SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — With the offensive unit stuck in neutral, the Crescenta Valley High football team turned to its defense to get things going.
Thanks to three turnovers, the Falcons remained in second place in league behind Muir with one week left in the regular season.
Junior linebacker Tanner Hamilton had an interception and a fumble recovery Friday night to spark Crescenta Valley to a 35-6 league win against Pasadena at Glendale High’s Moyse Field.
Crescenta Valley second-year Coach Tony Zarrillo said the defense proved to be a savior.
“I thought our defense was terrific all game long,” said Zarrillo, whose team limited Pasadena to 181 yards of total offense. “We were a little lethargic in the first half, but our defense picked it up.
“We have seven underclassmen on defense, and they are beginning to come around. We needed something to get us going, and Tanner got the interception and fumble recovery. He gave us the spark that we needed.”
The Falcons (7-2, 5-1 in league) appeared sluggish throughout the first half. They built a 7-0 before Hamilton and Co. went to work against the Bulldogs (1-8, 1-5).
On Pasadena’s first possession in the third quarter, senior defensive back Matt Zilinsky intercepted a pass at the Pasadena 34-yard line and returned it to the 20. On the next play, Crescenta Valley quarterback Karsen Reedy scored on a 20-yard run up the gut to make it 14-0 with 10:33 remaining.
Eighteen seconds later, Hamilton recovered a fumble at the Pasadena 21-yard line and scooped it up for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0.
Hamilton wasn’t done for the night. He intercepted a pass at the Pasadena 40-yard line to later set up a four-yard run by running back Ryan Eberhart to make it 28-0 with 6:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Reedy threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Eberhart in the first quarter. He then tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Bako in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Reedy completed 15 of 19 passes for 135 yards and had three total touchdowns.
The Falcons will face Arcadia on the road in their league finale at 7 p.m. next Friday.
