Charles Rich
Mistakes came at the wrong times for the Glendale and La Canada high
football teams during their season-opening losses Friday.
A blocked punt that led to the game-winning touchdown spoiled
Glendale's effort against Alhambra.
Blunders littered the field in La Canada's performance against
Burbank.
Glendale and La Canada will look to rectify their errors when the
teams meet in a nonleague game at 7 p.m. today at Glendale High's
Moyse Field.
Glendale, which handed La Canada a 21-14 defeat last year after
seniors Phi Le and Rick Martin each rushed for more than 100 yards at
St. Francis High's Friedman Field, placed an emphasis on its punting
game this week at practice.
"I wasn't too impressed with our special teams, in particular with
our punting," said first-year Glendale Coach Ted Amorosi said.
"First and foremost, we need to get better on special teams,
because it's one of the quickest ways to win or lose a game."
Amorosi, who has served as an assistant at Canyon Country Canyon,
Saugus and Bellflower Highs along with Glendale Community College and
Pasadena City College, found that out immediately.
With less than 10 minutes left, Alhambra's Zion Babb blocked
Carlos Guzman's punt attempt and returned it 30 yards to give the
Moors a 21-14 victory.
"Normally, you have eight or nine guys coming at you on a punt
during a game," Amorosi said. "At practice, we had 20 people rushing
against the punt team."
La Canada, which is mired in a five-game winless streak (0-4-1),
gave up 442 yards of total offense in a 54-14 nonleague loss to
Burbank at Burroughs High's Memorial Field. It marked the most amount
of points yielded by the Spartans since a 34-8 Rio Hondo League
defeat to Monrovia on Oct. 30.
La Canada Coach Rich Wheeler said one thing might work to the
Spartans' advantage: Glendale runs the double-wing offense, just like
La Canada.
The Spartans had difficulty containing Burbank's running game,
allowing 185 yards rushing. They couldn't stop Burbank quarterback
Mike McDonald either, as he threw for 257 yards and five touchdowns.
"When the game got out of reach, we had to make the best of a bad
situation," Wheeler said. "We then looked at the game film and we got
an educational experience from it.
"The Glendale game will be up for grabs, and I expect a battle and
for us to get back on the right track."
La Canada quarterback Tom Michael will look for a bounce-back
performance.
The senior completed eight of 25 passes for 122 yards and one
touchdown.
The Nitros will turn to junior running back James Clay, who rushed
for a team-high 71 yards against Alhambra. Six Glendale running backs
rushed for 174 yards.
