CENTURY LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Villa Park Sends Message With Victory Over Santa Ana Valley

Grant Pearsall hopes the message is understood throughout the rest of the Century League.

In case it wasn’t, after Villa Park throttled Santa Ana Valley, 36-13, Pearsall thought he would make things perfectly clear.

“I hope the other teams notice this,” Pearsall said. “I think this makes us the front-runner. Every guy on our team knows we can win the league title.”

Tough talk, considering league play just began. But it’s difficult to argue with him, based on the way Pearsall and the Spartans (4-2, 1-0) played Thursday at El Modena High School.

Like every team in the league, Villa Park was an unknown quality, even after five nonleague games. The Spartans had looked sharp in their victories and inconsistent in their losses.

But they were focused against the Falcons (3-3, 0-1). The Spartans broke away with a 19-point third quarter, then punished Santa Ana Valley with their defense, which was undersized but rarely overmatched.

“I think other teams look at us and think they can muscle us,” said defensive end Justin McCully, who had three sacks. “But we hit back.”

The Falcons found that out.

Running back Dwayne Cherrington came into the game as the second-leading rusher in Orange County with 781 yards. He finished with 67 in 21 carries.

Quarterback Tristen Lynch’s bob-and-dodge running style had created many big plays. He made only one, a 52-yard touchdown run against the Spartans’ second-string defense on the game’s final play.

“We contained them and didn’t give up the big play,” McCully said. “We’ll, we gave up one big play, but the game was over by then.”

Pearsall saw to that.

The Spartans led, 10-7, at halftime. Pearsall then returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

“You could feel our intensity rise,” Pearsall said.

It was the fourth time in three games Pearsall has returned a kick for a touchdown--three kickoffs and one punt.

“And still they kick the ball to him,” Coach Pat Mahoney said. “Every week, I keep thinking they’re going to kick it away from them, but they don’t.”

Said Pearsall: “I’m kind of happy with that.”

Pearsall also gained 125 yards in 13 carries and scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter. But, for the first time this season, the Spartans didn’t depend on him entirely.

McCully, who also plays fullback, gained 47 yards and Tony D’Amato 43. Both scored touchdowns. Quarterback Sean McMahon also threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Sean Adams.

“Yeah, it was a team effort,” Pearsall said.

And a team message?