The time has finally come where a level playing field is something being put to a test.
If the algorithm used to calculate which teams belong in the Arroyo, Boulder and Crest leagues of the Rio-Pacific Athletic Conference works correctly then the Burroughs High football team should be just fine in 2026.
Burroughs went 3-7 overall and 3-4 in the Pacific League last season with a young group.
That should change this season, as second-year coach Jose Calzadilla likes his team. Burroughs has 11 seniors who are in their third year on varsity.
“Our maturity is a big factor for us this year. We have 26 seniors and 28 juniors. Everybody is familiar with our offense. This is our second year in our offense. We expect it to be more productive,” Calzadilla said. “Our defense is full of veterans also. Our defensive line, we think is pretty good so we expect some big things out of them. In the new league, it is exciting but there’s also a lot of question marks of some teams that we don’t know, but there are some familiar faces with CV and Pasadena still being there and of course we have Burbank at the end of the year.”
One benefit Burroughs has is that it returns two quarterbacks in seniors Brandon Chapparo (5-8, 165) and Sean Ghaman (6-1, 194) who shared duties last year and offer different skill sets. Chapparo had more than 600 yards passing and 700 yards running the ball.
Senior Lillian Graham and juniors Ryder Celli-Recht (5-9, 160) and Owen Parkman may also see some playing time at quarterback.
Senior Sho Fujita (5-5, 146) returns as the featured ball carrier. He rushed for more than 900 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
Senior Carson Shrode (5-7, 154) is also back as a ball carrier, having played significant time last season. Junior Christian Mendoza (5-5, 148) is another ball carrier as is Jaydan Salinas.
Juniors Troy Acosta (5-8, 140) and Nathan Alzaga (5-7, 138) may also get some carries. Acosta had significant playing time on varsity as a sophomore.
Senior Tony Sanchez (5-11, 153) is the top returning receiver. He caught 13 passes a year ago for 169 yards. Other senior receivers include Jordan Frenkel (5-9, 185), Marcelo Remus (6-2, 169), Suede Richer (5-9, 150), Mikhail Fox (5-9, 170), juniors Emmet Bowlin (6-0, 151), Julian Angel (5-10, 150), Matthew Lezama (5-8, 130), Nikolas Taylor (5-10, 175), Eli Rosenbluth (5-7, 142), Xavier Christensen (5-11, 152) and Sebastian Veloso (5-9, 148).
Junior Conner Robertson (6-0, 118) will do the kicking duties and junior Michael Hernandez (5-10, 135) will be the punter.
The offensive line is led by veteran Cooper Beebe (6-1, 250). The Bears also have seniors Jedidah Cuevas, Ashton Reyes (6-1, 245), Kevin Radillo-Paz (5-10, 250), Teddy Severse, Jaden Rufin and Luke Ryan (5-8, 179) on the offensive line.
Junior offensive linemen include Hamlet Pogosyan (6-1, 215), Mishael Plazola (5-8, 212), Nathan Flores (5-8, 240) and Daniel Del Real.
Junior Kingston Hungerford (5-11, 220) will be the tight end.
Defensively, Burroughs will be strong with all-league linebacker Ryder Bowne (5-11, 180) returning.
“(After) last year it makes you want to look toward the future,” Bowne said. I think our chemistry is good since we’ve been together since our sophomore year. We’re all very close and want to protect each other and keep pushing ourselves so that we do our best.”
Defensive end Jason White (6-2, 175) will give the Bears an edge pass rusher who should make things difficult for opposing teams to move the ball.
Other seniors on the defensive line include Erick Jacobo (5-10, 240), Manuel Trujillo, Christian Garay-Dang-Mendez (5-8, 208), Javier Vanegas (5-11, 238), Matthew Westmoreland (5-10, 218), Brian Navarrete (5-10, 205), and Anthony Larios (5-7, 195).
The junior pass rushers are Justin Guerrero (6-2, 187) and Avery Serrano (5-9, 220).
At linebacker, Burroughs has a solid group of juniors Deegan Howell (5-10, 155), JJ Gutierrez (5-11, 170), Noah Garcia (5-8, 170) and Rudy Brenes-Martinez (5-11, 194).
In the defensive secondary, the Bears have junior Gavin Tubbs (6-0, 160), senior Julian Tiangco (5-8, 155), junior Kahleo Palma and junior Ben Nicholas (5-5, 110),
Burroughs opens the season Friday night at South Torrance High.
Burroughs will then host Montclair High that is scheduled to be played at Burbank High unless the renovations at Memorial Field that currently underway are completed.
The Bears will travel to Santa Monica High on Sept. 4 and will be on the road once again Sept. 11 when they travel to Arroyo High of El Monte.
Following a bye week, Burroughs opens league play at Pasadena High on Sept. 25. The Bears will finally come back home Oct. 2 to host South Pasadena. Burroughs will host Gabrielino of San Gabriel on Oct. 9. Gabrielino is one of two schools part of the new conference that was not a part of the Pacific or Rio Hondo League last year.
Burroughs will travel to San Marino High on Oct. 16 and will be at Crescenta Valley on Oct. 23.
Burroughs will host Burbank in the season finale at Memorial Field on Oct. 30. It will be a nonleague contest, as the Bulldogs are playing in the four-team Arroyo League.
