Golden Knights, Falcons look to get out of holes
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 68th year, meets Tuesday’s at the Elk’s Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the seventh meeting of the year.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS LOOKING TO REBOUND
Things of late haven’t gone the way St. Francis High Coach Jim Bonds had expected. The Golden Knights are mired in a four-game losing skid, the latest defeat coming Friday night in a 29-26 Mission League loss against visiting Chaminade, ranked No. 2 in the latest CIF Southern Section Western Division poll.
Once again, St. Francis found itself in a difficult position — trailing, 15-0, in the first quarter. The Golden Knights fell in the game’s last minute to extend their string of misfortune.
“We spotted them that lead before we decided to start playing,” said Bonds, whose team is 3-4, 0-2 in league entering Friday’s home league contest against St. Paul. “Then we put a little rally together to get it to 22-10 at halftime and then we took a 23-22 lead.
“In the fourth quarter, we couldn’t get any first downs when we needed them and then they score in the last minute. It’s our fourth loss in a row and our guys haven’t quit after playing two good teams in a row in [Gardena] Serra and Chaminade. We’ve got our work cut out for us and we are treating this week like it’s a playoff game. We have to win out to get in [the playoffs].”
FALCONS IN SIMILAR SITUATION AS KNIGHTS
Much like St. Francis, Crescenta Valley finds itself in a comparable situation in its quest to qualify for the postseason. The Falcons are 4-3, 2-2 in the Pacific League, but have dropped two straight league games against Muir and Pasadena after opening with wins against Glendale and Hoover.
The Falcons had some breaks go against them during a 21-14 loss against Pasadena on Friday at Moyse Field. They fumbled inside the red zone and had a personal foul called against them on a roughing-the-kicker penalty that negated the Falcons getting the ball back.
Now, the Falcons (4-3, 2-2 in league) will face Burroughs (4-3, 4-0) on Thursday at Moyse. Burroughs shared the league title last season with Burbank.
“They are the only team left that’s undefeated in league and we know they are a good and solid team,” Crescenta Valley first-year Coach Paul Schilling said. “If we win, then we are back in the hunt for league champions, and, if we lose, then we have to win our last two games to get into the playoffs.
“So, it’s a crucial game.”
ANOTHER CLOSE ENCOUNTER FOR GCC
Glendale Community College Coach John Rome has been in the coaching fraternity for 32 years. While the Vaqueros have been close to picking up some victories this season, he’s seen his share of close losses lately.
Just when Rome thought he had witnessed it all, the breaks continued to go against the Vaqueros. Rome saw a last-minute 26-24 loss against West L.A. College on Saturday in a Pacific Conference American Division contest unfold.
“I’ve been coaching at all levels and I thought I had seen it all after our narrow 42-40 loss to Pierce [on Oct. 9],” said Rome, whose team dropped to 0-7, 0-3 in the division. “Then we come off a bye and we exceeded that.
“We make a field goal with about a minute and a half left and I’m feeling good. Then we had to play defense and they convert on a fourth down and 15 with 10 seconds left on a desperation pass and then spike the ball with five seconds left and kick a field goal to win it.”
The Vaqueros have lost three games in a row by six points or less. They will play host to Santa Barbara City College at 6 p.m. at Sartoris Field.
