Crescenta Valley, Glendale high football set for rematch
The following are previews of the area’s upcoming high school football games this week.
One of the biggest upset victories of the 2012 football season came when Glendale High topped Crescenta Valley for the first time in nine years.
While revenge may play a small factor when the two teams meet again at 7 p.m. Friday at Moyse Field, the Falcons will have bigger things, namely a Pacific League title, on their minds.
Crescenta Valley kept its hopes alive with an upset victory of its own over Burbank in overtime, 48-47, last week. The instant classic against the Burbank, which is ranked No. 8 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division, ended after CV’s gutsy, successful two-point conversion.
“It was a phenomenal game,” Falcons Coach Paul Schilling said. “Now what we have to do is get back to life. We lost to Glendale last year and that’s a big motivation for us.”
The Nitros (2-4, 0-3) suffered their third straight loss at home Thursday to Arcadia, 14-6.
“Defensively, the guys played well, but offensively we just couldn’t make a big play when we needed one,” Glendale Coach John Tuttle said.
Like it did last year, Glendale will have a chance to bounce back and get the biggest win of its season.
“The kids have played hard all year so far and we have a big game coming up this week,” Tuttle said.
Glendale overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit in doing so in its 20-17 win over the Falcons. It was also Glendale’s first league win against a team other than Hoover since 2008.
Offensive identities of the Falcons and Nitros are polar opposites, with CV relying on its aerial attack and Glendale doing most of its work on the ground.
Crescenta Valley sits in a four-way tie for second place in league with a 5-1, 2-1 in league record. Burbank (5-1), Arcadia (4-2) and Burroughs (3-3) have identical league records. Muir is in sole possession of first place with a 5-1, 3-0 mark.
“We feel like we’re back in the race, we have to keep this thing going and keep that feeling alive,” Schilling said. “I don’t want this feeling to end.”
Hoover at Burroughs, 7 p.m.: The Tornadoes’ task of getting back on the winning side of things gets tougher this week when they travel to Memorial Field for their fourth Pacific League game Thursday night.
Hoover dropped its fourth game in a row last week and Pasadena picked up its first of the year, 33-13. The Tornadoes are 2-4, 0-3 in league with their last win coming via forfeit to Sotomayor, which won on the field, 39-26.
Burroughs (3-3, 2-1) rolled through Hoover last year, 42-13, but is recuperating from a 42-7 road loss to Muir. The Indians rely on the connection between quarterback Andrew Williams and wide receiver Conor Joyce and a strong run game anchored by a stout line on offense and boasts a quality defense, as well.
Hoover quarterback Se Jun Kim completed 11 of 26 passes for 137 yards, a score and interception and ran for another touchdown against Pasadena. Andres Perez enjoyed another big game with a fumble recovery and 25-yard touchdown reception for the Tornadoes last week.
Cathedral at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.: After earning Golden Knights Coach Jim Bonds’ 100th victory last week, St. Francis can stay perfect this year with win No. 7 in a Mission League game at Friedman Field Friday evening.
Cathedral had its perfect start to the season end last week in a home loss to Chaminade, 48-7. Meanwhile, there wasn’t a need for much offense at all with the way St. Francis’ defense played in a 63-18 road win at St. Paul.
“This is going to be a really big test for us,” St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds said of Cathedral, which is ranked sixth in the CIF Southern Section Western Division. “If somebody would have said we’d be 6-0 at this point of the season back in July or August I would have taken it in a heartbeat. … We felt like we had a pretty difficult preseason schedule, but we’re definitely in the home stretch.”
The Knights, who are No. 4 in the Western Division, forced six turnovers, with three interceptions and fumbles each, and received 104 yards rushing and a score from Areg Nazarian. Ty Gangi completed five of 12 passes for 150 yards and two scores, with Dylan Crawford (103 yards) and John Carroll both hauling in touchdown passes.
Like many St. Francis games from a year ago, the Phantoms dealt the Knights a heartbreaker in 2012, 42-40. St. Francis’ potential game-winning drive was ended on an interception with less than a minute to play.
The Phantoms’ offense is built around quarterback M.C. Poe and running backs Martaveous Holliday and Jahmaree DeSett.
Flintridge Prep at Rio Hondo Prep, 7:30 p.m.: Prep League play didn’t start the way the Rebels hoped and there won’t be much of a letup as Flintridge Prep travels to face a perennial league and CIF Southern Section Northeast Division power Friday.
Prep (0-6, 0-1 in league) opened league with a 41-8 loss to Poly, while the 5-1 and No. 3 Kares shut out Chadwick, 35-0, in its opener. Rio Hondo Prep defeated Flintridge Prep, 48-12, in 2012.
Flintridge Prep’s top two offensive players are Stefan Smith and Andrew Tsangeos. Smith, a running back, had 88 yards and two-point conversion run on 20 carries. Tsangeos, a quarterback, completed 13 of 22 passes for 77 yards, one interception and also ran for his team’s only touchdown.