MidValleySports.Com

By Thom Hendrickson

(Glendale)- Crescenta Valley coughed up the ball three times in first quarter, Muir capitalized and ended up with a 39-26 victory Friday night as well as a Pacific League title.

Devonte Cravin took one fumble back for a touchdown and Daniel Cervantes went 42 yards for a second for a 12-0 1st quarter lead.

The Falcons finally got moving as Kevin Hello scored on a 5-yard run and then took the lead when Brian Gadsby sneaked over from the one to give CV a 14-12 lead midway through the second quarter.

The lead was short lived as Muir’s John Brown ran back the kick off for a touchdown. Then the Mustangs Jaylyn Newson finished off the first half scoring with a 3-yard run and Muir led 25-14.

In third Hello scored on a 3 yard run to get CV back to 25-20. The Mustangs answered back as Dejon Williams and Tony Claxton combined for a touchdown before, Williams ran 2-yards for another.

Muir led 39-20 to start the fourth quarter. CV had its chances in the final period, Gadsby hit Chase Walker with a 9-yard pass to cut the lead to 39-26.

The last two drives for the Falcons were ended with a personal foul penalty at the Mustang two and Gadsby’s only interception of the game.

A 22-yard gain on a fourth and one fake punt by Jessie Knowles helped Muir run out the last 4:10 on the clock for the win.

***Crescenta Valley’s Brian Gadsby 13-36 for 136 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  Also, 1 touchdown rushing.

***Muir’s Dejon Williams 9-16 for 147 yards and 1 touchdown rushing.

***CV’s Kevin Hello ran for 188 yards on 28 carries with 2 touchdowns.  However, he fumbled the ball away twice.

***Muir’s Marceles Clash caught 7 passes for 140 yards.

***Crescenta Valley fumbled the ball away on its first three series of the game. They  occurred at its own 40 and Muir’s 19 and 29 yard line. The first one was returned 40-yards by Muir’s Devonte Cravin for the first score of the game.

***Penalties assessed were almost even:  Muir 11 for 85 yards and Crescenta Valley 9 for 80 yards.

***Muir’s third touchdown occurred on the kickoff after CV took their only lead of the game (14-12). Tony Claxton received the kickoff at the 28 yard line and fumbled it after crossing the 30.  John Brown picked up the ball, eluding tacklers as he went across the field down the left sideline for a 70-yard return.

***Dejon Williams scrambled out of the pocket on a 3rd and 9 play and ran 35 yards to the CV 20 before lateraling to Tony Claxton for the final 20 yards and a touchdown putting Muir up 32-20 in the 3rd quarter.

***Crescenta Valley setup to punt in the first quarter and Muir missed Tyler Hill by the CV sideline as Joe Torres executed the fake punt perfectly for 27-yards and a first down. Hello fumbled on the next play killing the drive.

***”We couldn’t let them score a touchdown on special teams or by the defense. We did both. Otherwise, we played them even the rest of the game.”—Crescenta Valley HC Paul Schilling.

***”We stayed with our concepts…and we just keep fighting until the scoreboard said 0:00.”—Muir HC John Hardy.

***The Mustangs (8-1 overall, 6-0 in Pacific League) will play Pasadena (1-8, 1-5 league) in the annual Turkey Tussle at the Rose Bowl next week.

***Crescenta Valley (7-2, 4-2 overall) stays at home to close out its season against Arcadia (5-4, 3-3 overall).