Hamlet Nalbandyan
GLENDALE -- Jason Burkhart showed a lot of promise as a quarterback
coming through the Crescenta Valley High football program. Bobby Mena did
the same as a punishing running back.
Both could be starters at many other programs and receive their share
of the limelight at those positions, but they opted to go another route.
The two 17-year-old senior captains decided to sacrifice personal
glory for the success of the team and changed positions. Burkhart moved
to wide out and Mena became a linebacker.
How can you argue with their move as the Falcons are 10-1 and still
alive in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.
"That's the thing that's special about those two guys," CV Coach Alan
Eberhart said. "They both made sacrifices individually to benefit the
team. They could easily be the premier guys at other schools, but in our
program, they were left out."
After leading the junior varsity team to a Pacific League title as a
sophomore, Burkhart moved up to varsity last year. But with a player the
caliber of Scott Vossmeyer as the quarterback, Burkhart had to find a new
place to play if he wanted to get in the game.
The same can be said for Mena. CV has switched to a predominantly
passing offense the last two years, and versatile running backs like Wes
Jones and Jason Hogan fit in better with that system instead of a
bruising runner like Mena.
However, Burkhart and Mena have fit in just fine at their new
positions, and it's because of their stellar play this year that CV is in
the quarterfinals facing Hart at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moyse Field.
Burkhart is second in the area in receptions with 59 for 784 yards.
That's only second to his teammate, Jason Hogan, who has 69 catches.
Burkhart also has nine touchdowns.
Mena has been one of the best linebackers in the area as he leads CV
with 103 tackles. But the thing that's most impressive with those numbers
is the times that they have come in.
Talk about clutch players, Burkhart and Mena fit that mold perfectly.
In the big games -- and CV has had plenty of those this year -- these
two find a way to raise their play. Like in the first round against
Leuzinger High.
Burkhart caught eight balls for 62 yards against the favored
Olympians, with five of those receptions resulting in first downs.
"Goss always tells me to get the first down, and he's been putting it
where it needs to be," Burkhart said. "Hudson and I are close friends,
and it's been very fun this season with the new passing offense."
