By Brandon HENSLEY

The final score said the Falcons won by two touchdowns, but the game itself felt much closer Friday night at John Burroughs High’s Memorial Stadium. It was there Crescenta Valley toppled the Burbank Bulldogs from the ranks of the undefeated in the Pacific League.

With one week left in the season, there is one team left without a loss in league. That would the Falcons (8-1, 6-0) who clinched at least a share of the league title with a 35-21 victory over the Bulldogs, a tough game that saw both sides commit uncharacteristic turnovers, and one in which CV kicker Alex Atanackovic missed two field goals.

Those missed kicks almost proved costly, but running back Brandon Beardt saved the day with a fine effort in the biggest game of the season. Beardt had 61 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns. The yards he gained on the final drive, including a crucial gain on fourth down and then a subsequent touchdown sealed the win late in the fourth quarter.

“How about Brandon Beardt? He’s a stud. Such a stud,” Crescenta Valley Head Coach Paul Schilling said. Beardt also had a receiving touchdown in the game.

The Falcons were deep into Bulldog territory, leading 28-21 with 1:39 to go in the fourth quarter. Instead of have Atanackovic try a 37-yard field goal and fourth down, the Falcons went for it. Beardt took the handoff from quarterback Cole Doyle and ran left, stumbling for enough yards until he was tackled. But it wasn’t over. He scored moments later, putting the game out of reach as the CV sideline erupted.

Schilling said he opted to run a play on fourth down, not because he didn’t trust his kicker; he said he simply didn’t want the kick to be blocked. Earlier in the game, the Falcons blocked an extra-point attempt after a Burbank touchdown.

Plus, Schilling’s defense has been superb all season. They’re a unit he and his coaches trust.

“Even if we don’t get it, they would have to go 80 yards and we feel we have a good defense,” Schilling about the play.

Crescenta Valley led 14-7 in the second quarter when Burbank scored and was about the tie the game. That’s when the Falcons blocked the PAT. Later, on offense, Doyle found Andrew Traber wide open on the right side for 73-yard touchdown. The Falcon players echoed each other with chants of “Let’s Go!” as they jumped and congratulated the offense as it came off the field.

It felt then as if the Falcons had taken control. After all, Crescenta Valley had simply dominated the Pacific League up to that point, as each win hadn’t been by fewer than 29 points. But Burbank tied the game in the third quarter on a blocked punt.

That’s when Beardt went to work and registered his first rushing touchdown of the night. This year’s Falcons rely on a crushing defense and a bruising running game, and it showed in the second half.

After the game, players were still jubilant well after the Alma Matter song and the post-game coaches’ speech.

Schilling said the hard-fought game went exactly as he thought it would go. He also thought the league title would be decided by these two teams.

“In fact, if you had asked me, I would have said it would be between us and Burbank. I knew they’re darn good team,” he said.

Next Friday, Nov. 4, Crescenta Valley has Arcadia (8-1, 5-1) at the Apaches’ field. Win, and the team will secure the league championship for itself. Lose, and it could be looking at a three-way tie for first (with Arcadia and Burbank). The playoffs are calling no matter what, but the Schilling said he and his guys want more.

“The worst we could have is a share. But we don’t want a share. We want to win it outright,” he said.

  Brandon Beardt, Falcons, football