Pritchett Ready for Big Time

There was plenty of seating at Moyse Stadium, and no regional television cameras were focused on Crescenta Valley running back Kenny Pritchett.

But with every Thousand Oaks defender aimed at him, Pritchett showed that he was every bit a prime-time player, rushing for 215 yards in the Falcons’ 31-14 nonleague victory over the Lancers on Thursday night.

While Notre Dame’s Justin Fargas attracted much of the media’s attention, Pritchett didn’t exactly enter his senior season without his own impressive credentials. Pritchett gained 1,711 yards last season.

“[Fargas] deserves everything he gets,” said Pritchett, who scored on runs of 12, 20, five and six yards. “But I know how good I am.”

And now, so does Thousand Oaks, which had its way with Crescenta Valley each of the last two years, outscoring the Falcons by a combined 52-18.

The opening-game victory was the first for Crescenta Valley since 1994, when La Canada discontinued its long rivalry with the Falcons.

The Lancers’ only look at the game came in the third quarter, when quarterback Scott Ange scored on a one-yard sneak to pull his team within 17-6.

Pritchett answered with his final two scoring runs in the fourth quarter to ice it.

Thousand Oaks was fortunate to enter halftime trailing only 17-0.

Lancer Jay McKearn fumbled away Crescenta Valley’s kickoff at his 29 with 36 seconds left in the second quarter. The Falcons misfired on four consecutive pass plays.

Moments earlier, Crescenta Valley’s Seth Santoro kicked a 22-yard field goal, capitalizing on linebacker Jesse Busta’s interception of Lancer backup quarterback Gabe Portilla. Busta later tipped a Portilla pass that was intercepted by Clint Radenbaugh.

Pritchett, who gained 122 yards in 17 first-half carries, had staked the Falcons to a 14-0 lead with touchdown runs of 12 and 20 yards.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound back, took the snap from a naked shotgun formation and ran for the 12-yard score on Crescenta Valley’s opening possession.

His second touchdown, midway through the second quarter, culminated a 12-play drive.

The Falcon defense was equally impressive, allowing Thousand Oaks only 39 yards in the half. Lancer running back Robert Hueners (39 yards in eight carries) gained 15 yards on a run in the waning seconds of the half.

The Lancers gained 218 yards overall but 48 came on Thousand Oaks final drive.