Bird’s Passing, Running Leads Simi Valley To Victory

Quarterback Tim Bird passed for one touchdown and ran for another in Simi Valley High’s 28-6 victory over Granada Hills on Friday night at Granada Hills.

Bird scored on a 13-yard run in the second quarter to give Simi Valley (1-2) a 13-6 lead. He capped the Pioneers’ scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass play to Nick Campanelli midway through the fourth quarter.

Bird completed six of 10 passes for 135 yards and gained 24 yards in four carries.

Eric Cooper rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries to help the Pioneers amass 219 yards rushing. Josh Verdugo rushed for 62 yards in 11 carries, including a five-yard touchdown run to give Simi Valley a 7-6 lead in the first quarter.

Simi Valley held Granada Hills (0-3) to 198 yards and sacked quarterback Ricky Mathiesen four times.

Mathiesen, who completed five of 12 passes for 83 yards, gave Granada Hills a 6-0 lead with 9:23 left in the first quarter when he caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Leon Pimky. Mathiesen handed the ball to Pimky on a reverse to start the play.