By Brandon HENSLEY

Only one more week until the Crescenta Valley High School football team kicks off its season. The Falcons will host Verdugo Hills at Glendale High School Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

The Falcons dominated Verdugo last year in Tujunga. Quarterback Brian Gadsby threw six touchdowns against the Dons and CV won 54-20.

The Falcons won eight games last year, the most for the program since 2007. The team missed the playoffs for a second straight year, though, and 2014 is CV’s chance to really shine. With Gadsby returning and a healthy receiving corps of Chase Walker, Connor Van Ginkel, Bostin Lakin and Jordan LoBianco, the Falcons have maybe the most dangerous offense in the Pacific League.

The Falcons play six of their 10 games at Glendale’s Moyse Field, including a stretch of four out of five there from Week 3 to Week 7. The only road game during that time is at Burroughs High School to take on the Burbank Bulldogs. The Bulldogs will be looking for revenge after last year’s overtime thriller that was won by Crecenta Valley 48-47.

The Falcons’ only losses last year were to Burroughs and league champion Muir. Burroughs will come to Moyse Field on Sept. 26. The Falcons will have to travel to Muir on Oct. 24. The Mustangs’ home field has historically not been kind to CV, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to come out with a win.

The Falcons’ cross-town rival La Cañada has been a bit easier to deal with in recent years. CV hasn’t lost to the Spartans since 2006. Last year the Falcons took care of them 42-14, even though Gadsby was injured and didn’t play the second half.

CV had played San Marino the last two years, each team winning a game on its home field, but this year the Titans are not on the non-league schedule. In their place are the Golden Valley Grizzlies from Santa Clarita. They were 2-8 last year in the Foothill League. The Falcons travel up there on Sept. 12.

As always, the season closes out against rival Arcadia. This one will be at Arcadia on Nov. 7.  The Falcons have dominated the last two matchups with the Apaches, and this game could have major playoff implications. It came down to coin flips and tie breakers last year that didn’t go CV’s way. This year, Muir and Burbank are expected to be vying for the top spot in league yet again with the Falcons, so it should be an exciting season.

  Brandon Hensley