By Rick Assad
When the Burroughs High football team took on Gabrielino in a Boulder League game on Friday night at Memorial Field it used a powerful running attack and sprinkled in a passing volley that scored three touchdowns and the final result was a 35-7 triumph.
Senior running/outside linebacker back Sho Fujita rushed for 141 yards on 12 carries and helped establish the running game for senior quarterback Sean Ghaman to throw the football.
Jose Calzadilla is the Burroughs head coach and was pleased with the outcome and how his team played.
“Establishing the run game early is always nice,” he said. “It lets us do some fun things in our passing game like get the ball to as many kids as possible and makes us more dangerous and harder to defend.”
The scoring began when senior quarterback/wide receiver Brandon Chapparo carried the ball into the end zone from seven yards out and with 7:36 left in the first quarter. The drive took eight plays and covered 68 yards.
The running game continued to dominate as senior running back/wide receiver Carson Shrode scored on a four-yard scurry as 1:02 remained in the same period as the Bears pulled ahead 13-0.
This time Burroughs (3-4 and 2-1 in league) marched 57 yards and used eight plays.
It was time for the passing attack to show what it could do as Ghaman found senior wide receiver Tony Sanchez with a 24-yard toss as the team executed a seven-play, 81-yard drive as 3:40 was left before halftime and the Bears led 20-7.
With twenty-six seconds left before the first half ended, junior tackle Avery Serrano sacked the Eagles quarterback in the end zone for a safety as the lead ballooned to 22-7.
“I was happy with the defensive effort all around,” Calzadilla said. “It’s the sort of game we need to get ready for the final push.”
Burroughs took possession after the safety and turned it into a touchdown as Ghaman found Sanchez once more and this time it was a nine-yard pass just before time expired that capped a three-play, 51-yard march for a 28-7 lead.
The night’s scoring saw the Bears drive 77 yards and use 10 plays as Ghaman connected with Chapparo with an eight-yard pass as 4:21 was left in the third frame.
Senior running back Zakhary Cruz ran 80 yards for a score as 7:17 remained in the second period as Gabrielino (3-4 and 1-2 in league) drew within 13-7.
“We will watch film and clean up some details offensively and start preparing for San Marino,” Calzadilla stated.
Burroughs will next visit San Marino on Friday with a 7 p.m. start.
