CV, La Canada look to regroup
From Staff Reports
Crescenta Valley vs. La Canada at Friedman Field, 7 p.m.: Though it
doesn’t offer the spice of a CV-St. Francis matchup, it’s still one
of the more talked-about local games of the season.
Now, CV Coach Alan Eberhart and La Canada’s Rich Wheeler are more
concerned about turning around their struggling programs.
The Falcons (0-3) still haven’t mastered their run defense,
allowing 11 rushing touchdowns and 681 yards rushing this season in
nonleague losses to Thousand Oaks, St. Francis and Saugus.
“We are in a different place than we’ve normally been,” said
Eberhart, whose squad dropped a 31-13 decision to Saugus on Sept. 23.
“Usually we’ve got off to a good start, and there’s now that added
importance for us because we need to win.”
The Falcons will be led by senior quarterback Phillip Salazar, who
has recorded 588 of CV’s 775 yards of total offense.
La Canada (1-2) will look to regroup following its 20-6 nonleague
loss to Gabrielino on Sept. 24. The Spartans will also look to topple
CV for the first time in 11 meetings.
La Canada has lost 10 consecutive games to CV, and are 10-22
lifetime against the Falcons dating back to the inaugural contest in
1966.
The Spartans will turn to senior defensive back Chris Walters, who
is tied for the area lead in interceptions with two along with Alex
Crayton of Flintridge Prep and James Eland and Mason Elieff of St.
Francis.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at La Canada, but
the visiting bleachers were found to be unsafe in July because the
footing of the bleachers is situated on corroding wood.
St. Francis vs. Pasadena, at Pasadena City College, 7 p.m.: The
Golden Knights and Panthers enter tonight’s game headed in completely
opposite directions.
St. Francis is off to a 3-0 start after a 38-22 victory at home
against Burroughs High last week.
Pasadena finds itself on the opposite spectrum, having fallen to
0-3 after a 55-0 drubbing at the hands of Arroyo last week. The
Panthers haven’t played any of their opponents close this year,
losing by a combined margin of 139-26.
The Knights have fared much better, having scored 30 points or
more a game in their last two contests.
Running back Blake Milton leads the St. Francis offense, having
rushed for 321 yards in 73 carries -- averaging over 100 yards a
game. The Knights have shown the ability to be balanced, though, as
Matt Abbey’s thrown for 535 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Montclair Prep at Glendale, 7 p.m.: The Nitros and Mounties have
combined to throw 22 passes this year, with Glendale completing five
of 12 passes for 62 yards.
Montclair Prep hasn’t passed a lot because it has relied on its
strong running game. The Mounties (3-0) have gained 1,089 yards in
three games, an average of 363 per contest. They are led by senior
Ethan Edwards, who has gained 808 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns
this year.
Glendale has scored just 28 points this season. It lost to South
Pasadena, 28-14, on Sept. 25 and is still searching for its first win
under Coach Ted Amorosi, who replaced Loi Phan.
The Nitros defeated Montclair Prep, 6-0, last year.