Falcons fly past Verdugo Hills

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Nearly half of the first quarter passed before Crescenta Valley High’s offense took the field, but it took less than a minute for the Falcons football team to affirm its dominance against Verdugo Hills.

Linebacker Kevin Rignot picked up a fumble in stride and ran 26 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring just 55 seconds into the Falcons’ season opener, while running back Harry Pessy had three total touchdowns, as Crescenta Valley overwhelmed the visiting Dons in every facet of the game, 48-8, in a nonleague tilt Friday night at Moyse Field.

“I think we came out with a good start,” said Pessy, who had two rushing scores and 74 yards on the ground in just five carries in addition to a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. “We looked pretty strong.”

On only the second play from scrimmage in the game, Verdugo Hills fumbled a reverse and Rignot picked it up on one bounce and raced into the end zone for the first six points in a game that saw Crescenta Valley score the first 41 points of the game. It also began a night in which the Falcons defense dominated its opposition, holding the Dons to 137 total yards and negative six on the ground. The Dons had 15 plays go for a loss, with the Falcons tallying seven sacks — Michael Mendoza and Alex Jang had two apiece.

“I thought the defense played very well,” Falcons Coach Tony Zarrillo said.

The offense didn’t touch the ball until 6:33 was left in the opening quarter.

“Especially it being the first game, we were ready to go,” Pessy said.

And the Falcons were off and running, gaining 213 yards in the first half — 113 on the ground — and scoring on four of its five drives.

Dai Dai McFadden swept left for a nine-yard scoring run with 3:03 left in the opening quarter before Pessy, following a 28 yard run, powered in for a one-yard score to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter.

Quarterback Kyle Cota, who had 159 yards passing on a 10-for-17 night, ran in for a two-yard score to make it 28-0 before Pessy’s six-yard scoring run with 1:12 left in the first half made it 35-0 at the half.

Cota netted the Falcons’ first passing score of the season when he hit Tanner Hamilton over the middle for an eight-yard touchdown three minutes into the second half.

From there, Crescenta Valley’s reserves filed into the game.