Tartans Take Advantage of Turnovers

(Azusa) –Two-time Southeast Division Champion Charter Oak was given a rude welcome into the Inland Division as Glendora took advantage of four Charger turnovers to open the season with a 28-21 victory.

“They (Tartans) played well,” said Chargers Head Coach Lou Farrar.  “We played really bad.  You can’t turn the ball over and expect to win.”

Glendora running back Corey Victoria grounded out 87 yards on 19 carries including touchdown runs of two and five yards to end any question on who would be the starting back for the Tartans.

Much-heralded senior quarterback Chad Jeffries kept the Charter Oak defense guessing as he went 10 of 16 on 111 yards and a touchdown. He added 18 carries and 69 yards rushing with a touchdown.

“Corey and Chad did a great job,” said Glendora Head Coach Mark Pasquarella.  “Corey came in and got some tough yards.  Chad just puts pressure on the defense.”

Jefferies sealed the Tartans victory with a two-yard run up the middle.  The scoring drive chewed up 6:24 on 11 plays that saw Glendora go 80-yards.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Travis Santiago (15 of 24 for 192 yards) hooked up with Dennis Rufus (four catches on 40 yards) on an innocent little screen play that turned into a 24-yard score to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead.

The Tartans answered the score with Victoria’s first touchdown of the night and Skyler Crall caused Santiago to fumble on the very next Charter Oak possession to give Glendora the ball back with 2:39 remaining in the half.

Jefferies sent the Tartans to locker room with the lead on a controversial non-call with 10-seconds remaining in the half when he found Cory Murphy in the corner of the end zone.  During the play Jeffries rolled to his left and started to tuck it and run when he saw Murphy open.  It appeared from the Glendora sideline as though Jefferies had crossed the line of scrimmage by a good yard.

“Chad looked like he was going to take it and run,” said Pasquarella.  “He stopped short and found Murphy in the end zone.”

Much of Charter Oak’s success during its title runs the last two years was the ability to keep the opposing team’s defense on the field in the second half.  The Chargers were victims of their own medicine as the Tartans held possession of the football for 8:01 of the first 9:53 of the third quarter.

That would be the difference in the game late as Glendora’s offense  wore down the less experienced Charter Oak defense and Victoria took advantage of their lack of rest with his second touchdown on a five-yard run.

The Chargers would strike back late in the fourth quarter to make things interesting, when up and coming freshman running back Kurt Scoby scored on a two-yard run with 2:21 to play in the game.

CHARTER OAK        0   7     0     14     21

GLENDORA             0  14    7       7      28

1st Quarter – No Scoring

2nd Quarter –  8:48 Dennis Rufus 24 pass from Travis Santiago (Jack Schneider kick)

3:04 Corey Victoria 2 run (Mogi Ghalambar kick)

0:10  Cory Murphy 17 pass from Chad Jeffries (Ghalambar kick)

3rd Quarter –   2:07  Victoria 5 run (Ghalambar kick)

4th Quarter –   11:32  Donald Martin 1 run  (Schneider kick)

5:08   Jeffries 2 run (Ghalambar kick)

2:21  Kurt Scoby 2 run (Schneider kick)

Notes:  Former Charter Oak players A.J. Powell and Keith Smith are expected to play for their respective schools on Saturday.  Smith will play Middle Linebacker for San Jose St when they face Alabama and Powell will play for Portland State at Arizona State.

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