CENTURY LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Villa Park Victory Alters Canyon’s Outlook

Canyon players walked off the field, almost in a daze, Thursday night at El Modena High School. They had tried for the third consecutive week to play the contender. They were denied again.

Villa Park’s 43-7 rout of the Comanches meant more than just a humbling. It put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, something almost unthinkable only three weeks ago.

Canyon (6-2-2) got off to the best start in the school’s history. The Comanches were 6-0-1 and 2-0 in Century League play. Two losses and a tie later, their payoff chances might come down to a 50-50 chance.

If El Modena defeats Santa Ana Valley Saturday night, a coin flip will determine the league’s third playoff team. If the Vanguards lose, Canyon gets in.

“Hey, we’re still 6-2-2,” Canyon Coach Bob Hughes said. “We’ve had a good season. We still have a shot at the playoffs.”

Hughes even sounded convincing. But the sting of the past three weeks was apparent in his players.

The Comanches were tied for first with Foothill after two league games. The Knights then thumped them, 41-21.

Canyon then faced El Modena, needing only a victory to clinch a playoff spot. The Comanches wasted an opportunity late in the game and had to settle for a 21-21 tie.

Then came Thursday’s disaster.

“We don’t make excuses,” Hughes said. “We played our best. We played our best. We play our best every time we go out there.”

The Comanches’ best couldn’t have been much worse against the Spartans (7-3, 4-1), who finished second in league play.

Villa Park rolled up 465 yards, including 378 on the ground. Much of that was by Grant Pearsall, who gained 200 yards in 21 carries. He scored on runs of 80, seven and five yards.

Canyon did everything it could stop Pearsall. The Comanches stacked the line with eight players, daring the Spartans to pass. Instead, they ran Pearsall.

“If you had someone like Grant, wouldn’t you use him as much as possible?” offensive coordinator Mark McMahon asked.

Canyon, meanwhile, could not move the ball. The run-and-shoot offense kept winging the Comanches in the foot.

Quarterback Adam Hoover appeared jittery and unsure of himself. He was given plenty of time to throw on several occasions, but seemed more concerned where the Spartan defensive linemen were and less concerned about the location of his receivers.

Hoover was eight of 27 for 93 yards with two interceptions. He was sacked three times. Canyon turned the ball over four times, three led to touchdowns.

The Spartans led, 21-0, at halftime. The Comanches then completely collapsed.

Villa Park scored three touchdowns in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Canyon fumbles set up two of the scores.

At that point, the game was lost and the Comanches’ playoff hopes were in doubt.