This week at La Cañada High School, three of the Gladiator football squads played with playoff berths on the line. The Gremlins (5-1) went into their game with the Rosemead Rebels in a three-way tie for first place in the Arroyo League along with the Pasadena Panthers and the El Monte Jets.
The Pee Wees (4-2) also faced the Rosemead Rebels, and was in second place in the Arroyo Division, one game behind the Rosemead Rebels and tied with Pasadena for second place.
The Midgets (6-0) were tied for first place in the Del Rey League along with the East L.A. Bobcats. After the dust settled, both the Gremlins and the Midgets seized playoff berths, while the Pee Wees fell to a strong Rosemead team.
JR. GREMLIN FLAG
La Canada vs. Rosemead Rebels
(Teams do not keep Score)

GREMLINS
La Cañada 26, Rosemead Rebels 8

JUNIOR PEE WEE
La Cañada 0, Rosemead Rebels 39

PEE WEE
La Cañada 12, Rosemead Rebels 49

MIDGET
La Cañada 40, Hacienda Heights 6

All Gladiators teams played Saturday at LCHS.  All teams except Midgets played Rosemead Rebels.

GREMLINS

LA CANADA 26, Rosemead Rebels 8

(Report submitted by Paul Lopez)

On Saturday afternoon at La Canada High School the Gremlin Division for the La Canada Gladiators guaranteed their trip into the playoffs with a decisive 26-8 victory at home over the Rosemead Rebels.

The first quarter was a defensive battle. Neither offense was able to get much momentum. The Gladiator defense came up with some huge hits and Colby Rees recovered his first fumble of the game. However, it was quarterback Lucas Lenhoff fourth down pass to sure handed receiver Caden Owen inside the Rebels 10 yard line to end the first quarter of play and place the Gladiators in scoring position.

On the first play of the 2^nd quarter, Lenhoff handed the ball to Chase Center, who bulldozed his way into the end zone. The Gladiators missed the conversion, but took a 6-0 lead.

On defense, Linebackers Joe Kazarian and Colby Rees took control of the game. Kazarian and Rees each had big hit after big hit, making it a frustrating afternoon for the Rebel offense. The defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, hammering the Rebels running backs play after play. The line for the Gladiators led by Jonah Cisneros, Charlie Stewart, Dylan Luper, CJ Corlett, Lucas Ponce, Dexter Matthews, Matthew Watson, and Christopher Marfisi brought pressure all game long.  Defensive ends and Outside Linebackers, Chase Center, Jake Fitzgerald, Marcus Martin, and Brandon Shepherd controlled the corners, allowing only three positive plays all game.

Jonah Cisneros, who had an outstanding game, came up with a devastating hit that jarred the ball lose allowing Rees to recover his second fumble recovery of the game. Defensive backs Aaron Garcia, Patrick Weinmann, Daylon Beasley, Caden Smith, Marcus Powe, and Louie De La Cruz were not to be outdone and blanketed Rebel receivers.

Shortly before halftime, however, the Rebels managed a great pass plays and conversion to go into halftime with an 8-6 lead.

The third quarter belonged to the Gladiators. Caden Owen took the ensuing kickoff 40 yards down the Gladiator sideline setting up the offense on the Rebels 30 yard line. On the next play, Lenhoff handed the ball to Center who rumbled 30 yards for the go ahead score. Daylon Beasley took the snap in the Wild Cat for the conversion and the Gladiators were up 13-8.

The Rebels fumbled the kickoff, and after a beautiful pass from Lenhoff to Marcus Powe, the Gladiator offense was ready to score again. Daylon Beasley took a handoff around the left side, cut back to the middle and simply outrun the Rebel defense as he raced 28 yards into the end zone. Beasley again took the snap in the Wild Cat and trotted in for his second point after of the game.  The 3^rd quarter ended with the Gladiators dominating, 20-8.

