Good fortune wasn’t shining down on the Burroughs High football team when it faced Crescenta Valley at Moyse Field on Friday night.
Senior tailback Chance Bell injured his ankle in the opening half and senior quarterback Hayden Zepeda missed the second half with a right knee injury as the Indians lost 38-9 in a Pacific League showdown.
The Indians (4-4 and 3-2 in league) could muster only three field goals from junior kicker Jonathan Rivas.
The Falcons (7-1 and 5-0 in league) have given up 29 points in league play and will face Burbank, ranked No. 8 in the CIF Southern Section Division VIII and undefeated in league, on the road Friday.
“We made good adjustments at halftime,” Burroughs coach Mike Reily said. “We just had bad luck [with the injuries]. I was happy with the kids in how they battled. They were playing inspired football.”
Reily said Bell, who holds the school career rushing mark, wanted to play. “He’s a team-first guy,” he said.
Rivas’ first kick was a 22-yarder and came with 6:41 left in the initial quarter that cut the Falcons, ranked No. 10 in Division VI, advantage to 7-3.
When Rivas converted from 42 yards out and 27 seconds left before the half, Crescenta Valley’s cushion was shaved to 24-6 and his 43-yard attempt with 9:31 showing in the third quarter made it 24-9.
Bell battled and finished with a game-best 235 yards on 35 carries, but didn’t find the end zone.
It was a tough evening all around as the Indians managed just 298 total net yards.
Zepeda hit on seven of 15 pass attempts for 62 yards, but was intercepted by junior defensive back Grady Schilling, who returned the ball for a 45-yard touchdown and 3:18 left in the second quarter as the Falcons pulled ahead 24-3.
“If my MCL is only sprained, then I’m going to play in the next game [versus Muir],” Zepeda said. “If not, then I want to play in the Burbank game.”
Zepeda also said the offensive scheme was sound. “We had a good game play,” he pointed out. “But injuries happen. They’re part of the game.”
Once again, Reily wanted to pass the football knowing the Falcons were going to key on Bell, who came into the contest having scored 25 touchdowns.
“We wanted a well-rounded game plan,” he said. “Spread the ball around.”
On Crescenta Valley’s first series, it drove 65 yards and was capped off by junior running back Joe Suh (team-best 155 yards on 16 carries), who had a 51-yard dash that made it 7-0 with 11:03 on the clock.
Senior kicker Alex Atanackovic’s 39-yard field goal with 4:10 left in the opening period ended a 53-yard march as the Falcons (338 total yards) took a 10-3 lead.
Sophomore quarterback Cole Doyle found senior wide receiver Will Rees with a 14-yard strike and 6:45 remaining before the half to make it 17-3.
With 6:25 showing in the third quarter, the Falcons then darted ahead 31-9 on Doyle’s one-yard keeper, ending a drive that began at the Crescenta Valley 22-yard line and consumed nine plays.
It became a 29-point spread after an 18-yard jaunt by sophomore running back Daniel Cho with 2:42 left in the contest.
The Indians will face Muir on the road on Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
