
By Dick Dornan
myBurbank Sports Editor
Do you believe in the 2014 Burbank High football team?
It’s a question that has motivated the Bulldogs this year and none more so than now. Despite a plethora of injuries during the course of the season, the Bulldogs have proven to be resilient time and time again. But there are still skeptics out there who doubt them.
Friday night was one more example of how this year’s team has come together and put the doubters in the rear view mirror. Playing a brand of football that brought back memories of past Bulldog teams, Burbank went on the road and garnered its best victory of the season with a thrilling 38-34 win against El Rancho in the first round of the CIF Southeast Division playoffs.
“It feels great. Everyone has been talking about that we’re hurt and we are too banged up to beat anybody,” Burbank coach Richard Broussard said. “You can’t judge us. Don’t judge. Just like we didn’t judge them (El Rancho). We saw the film and knew they were a beatable team. But we’re not going to judge their journey to get here because they were successful. Let our play speak for ourselves. People underestimate us and that’s fine. That is what drives us.”
Despite losing quarterback Ryan Meredith early in the second quarter to a reoccurring shoulder injury, Burbank rode a 35-point first half and held on for a heart-stopping win against the champions of the Del Rio League.
The Bulldogs now advance to play Salesian in the CIF quarterfinals next Friday night at East Los Angeles College. The Mustangs upset No. 2 seed La Mirada, 24-18.
Salesian (5-6) remains the lone obstacle to returning to the CIF semifinals for a second consecutive year for the believing Bulldogs. Pretty amazing to say the least when you consider the adversity Burbank has faced all season. Yet, here they are in the quarterfinals again sporting an impressive 8-3 record.
“We played really well as a team. It was a team win,” sophomore Nick Warren said. “We worked hard for it all week and it showed in the game.”
“It was amazing. We’ve been practicing hard all week,” added Dorian Housholder, who caught touchdown passes of 41 and five yards. “A lot of people doubted us and that just fueled us to win.”
Burbank scored on its first three possessions to take a 21-7 lead after one quarter. With a sign that declared “Defend the Ranch” high above the press box, the Bulldogs made the ‘Ranch’ their personal playground.
Meredith got things started connecting with Housholder on a 41-yard touchdown pass on the fifth play of the game. Housholder made a leaping grab just over the outstretched hands of teammate Nick Cantong and an El Rancho defender as Burbank drove 63 yards to set the early tone.
Tony Toledo (76 yards on 16 carries) added a three-yard touchdown run on the next possession and Burbank went up quickly, 14-0.
After El Rancho (8-3) scored its first touchdown, Burbank responded when Meredith (6-for-6, 104 yards) threw a beautiful five-yard fade to Housholder (three passes for 75 yards) in the back left corner of the end zone. Just like that it was 21-7 in favor of Burbank.
Meredith exited the game at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter and a few minutes later the Dons had tied the game at 21 apiece.
Reliable backup Guy Gibbs promptly led the Bulldogs down the field and set up Toledo’s six-yard touchdown run with a 29-yard completion to Housholder.
Leading 28-21 with 1:21 remaining, Warren had an interception on the very next play and Burbank converted the El Rancho turnover into seven points when Gibbs lofted a 20-yard pass to Cantong (three catches for 57 yards) in the right corner of the end zone.
Warren’s interception was a pivotal moment for BHS as the first half came to an end with the Bulldogs ahead, 35-21.
“I just try to play my hardest and do what I can for the team to help them win,” said Warren, who also had 53 yards rushing on 15 carries.
After an explosive first half where both teams combined for eight touchdowns, the second half featured a combined eight punts and three turnovers as defense became the calling card.
The Bulldogs received some breathing room when Ryan Boyd nailed a 40-yard field goal to increase the lead to 38-28 at the 9:38 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Dons closed the gap to 38-34 and then had one final chance to pull off an improbable win but Cantong’s interception with 15 seconds left sealed the deal for Burbank.
“Since Ryan (Meredith) got hurt, we definitely needed to step up. We really came together on this win,” Cantong said. “People said we couldn’t do it but here we are and we are going to the second round.”
Jake Kelley (26 yards rushing) and Brandon Alba (21 yards) played key roles in Burbank’s running attack. Gibbs managed the game effectively in the absence of Meredith.
With an efficient offensive showing in the first half and a stalwart defensive effort in the second half, Burbank played its best football of the season.
“We re-dedicated ourselves last week to just doing the things that we love to do,” Broussard said. “I just wanted to win this game so bad. We deserved it. We’re still playing and other people are not. I can’t wait to play again.”
Bring on Salesian.