Chatsworth at Ground Zero Against Granada Hills, 12-0

Granada Hills High has gone from airing out the ball to letting the air out of the ball just about as well as anyone.

Friday night, the Highlanders played keep-away with the high-powered Chatsworth offense and rolled to a 12-0 victory in a key Northwest Valley Conference football game at Granada Hills.

“Their game plan worked to perfection,” Chatsworth quarterback David Muir said. “They threw the ball three times and just ground it out. Give ‘em credit.”

Indeed. Granada Hills (4-4, 4-1 in league play) attempted three passes and completed two, but rolled up 340 yards on the ground and didn’t have a rushing play lose yardage until quarterback Jim Landress dropped to a knee on consecutive plays in the final seconds.

It marked the second consecutive 12-0 defeat for the Chancellors (5-3, 3-2), who were held to 213 total yards.

Tremain Foriest was the Highlanders’ big-play performer, rushing for a season-high 214 yards in 14 carries. Foriest scored both touchdowns on inside trap plays that covered 73 and 67 yards. Fellow tailback Raheem Kyle, returning from a knee injury, chipped in 81 yards in 10 carries.

The Granada Hills offense was so proficient in the second half that Chatsworth had just two possessions. With Granada Hills holding a 12-0 lead, the game-clinching drive came in the fourth quarter.

Chatsworth’s final drive stalled at the Granada Hills’ 36-yard line with 6 minutes 21 seconds to play. Granada Hills then rolled off a 15-play drive, converting once on third down and once on fourth, to kill the clock.

Muir completed eight of 15 passes for 112 yards and tailback Nestor Davila was held to 91 yards in 17 carries. The pair entered the game as the Valley’s top City Section passer and rusher, respectively.

Foriest scored on consecutive trap plays spanning the second and third quarters, the second of which gave Granada Hills a 12-0 lead with 9:55 left in the third.

Despite the mud and muck, both teams moved the ball effectively in the first half--they combined for 302 yards--though little showed up in the way of points on the scoreboard.

Granada Hills took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter when Foriest broke loose on a counter play, cut down the right sideline and scooted 73 yards for a touchdown.