Tag Archives: Isaac Glover

Rick’s Sports Corner: Isaac Glover, Burbank High’s Tough-Minded, Running Back

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By Rick Assad

Carrying the football and being the primary ground-gainer across the last two seasons for the Burbank High football team meant that Isaac Glover was going to get hit on almost every play.

And if you include being a key blocker in the backfield, the recent graduate took a significant pounding.

Now think of falling down a short flight of stairs and getting to your feet and then doing this all over again.

Isaac Glover was a tough-minded runner for the Bulldogs, who made the CIF playoffs every year he played on the varsity. (Photo courtesy Isaac Glover)

In a nutshell, that’s exactly what a running back does and usually it’s without much complaint.

“Being hit isn’t the most fun thing, but I find a way to just have the motor to just get up and keep going after being tackled and while blocking, just to protect and guard the best I can,” said Glover, who rushed for a team-best 1,128 yards on 202 carries and scoring 15 touchdowns last season, said of his role in the offense.

But game in and game out, Glover, who also snared 14 passes for 112 yards with one score and will attend College of the Canyons in the fall where he will also play football, was always available to run with the football.

But let’s make certain, it was never about Glover, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 185-pounder who liked to run through tacklers.

“I always play to win. I always like to make sure everyone has their shine and everyone has that smile on their face after these games,” he said. “Winning is best when everyone’s happy.”

A team-player, Isaac Glover wanted to win. Here he’s running against city rival Burroughs. (Photo courtesy Isaac Glover)

Across the last three seasons in which Glover was on the varsity, the Bulldogs have gone 22-14 overall, 16-4 in Pacific League games and have been in the CIF Southern Section playoffs all three campaigns.

In 2019, Burbank went 5-7 and 3-3 in league including a setback to Burroughs in what was a classic, 29-28, then drilled Don Lugo 40-20 in a Division VII first-round match, but lost to Serrano 35-13.

In the previous season, the Bulldogs carved out a 7-4 mark and forged a 6-1 record in league as they routed the Indians 54-20, but were knocked off by Glendora 56-35 in a Division V opening-round clash.

In 2017, Burbank ended its season 10-3 and 7-0 in league that included a 41-14 thrashing of Burroughs along with victories over Tustin 55-42 and South Hills 42-30 before losing to Don Lugo 28-7 in the Division VII semifinals.

A fine receiver and a solid blocker, Isaac Glover looks to run to daylight. (Photo courtesy Isaac Glover)

Despite the worldwide presence of COVID-19 which has changed the way people live their lives, Glover, who ran for 1,804 yards on 313 carries for an average of 5.7 yards per carry while scoring 24 touchdowns over his three-year stint, has tried to maintain a good and positive attitude.

“In the beginning of the quarantine, I wasn’t really able to work out efficiently, but now I’m back in the gym and getting better and running,” he said. “My classes are still fine.”

First and foremost, Glover is a team player who wanted to do what was best for the entire squad.

“I do enjoy being able to consistently run the ball and being able to help my team drive down the field, but I never mind blocking and watching my teammates score,” he offered.

Burbank coach Adam Colman appreciates what Glover brought to the dinner table.

Always looking to gain yards, Isaac Glover is seen leaping into the air in a CIF playoff game against Don Lugo. (Photo courtesy Isaac Glover)

“Isaac’s persistence and sacrificing for the good of the team stood out for me,” he said. “Early in the year [2019], when our team struggled, he had no problem stepping up in pass protection. He would do everything he could to give us time in the pass game and never complained about touches or anything like that.”

Colman continued: “At the end of the year, we had a bunch of injuries, so he had to play middle linebacker in addition to running back. That’s a huge task and yet he was able to run for over 200 yards in the first [CIF Southern Section] playoff game and really carried us down the stretch of the season.”

Football, like most sports, has the peculiar ability to bring people together, which is something that Glover likes.

“I love the bond it creates with people, the diversity it brings and just being able to show what you can do and I also like contact,” he said.

Glover looked at his job on the gridiron as being one in which he provided any and all services whenever they were needed.

“Just getting positive yards, anything I can do to help us move down the field,” he said of his role on the team.

As a junior, Glover carried the football 89 times and accounted for 497 yards with seven touchdowns.

And though Glover is a tough and rugged ball-carrier, he admitted that he would feel the pain afterward because it was accumulated over the course of a game and of course a season.

