Burroughs Hosts; Burbank On The Road

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(Photo By Ivan Galan)
By Rick Assad
Sports Editor

 

Last week, the Burroughs High football team played at Arcadia with first-place in the Pacific League on the line, and the Indians came away with an impressive 39-34 come-from-behind win.

Though the top spot isn’t up for grabs, Burbank (4-3 and 3-1 in league) has a chance to improve its league standing as it pays a visit to Arcadia (4-3 and 3-1 in league) tonight.

Right now, the Indians are undefeated in league play, have scored 42 points or more in five games, including three in league action, own a six-game winning streak and host Glendale.

The Nitros have one triumph on their ledger, a 27-17 win over host San Gabriel in the season opener.

What followed were home losses to La Canada, 22-9, South Pasadena, 51-21, and Arcadia, 42-0, and road setbacks to Crescenta Valley, 59-7, Burbank, 61-7 and Pasadena, 63-6.

On paper, Friday’s contest could be over by halftime because Glendale simply isn’t in the same class with Burroughs.

The Indians are capable of moving the ball on the ground or through the air, and their defense is hard-hitting and relentless.

Burroughs junior tailback Chance Bell now has consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (1,045 yards), and has found the end zone 18 times.

(Photo By Ivan Galan)
Burroughs junior tailback Chance Bell has consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. (Photo By Ivan Galan)

Senior quarterback Steven Hubbell has passed for 1,067 yards with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.

When Hubbell looks to throw, he has senior wide receiver Erick Hernandez, who has 24 receptions for 313 yards with nine touchdowns, and senior wide receiver Cade Borland, who has 21 receptions for 258 yards and three scores.

Hernandez is extremely versatile having compiled 580 all-purpose yards including 129 yards on kickoff returns and 118 yards on punt returns.

Senior wide receiver Robert Awunganyi has 431 all-purpose yards with 178 yards on kickoff returns, 97 yards on punt returns and 98 receiving yards.

When the Nitros have the ball, senior linebacker Branden Garcia will be poised to strike after tallying six solo tackles and 38 assists, as will senior lineman Cole Gurley, who has eight solo tackles, 27 assists with seven sacks, and defensive back Awunganyi, who has 17 solo tackles, 16 assists and one interception.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 49-0 pasting of host Hoover, and their only league loss came at the hands of visiting Muir, 21-20.

Photo By: Edward Tovmassian
Burbank quarterback Guy Gibbs will need to be accurate. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Burbank’s offense has been erratic, but it is capable of scoring large sums as evidenced by its 38-20 win [later forfeited] over host Monrovia, and a 35-6 blitz of visiting Canyon.

Junior quarterback Guy Gibbs is at the controls and has passed for 758 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Burbank’s leading ball-carrier is sophomore running back Darnell Williams, who has 451 yards with four scores and 675 all-purpose yards.

Gibbs’ favorite target is junior wide receiver Forest Fajardo, who has 18 receptions for 261 yards, five touchdowns, and 447 all-purpose yards.

Defensively, Burbank is playing at a high level, which will be needed against the Apaches, who have won four of their last five games, and average 32.1 points per game, while yielding 25 points.

Leading the way for Burbank will be junior defensive back Andy Reyes, who has recorded 61 solo tackles, 22 assists, three sacks with four fumble recoveries.

Senior defensive back David Medrano has collected 26 solo tackles, 24 assists, one fumble recovery and one sack, while senior defensive back Miguel Vasquez has compiled 26 solo tackles, 18 assists, one interception and one fumble recovery.

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