Senior running back has field day against Falcons and CV loses second straight league game

By Maddy PUMILIA

Turnovers and big plays by the Burroughs Indians resulted in a loss for Crescenta Valley High School, which now falls to 2-2 in the Pacific League, 4-3 overall.

The Falcons couldn’t slow down running back Zander Anding, who rushed for a remarkable 368 yards and three touchdowns, and Burroughs pulled through for a 35-22 win at Glendale’s Moyse Field. It was Anding’s fourth straight game with 330 yards or more rushing.

The Falcons, wearing their home uniforms, played the  Thursday night game at Glendale High School. The Indians (4-0) were in first place in the Pacific League, beating out seven other teams. The Falcons were 2-1 after losing to Pasadena High School the previous week.

Burroughs took the ball on its first possession and started off strong with a trick play. Quarterback Brad Hunt gave Eli Peppmuller the ball who threw downfield to wide receiver Jose Pereyra. Pereyra scored the touchdown. The scoreboard read 7-0 with 10:12 left in the first quarter.

CV started on their 20-yard line. A long pass to Ruiz was almost intercepted. CV elected to go for it on fourth-and- 2. CV got the first down. Plays later, Lee had a 15-yard run. Under pressure, Wilkerson ran 3 yards, making it third-and-4. An incomplete pass to receiver Nick Ruiz brought a field goal attempt, but kicker Pavle Atanackovic missed the field goal from the 17-yard line.

Mistakes are what hurt CV. Quarterback Zac Wilkerson threw an interception, caught by Peppmuller, in the red zone in the second quarter. The pass was intended for Ruiz, but was tipped.

Then it was Anding’s turn, as he ran the ball 93-yards for a touchdown. The score was 14-0 with 10:28 left in the second quarter.

The Falcons gave it up again on the next drive. Lee fumbled on Burroughs 24- yard line. The Indians recovered the fumble.

“I bounced it outside,” Lee said. “I didn’t see him. He hit me at the right time. [The ball] came out. Can’t win a game with turnovers. Two red zone turnovers. That made all the difference.”

On CV’s next drive, Ruiz caught a 50-yard catch. On fourth-and-12 on the 16, Atanackovic attempted his second field goal of the night, which was good. With two minutes left in the second quarter, CV finally made it onto the scoreboard.

CV got the ball back after Burroughs punter kicked poorly. CV started on Burroughs 27 yard line. Lee ran to the 15. A completed pass led CV to the 6-yard line with 33 seconds left. Lee ran for the touchdown with 24 seconds left in the half. CV narrowed Burroughs’ lead to just four points.

On Burroughs’ second half-opening drive, Anding ran 44 yards. The yardage he gained on that play helped him get a touchdown on a following play. Falcons were down by 11 in the third quarter.

Wilkerson was sacked by defensive end Ike Nwachie, a loss of 10 yards. The Falcons couldn’t convert on third-and-21, forcing a punt.

The Falcons responded with a touchdown by Ruiz, putting the score at 21-16 with less than a minute left in the third quarter. The Falcons tried a two-point conversion, which was unsuccessful.

The Indians fumbled again, but recovered. A long play by Anding was wiped out because of a holding call. But a 39-yard touchdown catch expanded the Indians lead 28-16.

Lee and tight end Justin Springfield both had long catches on the next drive. Lee got his second touchdown of the night. The extra point was no good, so the score was 28-22 with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On their first play of the drive, Anding ran the ball in for another touchdown. The score was 35-22 with 4:41 left in the game.

“We played really hard,” Head Coach Paul Schilling said. “We played much harder than last game. So the coaches, at least myself, feel that we can leave this and feel better, because you know we played hard. I give them [Burroughs] credit. Their offensive line is good. Anding [is a] great back and two turnovers [in the red zone]. If those were scores, it’d be a little different.”

“We made a lot of mistakes,” Springfield said. “We got to definitely focus a little more during the week.”

“Coach mentioned in the huddle we gave these last two games away,” Lee said. “Can’t win with mistakes like that.”

Around the League
Tonight, the Falcons take on Burbank at 7 p.m. at Glendale High School. Schilling called Burbank a good team. Burbank is also 2-2 in league and 3-4 overall. They lost last Friday to Pasadena. After Burbank, the Falcons play Glendale and Arcadia.

In the Pacific League, Burroughs High School remains the only undefeated team. Arcadia High School and Pasadena High School are 3-1. CV, Muir and Burbank are 2-2. Hoover and Glendale High School are 0-4.

  Leonard Coutin, MADDY PUMILIA