Burbank Vikings Go 4-4 in Week Eight Action

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(Photo courtesy of Jim Floyd)

By Rick Assad
Special to MyBurbank

Week 8 – October 19th 

(3-4-0) Senior Black 44 vs. Canyon Green 28
(0-7-0) Senior Green 0 vs. Highland Bulldogs 44
(3-4-0) Junior Black 38 vs. Santa Clarita Blackhawks 25
(7-0-0) Junior Green – BYE
(2-5-0) Midget Black 14 vs. Simi Valley 42
(7-0-0) Midget Green 47 vs. Santa Clarita Apaches 6
(2-5-0) Bantam Black 0 @ Highland Bulldogs 42
(4-3-0) Bantam White 8 @ North Oxnard White 48
(7-0-0) PeeWees 24 @ Valley West 6
(1-5-0) Gremlins – BYE
Bold = Home Game

Senior Black 44 Canyon 28

All photos courtesy of James Floyd- www.leftcoastpix.com

Junior Black 38 Santa Clarita 25

Falling behind proved no big deal for the Burbank Vikings Junior Black, who rallied for a 38-25 win over the Santa Clarita Blackhawks at Burbank High.

The Vikings (3-4) trailed 13-0 and even though they suited only 15 players, came alive as wingback Josh Johnson, who replaced the injured Malik Jackson, ran for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns. Johnson caught 50 yards worth of passes and tallied a score.

Receivers Julian Brady and Diego Garcia filled in admirably and both snared several passes, and fullback Jake Barraza scored on a five-yard run.

Quarterback Chase Tachau had 75 yards through the air with a touchdown and added 12 yards on the ground.

The Vikings’ defense allowed 19 points in the opening half, but surrendered only one score in the second half.

Linebacker Johnson led the way with 10 tackles and an interception, while cornerback Brady and linebackers Barraza and Kayode Agbalaya, along with linemen Renny Vasquez and Matty Porras all played stellar for the Vikings who conclude the regular season against the Canyon Country Outlaws Gold at Canyon High.

Midget Green 47 Santa Clarita 6

The effort was efficient and highly-productive from the opening kickoff as the Burbank Vikings Midget Green clinched the PYFL Central East Championship after Saturday’s 47-6 smashing of the Santa Clarita Apaches.

On the game’s first play quarterback Bryce Whitaker found wide receiver Niko Candido, who then tossed the ball to wide receiver Cooper Meek as the double-pass went for 48 yards and a touchdown. Whitaker drilled Candido on an out pattern for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.

The Vikings (7-0) jumped ahead 14-0 when Tobi Baklayan brought back a punt 50 yards for a score, and it swelled to 16-0 when Whitaker and Meek combined on the two-point try.

Candido’s interception and 38-yard run for a touchdown made it 22-0, and Whitaker’s toss to Meek on the two-pointer gave the Vikings a 24-0 edge.

When Meek and linebacker Jime De Young sacked the Santa Clarita signal-caller who fumbled, defensive tackle Tadashi Butler pounced on the ball which led to running back Anthony Spearman’s 33-yard scoring gallop. Meek’s point after kick made it 31-0.

DeYoung recovered the kickoff which was fumbled, and after successful runs from Spearman and tailback Max Birch, Whitaker’s one-yard blast afforded the Vikings a 37-0 cushion. Spearman added the two-pointer as the lead ballooned to 39-0.

For good measure safety Jalen Clark picked off Santa Clarita’s quarterback and carried the ball 15 yards to the Apache 38-yard line.

From there Spearman and Birch had a few solid runs before running back Dennis Flowers carried the ball 25 yards into the end zone for a 45-0 lead. Spearman’s two-pointer put the final touches on a one-sided game.

The Vikings will host the Lancaster Jets at Burbank High in the regular-season finale on Saturday, and hope to clinch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Pee Wee Black 24 West Valley 6

Quarterback Dahnte Russell scored two touchdowns in the second quarter that carried the undefeated Burbank Vikings Pee Wee Black to a 24-6 triumph over the West Valley Ravens at El Camino High.

The Ravens forged a 6-0 lead after the first quarter, but Russell struck in the second stanza on blocks from A.J. Vargas and Joe Kazarian. Jonas Baklayan and Diego Reynaldo each added a two-point conversion that made it 16-0 at the half.

One of Russell’s scores came after place kicker Diego Hurtado booted the ball deep into Ravens’ territory which Baklayan forced a fumble.

Vargas scored on a seven-yard scamper in the third quarter for the Vikings (7-0), while Jake Rosen chimed in with the two-point try that made it an 18-point spread.

Michael Martin took over at quarterback in the fourth quarter and gained 35 yards on seven carries with help from blockers Diego Maya, Brandon Campbell, Devin Campbell, Jake Niems, Chris Appel and Logan Rice.

The Vikings’ defensive sparkled brightly along the front line as linemen Anthony Torobyan, Vargas, Reynaldo, Lucas Ruiz, Nathan Chhina and Anthony Diaz, linebackers Kazarian, Cristian Elizalde and Rosen, and cornerbacks Russell and Baklayan all played with passion and zeal.

The Pee Wee Black will conclude the regular season with a contest against the Santa Clarita Warriors at Burbank High at 10:15 a.m.

(NOTE: the game summaries were turned in by the head coaches of their respective teams. ALL coaches were asked to send in recaps after each game. If you are a parent and would like to see your son’s information published, make sure your coach responds to our repeated requests. Thank you)