LC shut out in playoffs

CERRITOS — The La Cañada High football playoff run stalled almost as quickly as it started, as the Spartans suffered a 45-0 loss to Olympic League champion Cerritos Valley Christian in the first round of CIF Southern Section playoff action at Crusader Field on Friday night.

With an offense that had almost as many punts (eight) as first downs (nine), La Cañada (5-5) struggled to move the ball forward while the Spartan defense could not prevent its opponents from staying in place, as the Crusaders (9-2) amassed 471 total yards en route to the shutout victory.

“They’re a more athletic team in person than they appeared to be on film,” Spartans Head Coach Dan Yoder said. “Even on film they looked very good. This is totally a different team than we played last week.”

In a dramatic shift from the emotionally-charged victories over South Pasadena and Temple City on the final night of the regular season, the Spartans were not able to carry any momentum down south to Cerritos.

Crusader quarterback Kevin Running scored five touchdowns and tailbacks Trevor Rodriguez and Kevin Kurian had their ways against the Spartan defense, consistently picking up big yardage on almost every drive.

In fact, the Crusader offense was so effective in getting into scoring position, they didn’t attempt its first punt of the game until its second to last possession of the contest — coincidentally three-plus minutes after Valley Christian’s last score of the game.

Until that point, the Spartan defense gave up big play after big play. After Kurian’s 50-yard opening drive touchdown score and a Crusader field goal, Running’s 48-yard pass to Darrell Bush set up an 11-yard scoring pass to Matthew Bynum to give Valley Christian a 17-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Running connected on two more touchdown passes to Bynum and Tanner Miller in the second quarter to make it 31-0 at halftime, with the Crusader quarterback completing passes of 43 and 37 yards in consecutive drives to set up each score.

The Crusaders made it 38-0 after Running rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 5:59 remaining in the third, which was set up after the quarterback found Bush for a 23-yard pass three plays earlier. Rodriguez rounded out the scoring with a 72-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

In all, the Crusaders bombarded the Spartans defense with 254 passing yards and 217 rushing. Running completed 14 of 19 passes for three touchdowns, an interception and 229 yards, adding 35 rushing yards for two more score.

For La Cañada, Moore finished his last game as Spartan quarterback by completing 13 of 28 passes for 123 yards and an interception; the La Cañada offense crossed midfield only twice and came within 22 yards of scoring Moore’s 46-yard pass to Dodge Williams placed the team within striking distance late in the third quarter. However, the Spartans turned the ball over on downs.

Despite the loss, Yoder said he was proud of his team, pointing out his boys overcame some obstacles and adversity in order to be in the playoffs.

“Considering the fires, a flu scare … and having a game cancelled, these guys have been through a lot this season,” he said. “They reacted and they responded. For a first-year head coach, I couldn’t ask for a better team.”