Tartans Turn the Tables on Chargers

Collin Grady's pick started Glendora on the comeback trail

Collin Grady’s pick started Glendora on the comeback trail

By Tim Peterson

(Glendora) – Glendora overcame  an 11 point deficit in the fourth quarter to knock off Charter Oak 38-37 Thursday night in a Central Division clash. The Chargers seemed to be in control but inexplicably turned the ball over on each of its last two possessions and the Tartans took advantage to win it.

Zion Echols scored on a two yard run with 6:07 left in the third quarter to give Charter Oak a comfortable 37-26 lead.

Matt Fink rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one

Matt Fink rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one

After stopping Glendora , the Chargers looked to ice it on the next drive marching all the way down to the Glendora 14. But Collin Grady intercepted CO quarterback Kam Brown to halt the drive and Glendora took over on its own five. The Tartans then went 95 yards on 11 plays with Fink going the final 43 yards himself on a 43 yard scamper. The drive was aided by a huge pass interference penalty on Charter Oak. The Tartans went for two and were stopped and were down 37-32.

Still there was no panic on the Charter Oak sideline. The Chargers still had the lead, the ball and the clock on their side. But after taking over on the 20, on third down there was a miscommunication on the snap between the center and the quarterback. The ball quirted loose, Glendora fell on it and the Chargers worse fears had been realized. Tartans ball on the CO 18.

Justin Frazier's eight yard blast in the fourth was the game winner

Justin Frazier’s eight yard blast in the fourth was the game winner

Five plays and another pass interference penalty later, Justin Frazier threw a knockout blow with an eight yard run up the gut. Glendora, who had relinquished a lead earlier in the game, now had the lead back with 4:40 left.

This time the Tartans held on, forced the Chargers to punt and ran out the clock. Jubilation reigned on the Glendora sideline as the final seconds ticked off while for Charter Oak it was a mix of shock and utter frustration.

***Fink was fine for Glendora, throwing for rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for another 7 and a score. Fink ran for a 28-yard score lead in the second quarter to give Glendora a 2010 lead.

***Glendora jumped out to a 13-0 lead on touchdown runs by Montano of 59 yards and one yard.

Despite the heroics of Zion Echols (left) and Dareon Nash, CO came up short

Despite the heroics of Zion Echols (left) and Dareon Nash, CO came up short

***Montano’s final line: Rushing- 22-155-2 TD; Receiving: 3-66-TD.

***Down 20-10 Dareon Nash hauled in a 16 yard pass from Brown to cut it to 20-17. Echols three-yard run with 1:09 left in the first half gave Charter Oak its first lead of the game.

***If Charter Oak wins the game the headlines are all about Echols. Echols scored four touchdowns overall – two rushing, another receiving and he returned the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards to give Charter Oak a 31-20 lead.

***Dareon Nash caught 11 passes for 94 yards and a score for Charter Oak.

***Brown threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns but he was hurt by the pick in the fourth quarter. Brown added 68 yards on the ground

***Charter Oak turned the ball over three times and they all led to Glendora scores. The Tartans had just one turnover- a Fink interception in the second quarter.

***Glendora had 323 yards total on the ground.

***”This game tells you what Glendora football is all about. It’s about never giving up. You never give up. It’s never over. It’s not over until they rip the helmet off of your head and tell you the game is over.” – Glendora HC Jerry Lewellan addressing his team after the game.

***Glendora improved to 3-1 while Charter Oak fell to 2-3.

 

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