“Sometimes I’d be tired and to get it out of my mind, I’d just tell myself that we gotta score someway every single drive and to just keep going and pushing,” he said.

In Glover’s mind, a couple of games still resonate with him. “I’d say Don Lugo in 2019 because I set the [school] record for most yards in a playoff game and the  third most in any game and against Glendale in 2017 because it was my first varsity game where I ran the ball and scored a touchdown and had 132 yards,” he said.

It seems that Glover, who rushed for 179 yards on 22 carries while tallying two scores as a sophomore, is most proud of the fact the team played well and that he was an integral component of that success.

“I am pleased with how it went. I shaped a great bond with my brothers, won some games and overall just matured and had fun doing something I love,” he said. “At Burbank High, Coach Colman really tries to create the better person more than creating the better player, which is most important.”

Reflecting on his high school career, Glover has very few regrets. “If I could go back, I’d take the weight room more serious, but other that, nothing really because everyone has a story and I’m fine with how my four years went with Burbank football.”

Burbank Football Overcomes Obstacles in Playoff Win

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Luck didn’t appear to be on the side of the Burbank High football team entering the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Quarterback Vincent Vang. (Photo Courtesy Doug Brown)

Down to third-string quarterback Vinny Vang and playing without several other key starters, the Bulldogs had to change things up.

They did just that defeating host Don Lugo of Chino 40-20 in Division 7 first-round contest.

The win was also nice for Burbank because the two teams met in the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Burbank’s season ended on the Don Lugo field two years ago.

“He didn’t find out until Tuesday. We told him you’re the only option,” Burbank coach Adam Colman said. “The trainer comes and tells me he doesn’t want to tell you, but his thumb is really messed up, he can barely grip a football. So we said we’ll figure this one out. We kept playing for each other, playing for the guys who weren’t playing.”

Burbank (5-6) will now host top-seeded Serrano, a 23-7 winner over Canyon Country Canyon.

Vang’s only experience at quarterback was in youth football. He had attempted a few passes as part of trick plays during the regular season but had not completed a single passing entering his first start.

“I was a bit nervous,” Vang admitted.

But after being intercepted on his first pass, Burbank went back to the basics and stuck with the ground game. It worked.

Isaac Glover. (Photo Courtesy Doug Brown)

Isaac Glover carried the ball 25 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

Glover scored his first touchdown, a 4-yard run at the 10:35 mark of the first quarter to give Burbank a 6-0 advantage.

After Don Lugo (4-7) tied things at 6, Burbank took the lead as Glover scored on a 60-yard run with 9:59 left in the second quarter to make 13-6.

Don Lugo added its second touchdown with 4:59 left in the half. But Kaze Gibbs came up big in blocking the extra point, as the Bulldogs were able to keep the advantage.

A key momentum changer happened just 4 seconds before halftime when the Bulldogs surprised everyone by giving the ball on a reverse on the ground to receiver Ben Burnham. He scored from 3 yards out.

Leading 20-12 at halftime, Burbank continued to roll in the third quarter.

Glover scored on a 1-yard run with 7:21 left in the quarter to make it 26-12.
Vang even got in on the scoring, by running the ball in from 12 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Don Lugo scored another touchdown. Burbank finished things up with 12-yard run from Devin Householder with 2:09 to play.

Coach Adam Coleman. (Photo by Ross A Benson)

Colman praised his kids for pulling through.
“We talked about it at practice and then at walkthroughs yesterday. It was a superstar in your role. I think the guys really embraced it. I can’t say enough. I’m so proud of them,” he said.

Burbank is hoping to have its group of injured players back next week.

Starting quarterback Aram Araradian, backup quarterback/linebacker, Kuba Raymond, linebacker Max Mendieta, and linebacker Lucas Sheppe all missed the game with injuries.

To make matters worse, Burbank lost linebacker Austin Blacano to an ankle injury early in Friday’s contest.

 

Burroughs Stuns Burbank in “Big Game”

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(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

There is no other way to put it other than to say that the 2019 Burbank vs. Burroughs football game was one of the most exciting in the long history of a great high school rivalry.

Both teams challenged each other and gave an effort that few would complain about. In the end, it was the Indians rallied to stun the Bulldogs 29-28 at Memorial Field.

