Taking no chances, the Burroughs High football team wanted to get ahead of winless Muir in the Pacific League opener on Friday at Memorial Field.
Well, that’s exactly what the Indians did as they started fast and extended their lead during a 49-9 blowout as junior running back Chance Bell led the charge with four rushing touchdowns.
Bell, the Indians’ leading rusher in 2014, scored two touchdowns in the first half as Burroughs led by 12 points, and added two more scores in the second half. Bell finished with 72 yards on 15 carries.
“Tonight we played the game we anticipated,” Burroughs coach Keith Knoop said. “We got on top early. We came out in the third quarter and scored two touchdowns really fast that made it 35-9.”
Burroughs’ hard-hitting and opportunistic defense caused five turnovers, including four fumbles, and an interception that senior defensive back Hunter Guerin returned 35 yards for a score for a 35-9 lead.
Senior quarterback Steven Hubbell (nine for nine and 165 yards) shined as he unloaded two scoring passes, including a 75-yard bomb to senior wide receiver Torin Harris that made it 21-9 and just over three minutes left before the break.
“Steven threw the football really well, but he also ran when he had to,” Knoop said. “Our defense played phenomenal. But we allowed them to score just before the half and gave them some life.”
The Indians led 14-3 after the first quarter, and had a 21-9 cushion at the intermission against the overmatched Mustangs (0-4 and 0-1 in league).
Senior wide receiver Robert Awunganyi had a 50-yard scoring run on a fly sweep with less than nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, which Knoop described as “sensational.”
Burroughs (3-1 and 1-0 in league) scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter for a 35-9 advantage, had three for the stanza, and added one score in the fourth quarter.
The Indians host Hoover on Thursday night at Memorial Field in a Pacific League contest.
