(November 19, 2001) -- Clark senior Riley Van Patten hyped up Glendale fans in the second half of the Glendale-Hoover football game Nov. 9, scoring a touchdown and giving Glendale a 14-0 lead in the annual cross-town football event. “Scoring a touchdown is the one of the best feelings in the world,” said Van Patten.

In the end, the Hoover Tornadoes were blown away as the Glendale Nitros triumphed in a 28-14 win at Moyse Stadium in the 73rd annual football game between the two rival schools. “The team with the most heart wins,” said Van Patten at the start of the game. “We gave it our all and won.”

The heat of the game was still hot until the last 17 seconds of the game when Clark senior Efren Vasquez of the Hoover Tornadoes twice broke through Nitros’ second and third string defense line, giving his team a chance to score two touchdowns.

The game started out with all-offense and no-defense plays on both sides, but soon became a defense coordinator’s delight, right before turning into a slugfest once again.
The Nitros scored on their first drive, marching 64 yards in eight plays. Glendale Nitros’ Vladimir Paniouchkine had 58 yards on the drive, plus a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle.

Hoover had some tricks up their sleeves in their offensive plays, but Tornadoes’ Armond Esmaili’s 15-yard touchdown run was called back due to a penalty hold. In the following play, Nitros’ Ernesto Garcia intercepted Tornadoes’ Marvin Serrano’s pass, ending Hoover’s drive.

In the second half, with the Nitros leading 7-0, Hoover was yet again ready to fight as they were seen running onto the field, bursting through the Hoover insignia. On Glendale’s side, spectators could hear Van Patten yell, “Woo!!!” as he ran out onto the field.

With four seconds left to go in the third quarter, Paniouchkine made another touchdown for Glendale. Before Hoover knew it, they were down 28-0 in the start of the last quarter.
The Tornadoes had scored two touchdowns in the last 17 seconds of the game, but Glendale proved to be the victors as they hold onto the victory bell for the second year in a row. This is Glendale High’s 40th win since the cross-town rivalry began.

“I’m on top of the world!” yelled Paniouchkine, Nitros’ MVP, as he ran around the field, holding the victory bell in his hands. “I just told the offensive linemen to just block me and I’ll give you the touchdowns.”

“If things don’t go our way, he [Paniouchkine] always comes through for us,” said Van Patten. Former Clark student Randall Green only had one thing to say about Paniouchkine: “He’s strong, steadfast and a great player.”

The Glendale-Hoover football game will be aired all this week at 9 p.m. on channel 15.