle.

John Watts, Fielder’s replacement, completed three of six passes for 28 yards and two interceptions, but passing isn’t much of the Falcon offense. Erik LaCom is.

The senior tailback gained 136 yards and scored two touchdowns in 17 carries. His 74-yard run in the second quarter tied the score and his six-yard run in the third quarter gave the Falcons their first lead.

Glendale had taken a 13-7 lead on Neal Sowter’s 13-yard run on the previous possession. Megrabyan’s extra point appeared to nick a defender and went wide.

Sowter, starting at quarterback in place of Jose, completed two of five passes for 15 yards and ran for 44 yards in seven carries.