Evans’ Big Night Lifts Birmingham Past Canoga Park

Emmanuel Evans rushed for 188 yards in 27 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead Birmingham High to a come-from-behind, 26-13 victory over Canoga Park in a nonleague opener Friday night at Canoga Park.

Evans, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior, did most of his damage in the first half with touchdown runs of 47, 15 and four yards. He had 114 yards in 13 carries in the half.

With Birmingham Leading, 20-13, Martin Arce (four carries, 83 yards) put the game away for the Braves with a 54-yard run with 1:11 to play.

Junior Galvan paced the Hunters with 64 yards in 12 carries. Mike Spangle connected with Galvan on a 30-yard touchdown pass play for Canoga Park’s first score, giving the Hunters a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Canoga Park extended its lead to 13-0 on a two-yard run by Marlon Bourdess late in the first quarter.

Evans, who also is a standout basketball player, answered with a 47-yard scoring run late in the quarter, and he added two more scoring runs in the second quarter to give Birmingham a 20-13 halftime lead.