Kyle Cota threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead CV
(Pasadena) – It was the type of game that you didn’t want to end. You got the feeling that the team that had the ball last would win. There were 28 points scored in the fourth quarter alone as both teams exchanged big plays. There were no punts, only points as Crescenta Valley finally escaped with a 38-27 win over Pasadena Friday night on the Bulldogs’ new home field.
“We never punted the ball and I don’t think they did either,” said Pasadena Coach Mike McFarland. “I’ve never been in a game like that before.”
No, the Bulldogs never did punt but they did turn the ball over three times and it proved to be the difference. An interception and two fumbles, including one on the opening drive of the third quarter that led to a CV touchdown, was too much to overcome. Crescenta Valley turned it over just once.
It figured to be a wild game when Harry Pessy returned the opening kick off 98 yards for a touchdown to give Crescenta Valley a 7-0 lead. It continued to get wilder.
Charles Hendricks had over 100 yards rushing including a 34 yard touchdown to keep the Bulldogs close
Down 24-13 at halftime, Pasadena opened the third quarter by marching from its own 20 all the way down to the Crescenta Valley 29. Charles Hendricks and Nick Escoe were chewing up yardage on the ground taking handoffs from Aaron Simpson. From the 29, Escoe was running left and was hit and appeared to be down. The ball popped loose and CV fell on it. After a lengthy discussion, the officials ruled that Escoe was not down and the Falcons took over on the 22.
They responded with a 17 play, 78 yard march that lasted all the way into the fourth quarter. Nikko Domingo capped it with a one yard run to give CV a 31-13 lead with 11:13 left in the contest. Quarterback Kyle Cota had key runs of 16 and eight yards on the drive.
“That was huge. We score there and we’re right back in it but instead they make the big plays,” McFarland said.
Pasadena had a couple big plays left of its own. On the next series Simpson scrambled out of the pocket and avoided several tackles before firing a strike to Escoe who raced down the sidelines for a 33 yard touchdown. Charles Hendricks’ run for a two point conversion made it 31-21.
A big kick off return set CV up at its own 47. From there they drove 53 yards for a score. Cota found Mike Bako in the end zone for a 13 yard touchdown pass to increase the advantage to 17 with 5:49 left.
Pasadena wasn’t done yet. Using a no huddle offense, Simpson engineered a drive down the field finding several open receivers. He found Eugene Tripling on an 11 yard TD pass with 2:08 left to cut the margin to 38-27.
The onside kick was recovered by Crescenta Valley but they still weren’t able to run out the clock. The Bulldogs had one more possession before they turned it over on downs and CV took a knee.
Escoe had a 65 yard touchdown run in the first quarter to counter Pessy’s kick return. CV struck back when Bako caught a 31 yard pass from Cota.
Pessy scored again on a 61 yard romp in the second quarter and Hendricks got loose for Pasadena on 34 yard touchdown run. Neither team scored in the third to set up the wild fourth quarter.
The numbers were huge on both sides. For CV, Cota threw for 113 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 55 more. Pessy had 17 carries for 130 yards and a score and Bako caught six passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
For Pasadena, Hendricks had 16 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, Escoe scored a touchdown rushing and one receiving. He ran the ball 14 times for 133 yards. Simpson completed 14 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Kevin Phillips caught three Simpson passes for 73 yards.
Pasadena dropped to 3-2 in the Pacific League. The Bulldogs are currently in fourth place and have Burbank and Muir remaining. If they can win one of those two they should get in the post season. They are 5-5 overall. Crescenta Valley is 4-1, 6-2 overall. The Falcons are third behind undefeated Burbank and Burroughs.
CV 14 10 0 14 38
P 6 7 0 14 27
Summary:
1st Qtr:
CB 11:47 Pessy 98 yd KO Ret. (Arian Abghari Kick)
P 11:16 Escoe 65 yd run (2 pt pass failed)
CV :23 Bako 31 yd pass from Cota (Abghari Kick)
2nd Qtr:
CV 11:11 Abghari 28 yd FG
CV 9:36 Pessy 61 yd run (Abghari Kick)
P 6:20 Hendricks 34 yd run (Eric Luevano Kick)
4th Qtr:
CV 11:31 Domingo 2 yd run (Abghari Kick)
P 9:08 Escoe 33 yd pass from Simpson (Hendricks 2 pt run)
CV 5:49 Bako 13 yd pass from Cota (Abghari Kick)
P 2:08 Tripling 11 yd pass from Simpson (2 pt pass failed)
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