Fitzgerald Eclipsed by Grant

Unfortunately for Verdugo Hills High quarterback Darren Fitzgerald, the best game of his career came the same night that North Hollywood running back Chip Grant rushed for 324 yards and five touchdowns.

Despite his team’s 36-28 loss to the Huskies on Friday, Fitzgerald rolled up some impressive numbers, completing 16 of 28 passes for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Dons dropped their second game in a row. Fitzgerald also ran for a 5-yard score.

Losing ways: Pater Noster lost to St. Genevieve, 17-0, Friday. The Eagles have not won a Santa Fe League game in the past three-plus seasons.

Add losing: So far this season, Glendale-area high school teams have a collective record of 7-30-2. And the games that count most--league games--are just beginning.

Question marks: Before the junior college football season began, the question was “Who could beat Glendale?”

Now the question seems to be “Who can’t?”

Last week, Coach Jim Sartoris warned that the Vaqueros might be in trouble this season with an inexperienced team and a tough schedule--not to mention a heady reputation.

Santa Monica, in avenging a 48-0 loss last season, beat Glendale, 22-16, Saturday. The Vaqueros fell to 0-4, their worst start in five years.

This week’s games to watch: Franklin plays Eagle Rock tonight at Glendale High at 8.

On Friday at 7:30 p.m., St. Francis plays at Muir, Crescenta Valley plays at Burroughs, Glendale plays host to Burbank and Hoover plays at La Canada. Also Friday, Marshall plays host to Van Nuys at 3 p.m. and Verdugo Hills plays at Birmingham at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, Pater Noster plays host to Salesian at Roosevelt High at 1:45 p.m.

Glendale College plays host to Hancock at Glendale High, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Occidental College has a bye.