Patriots Go Flat, Then Get Flattened

CHATSWORTH —  It took 10 games and lots of defeats, but Chatsworth High players finally started believing in themselves Thursday night and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, 34-27, over previously unbeaten Birmingham in a West Valley League game.

Players celebrated as if they had won a championship even though the victory will likely earn Chatsworth (3-7, 2-3 in league play) only a City Invitational berth after tying for fourth place.

But the Chancellors’ accomplishment in defeating Birmingham (9-1, 4-1) was no small feat.

“This isn’t Florida,” Athletic Director Fluke Fluker proclaimed. “We aren’t having a recount.”

Chatsworth rolled up 263 yards rushing. Junior tailback Joe Shumpert gained 144 yards in 18 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Shumpert also contributed the key defensive play of the night, stripping the ball from John Walker of Birmingham on the Chatsworth 40-yard line with 9:09 left to prevent a Patriot comeback.

“We finally put it all together,” Coach Bill Coan of Chatsworth said. “We used our guys up front.”

With tackles Jesse Quevedo and David Velasquez, guards Brandon Kaluna and James Levine, and center Sean Spearman opening the holes, Shumpert and fullback Charles Vasquez, who had 81 yards in 14 carries, couldn’t be stopped.

The Chancellors took the lead for good when Sam Riley caught a short pass from Jason Moss and turned it into a 70-yard touchdown with 5:23 left in the third quarter, putting Chatsworth ahead, 31-27.

Tom Colley kicked field goals of 37 and 26 yards in the second half.

Scott Jensen of Birmingham completed 14 of 28 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. His 24-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Kevin McCleary gave the Patriots a 27-21 halftime lead.

But Birmingham never displayed a sense of urgency. Chatsworth showed more enthusiasm and more intensity. Birmingham couldn’t sustain drives and kept missing tackles.

Coach Ed Croson had become concerned in recent weeks with the Patriots’ performance even though they kept winning.

“We’ve had trouble focusing in practice the last three weeks,” Croson said. “You can’t take things for granted. Maybe they thought no matter what happened they’d win. It was a bump in the road.”

The victory showed what Chatsworth is capable of doing.

“If you believe, you can beat anybody,” he said. “We want so bad to go to the playoffs and this was the only way.”

Birmingham shares the West Valley title with Taft but the Patriots will be seeded No. 1 from the league when playoff pairings are determined today.