By Dick Dornan
myBurbank Sports Editor
Now we can all relax….for now. Starting Monday, that’s a different story.
Burroughs took care of business Friday night posting a 38-0 shutout of Glendale in front of a sparse Halloween crowd at Memorial Field. The Indians avoided the trap game to set up what we all have been waiting for: the Big Game. The countdown has officially begun.
Burroughs (6-3, 4-2) will play Burbank (6-3, 4-2) for the right to go to the CIF Southeast Division Playoffs. Both teams are tied for third and one guaranteed playoff spot remains up for grabs. The winner will live for another day and another game while the loser, in all likelihood, will have its season ended.
Burbank shoved Arcadia aside on Thursday night, 56-14. Burroughs followed suit 24 hours later.
Despite a scoreless first quarter, the Indians lit up the scoreboard with 24 second quarter points and coasted the rest of the way. Behind a strong defensive effort and another positive showing on the offensive side, Burroughs handled an improved Glendale squad with relative ease.
Chance Bell rushed for 100 yards on 10 carries putting him over 1,000 yards on the season. Andy “Air” Amela delivered again throwing for three touchdowns on 11 of 17 passing for 212 yards. His favorite target, Erick “Sweet Hands or Sure Hands” Hernandez (take your pick; he fits either description) caught five passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Aidan Anding had three catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m feeling great. I couldn’t have done it without my offensive line,” said an elated Bell when told of joining the 1,000 yard club. “The blocking was amazing. I get to the hole and do my thing. I love those guys so much. I love my whole team. Coach called beautiful plays to put me in position to do what I do best and run.”
Andres Aguilar got the Indians on the board with a 38-yard field goal early in the second period. After forcing Glendale to punt, Burroughs struck again when Amela connected with Hernandez over the middle for a 43-yard touchdown strike and a 10-0 lead at the 6:43 mark.
Glendale (2-7, 1-5) muffed its ensuing punt to give the Indians tremendous field position at the Nitros 13 yard line. Bell took the handoff and scampered in from 13 yards out for a 17-point lead.
The Nitros responded driving deep into Indian’s territory. An offensive pass interference call pushed Glendale back to midfield and then the Burroughs defense stepped up. Linebacker Connor Garden blitzed in untouched, sacked the quarterback, caused a fumble and recovered the fumble.
Garden squashed any Glendale momentum with the defensive play of the game.
“At first, I got up to celebrate and I didn’t see the ball come out. But then I heard the sideline going nuts so I jumped on the ball. It felt great,” Garden said. “Glendale has been known to shove the ball down your throat. We came out, practiced hard all week and we did what we needed to do. We stopped them.”
Forty-one seconds remained in the first half but that didn’t stop the Indians. Amela completed passes of seven yards to Nick Mercado, 20 yards to Anding, and then found Hernandez in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Hernandez leaped high and snared Amela’s pass giving Burroughs a 24-0 lead with six seconds left. Hernandez’s phenomenal effort earned the offensive play of the game.
“Once we started picking up the offense, the tempo, and passing the ball a little more, everything went good from there,” Hernandez said. “We finished strong.”
Bell’s one yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the third quarter and Anding’s 49-yard touchdown jaunt to begin the fourth completed the scoring.
The Indians’ defense did the rest earning themselves a shutout and a well-deserved dose of donuts Saturday morning courtesy of defensive coordinator Kenny Knoop.
“It started early in the week. We practiced hard. Go fast, go hard from snap to whistle,” Knoop said. “We knew they would be good. They are an improved football team. But the guys stepped up. Connor’s play was huge.”
Burroughs now focuses on breaking a two-game losing streak to Burbank in the 66th meeting between the crosstown rivals. The Indians lead the overall series, 41-24, dating back to 1949. Mark it down on your calendar- this Friday, November 7, 7 p.m.
“This is the first time in a couple years that people are giving us a chance. Teams are pretty even for the most part,” Hernandez said. “It’s good that we are playing for something. This year is big. Burbank’s senior class has been great all four years and we finally get a chance at them.”
