Crescenta Valley football prepares for new road with 2012 schedule

After a 4-3 mark in the Pacific League last season in which the Falcons tied for third place, Crescenta Valley and Schilling expect another dogfight for a playoff spot. And this time around, the Falcons won't dip their toes into the Pacific waters, as they begin with a daunting three-week slate.

In their league opener, the Falcons will travel to face Muir (8-5 last season), which advanced to the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division semifinals a year ago. With a new coach, but a tradition of being a fast and physical team that plays tough at home, the Mustangs are a favorite to be atop league again.

"We've always, even some of our really good groups in the past, had a really tough time out there [at Muir]," Schilling said.

CV edged Muir, 27-20, last season, but then lost a shootout against Pasadena, 53-41. Pasadena (6-6) will follow Muir on the CV schedule again, as the Bulldogs and Falcons lock up on Sept. 28. Much of the preseason Pacific League talk has centered around Pasadena and returning All-Area quarterback Brandon Cox, who's heading to the University of Arizona.

"[After Muir], then we play Pasadena and their beast of a quarterback," Schilling said. "They're gonna score."

And Burroughs (6-5 last season), the three-time defending league champion, is very likely going to have a good running game behind a big and physical offensive line, as is the program's tradition.

"[Indians Coach Keith Knoop] does an awesome job," said Schilling, whose squad fell against Burroughs, 35-22. "They kind of just do what they do. That offensive line is always good and a back emerges."

Adding to the difficulty of knocking off the champion Indians will be a short week of practice as the Falcons, after hosting Pasadena, will host the Indians on Thursday, Oct. 4 in their only non-Friday game of the season.

A Burbank team (4-6 last season) looking to bounce back into the playoff mix will then host CV on Oct. 12 before the Falcons face Glendale (1-9 last season) and Hoover (0-10 last season), their fellow inhabitants of Glendale High's Moyse Field. CV defeated Burbank, Glendale and Hoover last year.

The Falcons, as is tradition, finish off the regular season with archrival Arcadia, as the Apaches (9-3 last season) host CV on Nov. 2. Crescenta Valley, which lost against its rivals, 31-7, a year ago, is looking to end a two-game skid in the rivalry.

Said Schilling: "That's the game, that's our UCLA-USC game."

2012 Schedule

Aug. 31 at Santa Paula, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at San Marino, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 La Cañada, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Muir, 7 p.m.*

Sept. 28 Pasadena, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 4 Burroughs, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 12 at Burbank, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 19 at Glendale, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 26 Hoover, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 2 at Arcadia, 7 p.m.*

*denotes Pacific League game

All home games are at Moyse Field.