On the ensuing kickoff, Beasley rushed down on the kickoff and he ripped the ball out of the hands of the Rebels’ returner.  The Gladiators turned to their offensive line to control the clock with their power running game. The offensive line of Kazarian, Stewart, Marfisi, Efrem Rivera, Adam Griffin, Corlett, Luper, Ponce, and Watson controlled the line of scrimmage.  After a few short gains, Colby Rees raced 32 yards for a score and Gladiators were up 26-8.

Tight ends, Marcus Powe and Brandon Shepherd, and wide receivers, Mycah Pasten, Jacob Nies, Matty Lopez, Dexter Matthews, Carson Center, Caden Owen, Caden Smith, Laelan Wright, Aaron Garcia and Jake Fitzgerald came up with crucial receptions in the victory. The tight ends and receivers also put on a great display of teamwork as they laid down punishing downfield blocks that helped spring the Gladiators running game.

The Rebels were unable to mount any offense in the second half and the Gladiators completed the regular season at 6-1 with a 26-8 victory over the Rosemead Rebels.

Next week the Gladiators will travel to West Covina High School for the first round of playoffs to face the undefeated West Covina Bruins at 9:00 a.m.

Pee Wee

La Canada 12 Rosemead Rebels 49

(Reported by Ken Putnam)

With a playoff spot on the line the Rosemead Rebels came to La Canada High School Saturday afternoon and snapped La Canada’s four game winning streak and defeated the Gladiators 49 to 12. The Gladiators finish the regular season with a record of 4-3 and finish third in the Arroyo League.

The final score is deceptive, as the Gladiators kept it close for most of the first half, but Rosemead’s excellent kicking game enabled them to recover several onside kicks and keep the Gladiator offense off the field.

The Gladiator offense and defense players are to be commended for hanging in despite being outscored. The Gladiator players were Daron Derderian, Artis Candler, Kai Aguila, Elijah Washington, Evan Estrada, Greg Dulcich, Chris Wood, Marcelino Martinez, Jacob Buntich, Manuel Lopez-Torres, Jason Watson, Ashton Baron, Anthony Alvarado, Derek Albanese, Aaron Wilson, Will Stewart, Colman Trulik, Clayton Esparza, Ryan Beegle, Ian Goodstein and Chris Simonian.

Lending sideline assists were Mitchell Espinosa, Diego Apolito, Justin Morris, Carson Okland and Tyler Shakibai.

The Gladiators will close out their season with a Friendship Bowl game against the Whittier Redskins in Whittier next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

MIDGET

La Canada 40 Hacienda Heights 6

(Reported by Ken Putnam)

On Saturday evening at La Canada High School, the Gladiator defeated the Hacienda Heights Cougars 40-6 victory, improving their record to 7-0.  So far this season the Gladiator offense has scored 318 points while the defense has allowed only 6 points.  With their victory, the Gladiators are assured of a playoff berth.

Offensively the Gladiators had 475 yards compared to the Cougars 160 yards. The Gladiator offense was led by Drake Beasley who had 3 touchdowns and 320 yards rushing; Lucas Loera 23 yards and 1 touchdown; Will Rees 23 yards and 1 touchdown, and Angel Salazar 85 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The Gladiator offensive and defensive players lending support to the win were Jesse Blackwell, Christopher Mata, David de La Cruz, Steven Isip, David Frost, Nigel Jackson, David Vardanian, Charles Weinmann, Samuel Martinez, Matthew Bazarevitsch, Johnnie Padilla, Isaiah Guardado, Maxx Jakeway, Dominic Jones, Brandon Cook and Anthony Barales. All of the squad members are to be commended for a brilliant season of winning 7 games as they head off to the playoffs.

Next up for the Gladiators are the Huntington Park Spartans on Saturday evening at Huntington Park High School.

JR. GREMLIN FLAG

La Canada Gladiators v. Rosemead Rebels

(Teams do not keep Score)

No Report Received.

Junior Pee Wee

LA CANADA 0, Rosemead Rebels 39