By Brandon HENSLEY

With a change in strategy, the Crescenta Valley High School football team put forth a dominant effort last Friday to collect its first Pacific League win, a 59-7 thumping over the Glendale Nitros. On Friday, the Falcons (3-2) will try to sweep the Glendale-area’s schools for a third straight year as they take on the Hoover Tornadoes at Moyse Field at 7 p.m.

Coming off of a 7-3 loss vs. Burbank on Sept. 25, the Falcons’ coaching staff made a change for the Glendale game, giving more time to senior Evan Nelson at quarterback. Up until then, it had been junior Ty Hill taking the snaps.

Hill, in his first season playing quarterback, led the team to a 35-3 win over La Cañada on Sept. 18. There, the offense looked crisp and dominant. But against Burbank, it stalled and wasn’t able to generate a touchdown. Against Glendale, an inferior opponent to Burbank, CV’s offense was dominant again, as Hill took snaps and ran the ball over the defense (54 yards rushing and a touchdown), while Nelson demonstrated poise and accuracy in the passing game. He was 11 of 19 for 220 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception.

Hill, who plays safety on defense, anchored a unit that smothered Glendale. CV sacked quarterback Evan Osequeda twice. It also forced five turnovers, including two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Andrew Traber.

CV is currently looking up at Arcadia and Burroughs, which stand at 2-0 in league.

  Brandon Hensley, Leonard Coutin