It’s hardly surprising Burbank High earned a 35-16 win over Pasadena in a Pacific League football game on Thursday night at Memorial Field, but it could be argued it was somewhat unlikely based on the halftime score.
No matter, the victory gives the Bulldogs an opportunity to share the league title if defending champion Crescenta Valley knocks off host Burroughs tonight.
“We just did our job in the second half,” Burbank coach Richard Broussard said. “We weren’t scared to lose. In the first half, it’s like we were scared to play. We played not to lose. We can’t think that way. We need to quit playing not to lose. They were too anxious knowing if we won, we’d have a chance to play for the league title.”
Broussard said there are small matters that need to be addressed before playing Burroughs on Nov. 6. “We’ll figure it out. We’re playing for a championship. Now it means something.”
Down 9-7 to begin the second half, Burbank (6-3 and 5-1 in league) received a break when senior defensive lineman Jha’rod Horhn recovered a fumbled punt at the Pasadena five-yard line.
Three plays later, junior quarterback Guy Gibbs barreled into the end zone with 10:06 left in the third quarter as Burbank forged ahead, 14-9.
Pasadena again was forced to punt, and this time Burbank started at the Pasadena 49-yard line.
Gibbs (13 of 21 pass attempts for 195 yards and one interception) drove his team seven plays and capped the drive with a four-yard burst from junior wide receiver/running back Joey Miller (46 yards on five carries) and 6:15 left in the third quarter that catapulted Burbank in front, 21-9.
Burbank (333 total net yards) closed the third quarter with a four-play, 50-yard excursion that was sealed with a one-yard run from Miller and 6.5 seconds left that made it 28-9. Miller has a spectacular 43-yard sprint on the drive.
Burbank received another break when Pasadena junior tight end/quarterback Kris Jolley fumbled which junior defensive back Miguel Vasquez recovered at the Burbank 40-yard line.
From there, sophomore running back Darnell Williams (57 yards on 10 carries) capped an eight-play drive with a one-yard bolt and 4:30 remaining in the fourth quarter that made it 35-9.
The drive was highlighted with a 25-yard pass from Gibbs to senior wide receiver Max Weisman (game-best 137 yards on seven receptions) that placed the ball at the Pasadena 35-yard line.
Gibbs and Weisman hooked up on a 71-yard pass and 5:16 left in the opening quarter that made it 7-0 on Burbank’s second possession. Weisman made several clever moves and dodged numerous would-be tacklers as he bolted down the left sideline. The score was made possible when junior defensive lineman Danny Porras pounced on a fumble by junior quarterback Hayden Zepeda.
“This was a very competitive game,” said Weisman, who recently committed to the United States Military Academy. “We need to clean up some of the little things.”
When asked about the upcoming clash against city rival Burroughs, Weisman feels confident in his team’s ultimate success. “It’s going to be a great game,” he said. “There’s going to be excitement and energy. We feed off that energy.”
Burbank junior running back Nick Warren, who had 45 yards on 10 rushes, agrees.
“The first half was a little like the Muir game [21-20 loss],” he said. “We didn’t take them lightly. We know they’re a good team. But we came out in the second half and played a lot better. It’s not a single guy who is responsible to speak up. It’s everyone speaking up.”
Pasadena (4-5 and 2-4 in league) trimmed the lead to 7-6 when Zepeda drilled junior wide receiver Jeremy DeJesus with an 11-yard laser and 5:17 left in the second quarter after senior running back Jeremiah Jones failed on the two-point conversion run.
Pasadena’s advantage expanded to 9-7 when senior Alexander Hernandez drilled a 31-yard field goal with 2:44 left before the intermission.
The final points were turned in by Jolley on a two-yard run and 13.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 19 points.
