Crescenta Valley Trips Over Arcadia Again

It was a flashback the Crescenta Valley High football team would very much like to forget.

For the second consecutive season, the Falcons were less than a quarter away from a Pacific League championship.

And, for the second consecutive season, they let it slip away against Arcadia.

This time, it was a 21-17 loss at Glendale High on Thursday night that cost Crescenta Valley (8-2, 4-1 in league play) sole possession of the league championship.

Anthony Freeman of Arcadia returned a kickoff 74 yards to the Falcon 20, and fullback David Rodriguez scored on the next play, and the Apaches (6-4, 4-1) overcame a 17-14 deficit with 8:30 to play.

Crescenta Valley had two chances to answer.

The Falcons were stopped on downs after marching to the Apache 22 the first time.

Scott Vossmeyer’s pass was intercepted at the Arcadia 38 on Crescenta Valley’s last gasp.

Last season, the Apaches scored with six minutes left to claim a 15-13 victory and the league championship, pushing Crescenta Valley to third place.

“Last season’s game was very similar, but with one difference,” Coach Alan Eberhart of Crescenta Valley said. “Last year, we didn’t get anything out of it. This year, we still share the league title.”

The standings could become even more cramped if Muir defeats Pasadena tonight to force a three-way tie.

Either way, a coin toss earlier this week has determined the Falcons, ranked No. 8 in the region by The Times, will go to the Division III playoffs as the league’s No. 2 team.

The loss overshadowed a record-breaking performance by Vossmeyer, who completed 18 of 31 passes for 225 yards to become the school’s season passing leader with 1,893 yards.

Mike McCall set the record of 1,765 in 1976.

Vossmeyer, whose one-yard sneak with 8:49 left gave the Falcons a 17-14 lead, had a chance to rally his team, but his pass was intercepted by J.D. Ziska on a deflected throw intended for Jason Hogan with 1:21 remaining.

Hogan caught seven passes for 105 yards and intercepted a pass.

All-purpose back Steve Carballo entered the game needing three receptions to tie the school mark of 49 set by Andy Abbott in 1976.

Carballo got those in the first half, but was shut out in the second half.

Wes Jones, who sat out last week, returned to the lineup to rush for 161 yards in 30 carries and scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead.