Photo by Brian Dreisbach/OUTLOOK LC's Roger Romero (7) rushed fo 48 yards and scored a touchdown to lead the Spartans to a 34-7 vicotry at Glendale last Friday.

More Sports... >Spartans Continue Domination of Glendale >Spartans Perform Well in Meets >Chin Earns Prestigious NCAA Honor

The La Caņada and Glendale football teams have competed against each other almost every year since 1971 each winning 15 games, but recently La Caņada has dominated the Nitros and last Friday evening was nothing different.

With a 34-7 non-league win at Glendale High Friday, the Spartans now lead the all-time series 16-15, including victories in eight of the last 10 meetings.

The Spartans' defense set the tone early in the game by forcing four turnovers.

In the first half, the Nitros had trouble moving the ball on offense, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry and mustering just 53 yards of total offense.

In the second half the Nitros had better luck moving the ball, resulting in 146 total yards, including 65 through the air, but La Caņada's defense forced three turnovers in the final 24 minutes.

The Spartans dominated through the first three quarters and led 13-0 and halftime and 21-0 to start the fourth quarter.

The Spartans' first touchdown was a 53-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback T.J. Trumbo to Nick Sparks. Five minutes later junior running back Lavelle Peterson scored on a nine-yard run.

The Spartans opened up the second half with a touchdown when Roger Romero ran the ball into the end zone from 12 yards out. The Spartans decided to go for the two-point conversion and Trumbo ran the ball in successfully to go up 21-0.

The Nitros tried to fight back in the final quarter when Anthony Darmiento connected with Micko Ortiz for a 29-yard touchdown, Glendale trailed just 21-7 with seven minutes remaining.

Darmiento then recovered the ensuing onside kick, giving the Nitros the ball at the 50-yard line, but the Spartan defense came up with several huge plays to keep the momentum on LC's side.

Senior David Hopkins, who is the reigning Rio Hondo League MVP, recovered his second fumble of the game, which essentially hurt any chance for Glendale to come back, because Peterson iced the game with a 55-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive.

The junior finished with 121 yards on the ground in just 12 carries and had two other touchdown runs called back because of penalties. As a team, La Caņada had three scores called back due to penalties.

Hopkins 28-yard interception return for a touchdown at the end of the came concluded the game's scoring.

Romero finished the game rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown on just three carries. Hopkins and Trumbo each ran for 29 and 23 yards, respectively.

The Spartans have averaged 32 points per game against the Nitros in their last eight wins, including a 52-0 win in 2004.

La Canada visits Gabrielino tomorrow at 7 p.m. before hosting cross-town rival Crescenta Valley next week.