By Brandon HENSLEY

The Crescenta Valley High School football team is currently on summer break before practice starts up again in August in preparation for the 2016 season. When the team returns from recess, it’ll be focusing on Verdugo Hills. On Thursday, Sept. 1, for the fourth consecutive season the Falcons will open against the Dons, this time at Glendale High’s Moyse Field, the home stadium for CV. The Falcons have won all three previous games, which really haven’t been close. The average margin of victory was 31.6 points from 2013 to 2015, and twice the Falcons scored over 50 points.

The other two non-Pacific League games will also be against familiar foes. Weeks two and three will have CV playing at Golden Valley, and then hosting La Cañada. CV lost to Golden Valley last year, which ended the Falcons’ 16-game winning streak dating back to 2013.

The seven league games will see the Falcons take on the Glendale-area schools, the Glendale Nitros and Hoover Tornadoes, in back-to-back weeks on Sept.  23 and Sept. 30. They will then travel to Muir the next week, and that will be a challenge. The Falcons won at Muir in 2014 for the first time since 2004.

The next week, Oct. 14, the Falcons host Pasadena in what is the homecoming game, then it’s back at Moyse Field against Burbank for senior night. It will be the last home game for notable seniors Tyler Hill, Austin Lee, Will Rees, Chuck Weinmann, Brandon Beardt, Nobel Leduc and Andrew Traber.

The season wraps up with two games on the road, Oct. 28 at Burbank High vs. Burroughs, and at Arcadia High on Nov. 4.

The Falcons went 7-3 last season and lost in the first round of the CIF Southeast playoffs. The team returns Tyler Hill, an All-CIF safety, who will also receive time at quarterback and possibly other positions, according to Head Coach Paul Schilling. Sophomore Cole Doyle will be the starting quarterback. Doyle came up late last season to play QB after senior Evan Nelson suffered season-ending injuries. Doyle doesn’t possess the height or the outward strength that one might expect out of a starting quarterback, but Schilling praised Doyle’s poise, confidence and talent earlier this year.

Schilling is excited about the offensive and defensive lines for his team, which consist of both speed and size. Tommy Chun, Riley Center and Destin Jordan will be key players on those lines. Schilling also mentioned Max Meyer as someone to watch this year. Meyer, who previously played basketball and is also on the CV baseball team, is a 6’3” senior who will play tight end on offense and linebacker on defense.

Schilling returns his coaching staff from last year, including main assistants Dennis Gossard, Hudson Gossard and Dennis Demonbrun.

  Brandon Hensley