Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
One is a speedster, the other is a bruiser and the third is a
combination of both.
With a trio of strong and efficient running backs, the Glendale
Community College football team is quietly establishing itself as an
outside threat in the Western State Conference Mountain Division.
Willie Latham, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound converted defensive back,
Tyrone Burwell, a 6-3, 250-pound sophomore and Kartrell Clayton, a
leader on a young Vaquero team, combined to amass 263 rushing yards
in a 30-13 divisional victory against host East. L.A. on Saturday.
"It's all in the fresh legs," said Clayton, who played in his
first game of the season after rehabilitating an injured left knee.
"You can't beat a team with fresh legs."
Vaquero offensive coordinator John Rome perfectly designed a
ball-control, time-consuming offense, which had Latham carry the ball
24 times for 113 yards, Burwell rush for 71 yards and a touchdown in
11 carries and Clayton total 79 yards and two touchdowns in 12
carries.
"My philosophy is to spread the defense and run the ball," Rome
said. "We had time to pass, we controlled the ball and we tried to
put ourselves in good situations."
GCC quarterback J.D. Ziska -- who passed for 105 yards and a score
-- also did his part, rushing for 28 yards in four carries, as the
Vaqueros (2-2, 2-0 in division) outgained the Huskies by 217 rushing
yards.
"Having three backs like that, we feel very fortunate," said
Vaquero Coach John Cicuto, who also received steady and timely play
from his defense, which forced four turnovers.
The Vaqueros gave themselves some breathing room in the third
quarter when Clayton scored the first of his two touchdowns from six
yards out, giving GCC a 23-6 lead.
East L.A. (0-4, 0-2) came within 10 points when Richard Perkins
hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Thomas McDougall, who was
29-of-39 passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Vaqueros later put the game out of reach when Clayton
scored a four-yard touchdown after a Husky turnover.
A notable reason for the Vaqueros' recent success -- in which they
have won two straight games after an 0-2 start to the season -- has
been the emergence of a young offensive line that helped GCC control
the clock for 19 minutes in the second half, including the final six
of the game.
