Muir Keeps Streak Going . . . Barely

PASADENA —  History rarely is on Crescenta Valley’s side when it plays Muir in football. The Falcons haven’t beaten the Mustangs since 1978.

Crescenta Valley nearly erased the past Friday night, but fell again to Muir, 22-21, in a Pacific League game at Pasadena City College.

The significance of the game was eclipsed with 4 minutes 16 seconds left in the third quarter when official Chris McNeese suffered an epileptic seizure. He was cognizant when taken by ambulance to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena for observation.

Five minutes later, another ambulance pulled up and took away a member of the Muir band, who fainted while watching the official’s seizure.

These teams haven’t had the most competitive string of games. Muir has produced shutouts in three of its last six victories over the Falcons. Muir won last year, 33-0.

Apparently making matters worse for Crescenta Valley was the lighting. Not at the college, where the Mustangs always play their home games, but at Muir.

The Mustangs acquired lights for the football field during the offseason and, despite daylight savings time, have been practicing at 5 p.m., something new for this time of year.

But it was Crescenta Valley (4-4, 2-1 in league) that put a novel spin on the game in the first quarter.

Trailing, 6-0, and facing third and five, the Falcons called on Nick Yerton for the fumblerooski.

Yerton, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound right guard, picked up the ball that quarterback Ryan McKnight covertly placed on the ground and ran down the left sideline for 60 yards and a 7-6 lead.

The Falcons barely had time to recover from their rejoicing. Five plays into their next possession, standout running back Kenny Pritchett took a pitch to the left side and ran 37 yards for a touchdown. Crescenta Valley led at the half, 14-6.

Muir (6-2, 3-0) had its problems on offense, partly because speedy receiver DeAngelo Steward-Holmes did not suit up. Stewart-Holmes, who leads the Mustangs with 27 receptions, skipped practice and did not play.

Muir scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:54 left. Rickey Crockett capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run on a pitch to the left.

Crockett then scored on a nearly identical play on the two-point conversion to make it 22-21.

Pritchett finished with 121 yards in 24 carries and completed five of eight passes for 72 yards. Muir’s Sultan McCullough had 136 yards in 26 carries.