JR. GREMLIN FLAG

La Cañada Gladiators v. Pasadena Panthers

(Teams do not keep score)

The La Cañada Gladiator Jr. Gremlins had an outstanding performance last Saturday morning, edging out the Pasadena Panthers in a close game at La Cañada High School.

La Cañada outplayed Pasadena on both sides of the ball. The Jr. Gremlin’s defense line of Abraham Saleah, Carter Freeman, Joseph Padilla, Andrew Ortiz and Matthew Merrill was relentless, swarming the Panthers in their backfield constantly. Izacc Alzaga-Servin, Aaron Matthews, Alec Herberger and Gunner Herman allowed the Panthers only two third down conversions during the entire game. Sebastian Pascuzzo’s aggressive play earned him a sack along with his usual flags. The first half ended with the unyielding Gladiator defense forcing a Pasadena safety.

The Gladiators offense was also running smoothly. Luke Danni and Flynn Millstein provided key protection for Quarterback Maddox Freeman, who threw for close to 100 yards including two touchdowns. Center Jackson Radabaugh commanded the ball with precision, enabling the Jr. Gremlin offense to execute. Liam Pasten and Andrew Sibbrell rushed respectively for 30 and 50 yards. Gladiator touchdown receptions from Harrison Schloessman and James Hale-Dietlein put the Panthers away.

La Cañada will face the Glendale Bears on Sunday at Bishop Mora Salesian High School.

Gremlins

La Cañada 0, Pasadena Panthers 36

No Report Received.

Jr. Pee Wee

La Cañada 7 Pasadena Panthers 25

In a game that was much closer than the score indicated, the La Cañada Gladiators Junior Pee Wee team lost for the first time this season to the unbeaten Pasadena Panthers at La Cañada High School this past Saturday.

The Gladiators took the opening kickoff and methodically drove the ball down the filed on a thirteen play drive that featured some great running by Andrew Sharman and Daylon Beasley.  After almost eight minutes into the contest Beasley scored from one yard out giving the Gladiators an early 7-0 lead.

On Pasadena’s opening possession they moved the ball into Gladiator territory, but a sack by DaMarcus Caruana for a loss of twenty yards caused Pasadena to punt to close out the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Gladiators were unsuccessful on their second possession and forced to punt. Pasadena returned the punt to the Gladiators 12 yard line.  However, the Gladiator defense held firm as Pasadena was unable to score.

The Gladiators took over on their own eight yard line and were able to move the ball down field due in part to some great play by their offense line that includes Jonah Cisneros, Brandon Sheperd, Jake Okland, Charles Steward, Jake Fitzgerald, DaMarcus Caruana and Christopher Corlett.  Two memorable runs were made by Beasley and Matthew Watson, who made a tough run for a first down.  Unfortunately, the Gladiators ran out of time, and the halftime score was Gladiators 7 Pasadena 0.

The second half scoring was all done by the Pasadena Panthers.  Four plays into the second half Pasadena finally struck with a 49 yard touchdown run that made the score Gladiators 7 Pasadena 6.

On the Gladiators next possession they took the ball inside Pasadena’s 30 yard line, but were unable to convert on fourth down.  Pasadena took over and converted twice on fourth down, including a 19 yard pass play on fourth and eight that resulted in a touchdown.  This made the score 12 -7 in favor of Pasadena early into the fourth quarter.

On the subsequent kickoff La Cañada fumbled giving Pasadena the ball in Gladiator territory.  Pasadena delivered by scoring on fourth down from the six.  This made the score Pasadena 18 La Cañada 7.

With time running down, Pasadena intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, making the final score Pasadena Panthers 25 La Cañada Gladiators 7.

The Gladiators Junior Pee Wee team next face rival Glendale, in the last game of the regular season, on Sunday at noon on Glendale’s home field.

Pee Wee

La Cañada 20 Pasadena Panthers 53

The La Cañada Gladiator PeeWee football was defeated 53-20 Saturday at home against the Pasadena Panthers.  The Gladiators are now 4-2 on the season.

