Glendale’s Running Game Flattens Harbor, 17-7

Pressed into service at a moment’s notice, Glendale College tailback Pathon Rucker proved up to the task Saturday against Harbor.

Rucker, the state’s leading rusher, was listed as questionable before the game because of a dislocated shoulder. Late in the first half, he got his call.

The 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore responded by rushing for 120 yards in 13 carries and setting a school single-season rushing record as the Vaqueros beat the Seahawks, 17-7, in a Western State Conference Northern Division game at Glendale High.

Glendale, which gained 406 yards on the ground, also had two other 100-yard rushers: Ilyan Zilberman with 144 yards in 24 carries and Jerome Casey with 126 in 19.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Glendale (5-3-1), which is tied with Moorpark (7-2) for the division lead at 4-0. The teams will meet in the regular-season finale on Saturday. Harbor (3-6, 1-3) lost its third game in a row.

Rucker, who eclipsed the Glendale career-rushing record earlier this season, surpassed Bobby Webster’s 1990 single-season rushing record of 1,506 yards on a three-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Rucker has 1,522 yards and 2,737 in his career.

“I was ready to play and to come in when they needed me, but I didn’t go out there expecting to do anything,” said Rucker who entered the game after Zilberman was forced to leave because of a thigh injury. “Yeah, the shoulder bothered me, but the Adrenalin kept me going. I know (the shoulder) is going to be bothering me tonight.”

Harbor is still smarting from a 59-yard touchdown run by Rucker, which proved to be the game-winning score.

With Glendale clinging to a 2-0 second-half lead, Rucker bolted untouched down the sideline for his 13th touchdown. Quarterback Chris Ray passed to William Sivley for the two-point conversion and 10-0 lead with 4 minutes 26 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We heard rumors that he was hurt and coming into the game, we didn’t think he was going to do too much to us,” Harbor defensive end Kal Latu said. “I guess he proved us wrong when he broke down the sideline.”

The Harbor offense scored its first touchdown in five games early in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard pass from Gabe Sadi to Joe Doerr to close to 10-7 with 13:24 remaining.

Glendale responded by driving to the Harbor two-yard line, but the Seahawks dropped Rucker for a two-yard loss on fourth and goal.

The Seahawks, who also stopped the Vaqueros at the one-yard line late in the second half, were forced to punt after three plays from their own six with 6:05 to play. Glendale drove 45 yards in five plays with Zilberman plunging in from a yard for a 17-7 lead with 3:43 remaining.

Doerr finished with two receptions for 81 yards and Shayzar Hawkins rushed for 51 yards in nine carries for Harbor. Hawkins fumbled twice deep in Glendale territory to end Seahawk scoring drives.

A 49-yard pass from Rino Marconi to Doerr gave the Seahawks possession on the Glendale 30-yard line early in the first quarter. Hawkins fumbled on the next play after an 11-yard gain. In the third quarter, Hawkins fumbled again at the Glendale five after a 36-yard gain.

Trailing 2-0, Harbor defensive back Wali Mumin intercepted a pass, but a 28-yard field-goal attempt by Jon Williams sailed wide with 3:51 left before halftime.

“Our game plan was to pass this week,” Harbor receiver Dean Halvorson said. “It worked fairly well in the beginning, but our quarterback started getting rattled and everything started to fall apart. I don’t know what happened.”

Glendale lineman Brian Flette sacked Marconi in the end zone for a safety with 14:05 left in the second quarter.

Harbor plays host to Ventura on Saturday.

Bakersfield 45, Southwest 0--Bakersfield, ranked third in the state, improved to 9-0 and 4-0 in a Western State Conference Southern Division game at Bakersfield.

The Renegade defense held the Cougars to 54 yards passing and 64 rushing.

Renegade quarterback Carl Dean was 11 for 17 for 146 yards and two touchdowns and Rick Tucker caught six passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Bakersfield’s Hassan Halevy broke a school record by kicking a 51-yard field goal.

Southwest (3-5-1, 2-2) plays host to Santa Monica on Saturday.