By Rick Assad
Two key players graduated and two dynamic players left the program to join a different school but the players that Burbank High head coach Hector Valencia has are talented and willing to work hard.
Elijah Pendleton and Chase Miles both played wide receiver and Pendleton toiled at cornerback on defense while Miles played strong safety and outside linebacker for the Bulldogs. Both will be playing college football.
Quarterback Deshawn Laporte threw for 3,900 yards and delivered 54 touchdowns as a junior for Burbank but has transferred to Quartz Hill.
Wide receiver Tyler Hudson is a senior and holds the Burbank career receiving yards record at 2,037.
Hudson is also the single season record with 70 catches and is the career receptions leader at 137 and has also left for Quartz Hill.
With those four players leading the way, the Bulldogs went 9-3 in all games and went 6-1 for second place in the Pacific League and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division IX quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs defeated Lancaster 52-43 in the first round but lost to Roosevelt [Eastvale] 14-13 to end their season.
Burbank is now in the newly formed Rio Pacific Conference and a member of the Arroyo League, which is the highest of the three in the conference.
The other teams in the league are Muir, La Canada and Monrovia.
That’s not to say the Bulldogs won’t be good according to longtime head coach Hector Valencia.
“Expectations for the season are always high,” he explained. “We are always going to shoot at winning the league and making the playoffs. We will use the talent we have.”
Burbank begins its season hosting Cabrillo on August 21 and then visit Las Vegas Centennial on August 28.
On September 4, the Bulldogs travel to Calabasas and then host Golden Valley on September 11.
Burbank then hosts Birmingham on September 18 and [Bakersfield] Centennial on September 25. After a bye on October 2, the Bulldogs visit Monrovia on October 9.
Valencia wants to have a balanced offense and use whatever is working.
“If our running back is rumbling and tumbling, we will go with him and if our quarterback is out there and throwing darts we will go with that route,” he said. “We are able to adapt to what we need.”
There are several seniors that should be difference makers, and they will be asked to lead on and off the field.
They include quarterback Damian Corona, who is 6-2 and 210 pounds and is a transfer from Crespi High. This is Corona’s moment to shine and there is evidence he’s doing to be ready for the challenge.
“We are excited to see what he can do,” Valencia said. “This will be his first year starting, but has looked good over the summer.”
Another senior who is vital to the overall success is Troy Wells at running back and linebacker.
“At 5-10 and 210 pounds, Wells will be a load,” Valencia said. “He’s very hard working and will be a force at linebacker.”
Several seniors are also key members and include Giovanni Bernardo at running back and linebacker, Ronald Gordon at wide receiver and cornerback, Kaylem Valencia at tight end and linebacker, Kordell White at wide receiver and cornerback, Juan Huezo at offensive line and defensive line and Hayk Torgomyan at offensive line and defensive line.
Valencia spoke about his son Kallem.
“He should be a force at linebacker as well and was a first team All-Pacific League player last year,” he said. “He will be a big target at tight end and wide receiver as well this year.”
The rest of the seniors are Donovan Reynoso at tight end linebacker, Nathan Martinez at wide receiver and defensive back, Jehad Altayab at offensive line and defensive line and nose tackle and Nick Gonzalez at offensive line and defensive line.
Junior Diego Plancarte is 5-10 and 170 pounds, will play wide receiver and strong safety and paced the team in interceptions. Valencia thinks he is going to be even better.
“He will be playing strong safety and had six interceptions last season,” he said. “Expecting big things from him at receiver as well.”
The offensive line should be sound and powerful and led by junior Harry Molia, who is 6-4 and 280 pounds.
“He’s been a starter since he was a freshman,” Valencia said. “He will anchor the offensive line and will see some defensive repetitions this year as well.”
The juniors include Cassius Maydew at wide receiver and defensive back, Juaquin Ruacho at running back and linebacker, Gavin Azizian at wide receiver and defensive back, Alex Ramirez at wide receiver and linebacker, Andrew Khachatryan at wide receiver and linebacker, Marc Naiem at tight end and linebacker and Aiden Loveranes at offensive line and defensive line.
The rest of the juniors includes Dash Middleton at wide receiver and defensive back, Cruz Chavez at offensive line and defensive line, Daniel Castillo at wide receiver and defensive back, Luke Betancourt at offensive line and defensive line and Jesse Gianacopulos at offensive line and defensive line and nose tackle.
There are a few sophomores on the team and include Sergio Melendez at offensive line and defensive line, Joel Solis Chavez at offensive line and defensive line, Jordan Acevedo at quarterback and Jeremiah Clayton at wide receiver and defensive back. There is one freshman on the squad and he is Andranik Brutayan.
Donovan Reynoso at tight end and linebacker, Jordan Acevedo at quarterback, Nathan Martinez at wide receiver and defensive back, Jeremiah Clayton at wide receiver and defensive back, Daniel Castillo at wide receiver and defensive back and Joel Solis Chavez at offensive line and defensive line, Luke Betancourt at offensive line and defensive line.
The others on the team are Nick Gonzalez at offensive line and defensive line, Cruz Chavez offensive line and defensive line, Jesse Gianacopulos at offensive line and nose tackle, Jehad Altayab at offensive line and defensive line and Sergio Mendez at offensive line and defensive line.
Valencia said that his team doesn’t have a lot of players but his expectations are always high.
“We have a small team as far as numbers on varsity but no different than last year and we were able to have a successful year,” he said. “The team works well together and we don’t have any players with any egos on the team. The Brotherhood is strong and the players seem to work together and have each other’s backs through any adversity they have faced so far.”
