Paul Gladly Takes a Seat for West L.A.

Quarterback Bryan Paul still finds himself sitting on the bench during college football games.

Only this time, the former Moorpark High standout is enjoying it.

Paul threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in West Los Angeles College’s 56-30 victory over Glendale in a Western State Conference intra-division game Saturday at Glendale High.

“If I’m going to sit on the bench, I’d rather sit because I’ve done something good,” Paul said.

Paul spent most of last season as the backup quarterback at Valley College.

At West Los Angeles, Paul is the main man.

He threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Brent Cowan in the second quarter and connected with Craig Mitchell on a 52-yard pass play.

The Oilers (3-1, 2-0 in conference play) extended their lead to 27-12 at halftime when Paul ran 35 yards for a touchdown on a draw.

Paul took a seat on the bench in the fourth quarter after completing 15 of 28 passes for 279 yards.

Oiler receiver Brennan Crooks caught three passes for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns. Crooks caught a 38-yard pass for a touchdown from Paul in the third quarter and then hauled in a 56-yard pass from backup quarterback Whitney Jones.

Glendale (0-5, 0-2) countered the Oilers’ passing attack with a solid ground game. The Vaqueros gained 378 yards rushing.

Darrell Durham had 225 yards in 30 carries and scored on runs of two and 12 yards.

Glendale also got 160 yards in 17 carries from Mike Amanazodi. He scored on runs of 15 and 19 yards.

As good as the Vaqueros’ ground game was, it wasn’t good enough to make up for the defense.

West Los Angeles, which has the top-ranked offense in the WSC, gained 474 yards.

“Our defense today was embarrassing,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said. “It was the worst effort I have seen from a team in 23 years.

“West L.A. is talented, I don’t want to take that away from them. But the mistakes we made today shouldn’t be happening in week five.”

Glendale led, 12-6, early in the second quarter, but then surrendered 35 unanswered points and trailed, 41-12, going into the fourth.