The contest started out strong for the Gladiators.  Jacob Martinez returned the opening kickoff to the Gladiator 35-yard line.  The offensive line, ably centered by Duncan Sprengel, pushed back the ferocious Panthers on a 9-play, 65-yard touchdown drive.  The drive consumed half of the first quarter.  Chase Center did the bulk of the ball carrying, cutting left and right before bulling his way into the end zone from 7 yards out.  Center capped off one of the best drives of the Gladiator season by kicking a 2-point conversion, and the Gladiators led 8-0.

The Panther offense was nothing to be trifled with on this day, though, and so after a quick score, an onside kick, and another quick score, the Gladiators took over the ball at their own 36-yard line, trailing 13-8.

The offensive line of Anton Verheyen, Luc Campanella, Adam Griffin and Jacob Zabala quickly regrouped, pushing back the Panther pride and springing Zeal Shumate loose for a 44-yard touchdown sprint, giving the Gladiators the lead 14-13.  Pasadena scored on its next possession to regain the lead 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.

On the other side of the ball, Luke Waters, Ryan Villalobos, Lucas Ponce, and Mher Baranian all stood tall in the trenches.  Max Grant, Max Herman, and Louie De la Cruz swept up any Panthers that slipped through.  La Cañada gained their first defensive stops during the pivotal second quarter.  Max Herman was particularly outstanding on defense flying all over the field and making diving tackles to prevent big gains and dramatic stops in the Panther backfield.  The Panther offense was, however, almost unstoppable for most of the day and by halftime, Pasadena had built a 32-14 lead.

Colby Rees led a furious Gladiator effort in the second half.  Despite the deficit, the Gladiators never quit fighting hard.  The Gladiators responded with an impressive drive.  A determined Colby Rees exhorted his mates onward, leading a ten-play drive through the heart of the undefeated Panther defense.  Rees capped off the drive himself with a three-yard dive.  The Gladiators fought the Panthers to a third quarter draw. The Gladiators battled through the fourth quarter with the same grind and grit.  They gave up one score and then responded with another ten-play drive that came up just short.

The 4-2 Gladiators will bring the same determination and never-say-die attitude to a contest with the Glendale Bears next Sunday.

Jr. Midgets

La Cañada 0 Pasadena Panthers 42

No Report Received.

Midget

La Cañada 36 Huntington Park Spartans 6

On Saturday, the Gladiator Midget improved to 5-1 with a 36-6 victory over the Huntington Park Spartans at La Cañada High School.

Virtually all the action in this game occurred in the first half, with the Gladiators building an impressive 36-0 half time advantage. The La Cañada Gladiator defense led by Jack Stellwagen, Daniel Cho, Jacob Erdmier, Charlie Daves, and Beau Hobbie kept the Spartan running game in check for most of the game, while defensive backs Artis Candler, Carson Okland, Tyron Clark and Jahlique Stephens continued the strong play that has characterized their entire season.

In the first quarter Stephens scored on runs of 43 and 28 yards, to put the Gladiators up early 12-0.

In the second quarter, Hobie got into the action taking a short pass from quarterback Clark and racing 45 yards for the score. Clark added the two point conversion and the Gladiators were up 20-0.  On the Gladiators’ next possession, Candler scored and Da’Vion Rutherford carried the ball for the two point conversion to put the Gladiators up 28-0.  The offensive line of William Stewart, Daniel Cho, Cole Beadles, Jason Watson, Issac Faulkner, Carson Giles, and Louis Menacho hd little trouble opening holes for the Gladiator running backs.  The receivers were Okland, Da’Vion Rutherford, and Michael Leyva.

With only minutes to go in the first half, the Gladiator defense frced another Spartan punt and Stephens returned the kick 60 yards for a score. Hobie added the two point conversion and the Gladiators were up 36-0 at the half.

In the second half, the Gladiator staff substituted freely, allowing the linemen to carry the ball.  The defense also substituted freely, and the Spartans managed to score in the final period. The game ended with the Gladiators up 36-6.

Next week the Gladiators travel to Glendora to take on the 5-1 Tartans.

Please call (818) 248-1800 if you have any questions.

Thanks

Kevin Lacey