Hoover football shut out by Muir
GLENDALE — Hoover High’s football team’s frustrating season continued with yet another shutout on Friday night against Muir.
And with two Pacific League games remaining, it may soon be time to reconsider which league the Tornadoes are a part of.
Those were the sentiments of Tornadoes Coach Matt Andersen after a 27-0 loss to the visiting Mustangs — Hoover’s sixth straight loss and fifth shutout of the season, dropping its overall record to 1-7, including winless in four games in league play.
“We’re outmatched,” said Andersen, whose team hasn’t scored since an Oct. 1 loss to Burroughs. “We shouldn’t be in this league. The guys up front are twice our size: Bigger, faster, stronger.”
Quinton Smith rushed for 101 yards in 14 carries before leaving the game with an injury. For a team that has already dealt with an array of injuries, Smith’s absence was noticed, as Hoover’s offense mustered 12 yards of total offense in the second half of a game littered with penalties.
Similarly to its meeting with Burbank the week prior, Hoover’s defense played well, but with a struggling offense that hasn’t provided balance, one score is pivotal.
Muir (2-6, 2-3) scored 20 points in the first half, led by quarterback Joey Knowles, who accounted for each of the team’s four touchdowns—two through the air and two on the ground. Knowles helped the Mustangs get on the scoreboard with a 68-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining in the opening quarter.
Hoover held the ball for the first 8:44 of the quarter, but ultimately couldn’t put up any points despite a 16-play drive that saw Smith pick up a first down with a 28-yard fake punt run on fourth down.
For Andersen, it has been the story of the season.
“We have good starts, but we just haven’t been able to finish drives,” he said. “We moved the ball well against [Crescenta Valley]. We put together nice drives, but can’t finish them.”
Hoover reached Muir’s 18-yard line before an incomplete pass resulted in a turnover on downs.
The Mustangs scored on their first three drives, with Knowles finding Jamal Tims for a four-yard hookup midway through the second quarter. Knowles, a senior, did damage with his feet later in the quarter on a 17-yard rushing touchdown down the right sideline to give Muir a 20-0 lead.
Steven Gonzalez took over as quarterback with Smith on the sidelines.
Gonzalez and the Tornadoes had their best opportunity after Maurice Herrera returned a punt into Muir territory. Coupled with a horse collar penalty, the Tornadoes took over at the Mustangs’ 23-yard line. Hoover did not capitalize and would not gain any positive yardage.
With the game winding down, Hoover’s defense recovered a fumble on a pass play that went to the nine-yard line. In a season that warrants the little things, the turnover secured an opponent scoring less than 30 points for the first time since Hoover picked up its lone victory of the season, a 41-18 win over Sotomayor on Sept. 3.
Hoover will look to right the ship next week in a home game with Arcadia before the annual final game of the season with rival Glendale.