Glendale Shuts Out Santa Monica

He might not be blessed with great moves or outstanding speed, but Glendale College tailback Ilan Zilberman displayed plenty of endurance in the Vaqueros’ 18-0 victory over host Santa Monica in a Western State Conference football game Saturday night.

Zilberman, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound sophomore from Grant High, rushed for a game-high 126 yards in 25 carries and scored a touchdown as Glendale (2-2, 1-2 in conference play) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Vaquero fullback Hector Valencia complemented Zilberman nicely with 98 yards in 11 carries and two touchdowns.

“We knew we had to run the ball well if we wanted to win this game,” Zilberman said. “We knew coming in that we needed to establish the run so we could control the ball.”

Operating behind a typically mammoth Glendale offensive line, Zilberman rushed for 103 yards in 15 carries in the first half to help the Vaqueros take a 12-0 lead at intermission.

Glendale, which amassed 229 of its 344 yards in offense in the first half, took a 6-0 lead with 7 minutes 39 seconds left in the second quarter on a seven-yard run by Valencia.

Valencia’s run capped an 11-play, 58-yard drive following a Santa Monica fumble. Zilberman gained 40 yards in six carries during the drive.

Valencia scored Glendale’s final touchdown on a 49-yard run up the middle on the Vaqueros’ first possession of the second half.