Burroughs (6-4 overall, 2-4 in the league) will now hope to get a wild card berth into the CIF Southern Section Division 11 playoffs.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Burbank (4-6, 3-3) still stands a strong chance of getting a wild card into the Division 7 playoffs.

Burbank entered the week ranked No. 8 in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 poll.

“Coach has been saying all week that we have to want it more than they do and that the game starts on Monday,” Burroughs quarterback Nicholas Garcia said.

Garcia scored on a 2-yard run with 1:31 to play. He then helped successfully complete the two-point conversion with a pass to Elijah Aldana-Pere in what turned out to be the difference.

“We called that timeout and I said to the kids what do you want to do and they said go for two, let’s do it. So we did it,” Burroughs coach Rand Holdren said. “This was a huge team win. This is the best win we’ve had all year for numerous reasons.”

Burroughs tied the score at 21 with 4:24 left when Garcia hooked up with Carson Cardenaz on a 14-yard touchdown.

The two hooked up again on the two-point conversion with Cardenaz making a fine catch in the corner of the end zone.

But Burbank came right back and took back the lead just a minute later as Kuba Raymond, who was making his second start in place of the injured Aram Araradian, threw an 85-yard touchdown to Brandon Pena with 3:24 to play. That gave the Bulldogs a 28-21 advantage.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Burbank running back Issac Glover scored on a 1-yard run with 8:09 to play, giving the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Glover scored three times as he carried the ball 36 times for 184 yards.

Glover got things started by scoring the first touchdown of the game, a 16-yard run with 8:33 left in the first quarter.

Burroughs tied things when Garcia and Cardenaz hooked up on a 6-yard touchdown with 4:26 left in the half.

The Indians took the lead with 2:56 left in the half when Aiden Forrester picked up a fumble and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-7.

“That was the first defensive touchdown we’ve had all year. We’ve tried to set the goal of scoring defensive touchdowns and I’m glad it happened tonight,” Holdren said.

Glover scored his second touchdown with 1:43 left in the half, this time from 6 yards out.

Burbank coach Adam Colman was proud of his team even though they came up just short.

“My heart breaks for the kids. They were resilient. They battled,” he said.

Both teams are not guaranteed to make the CIF playoffs, but both may qualify as wild cards.

“At 6-4, we like our chances of getting in. I’m hoping the CIF blesses us after this,” Holdren said.

 

Burbank Football Stops Glendale, 27-0

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The Burbank High football team didn’t come out looking like its usual self Friday night when the Bulldogs hosted Glendale High on their home field.

But eventually the Bulldogs got things together and it was enough to earn a 27-0 Pacific League victory.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

The second half was played with a running clock as Glendale has struggled with keeping enough healthy bodies this season.

“I think we came out thinking we were way too good, too cocky. We turned it around in the second quarter,” said Burbank running back Isaac Glover, who finished with three touchdowns.

Burbank (4-5, 3-2 in the league) played without star quarterback Aram Araradian, who is nursing a shoulder injury and is hoping to be able to return for the regular-season finale against Burroughs.

Burbank turned the ball over twice in the first quarter and didn’t seem to be fully focused.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

“They came out ready to play. Their coach did an amazing job getting them fired up to play,” Burbank coach Adam Colman said of Glendale. “Being at home and it was senior night, (our) kids were a little distracted. We need to fix that.”

Burbank was held scoreless in the first quarter. But Glover’s 39-yard touchdown with 10:33 left in the first half broke the deadlock.

Glover added a 29-yard touchdown run with 7:25 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs scored for a third time in the quarter at the 5:44 mark as quarterback Kuba Raymond hooked up with Ben Burnham on a 33-yard pass.

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

Glover added his third touchdown of the game with 3:35 left in the first half, scoring from one-yard out. He finished with 10 carries for 172 yards.

The Bulldogs will now enjoy a bye week before taking on rival Burroughs Nov. 1 at Memorial Field. Burbank is seeking to win its fourth consecutive game over the Indians, something the Bulldogs have never done before.

 

 

Burbank Football Can’t Keep Pace With Crescenta Valley, Lose 45-14

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By Rick Assad

For the Burbank High football team, it was about time for its offense and angles for its defense when it faced Crescenta Valley.

Seemingly from the start, the Falcons were all over junior quarterback Aram Araradian, who had roughly three seconds to get rid of the football.

This is how it went on Burbank’s first series, which began at the Bulldog 29-yard line: senior running back Isaac Glover had a two-yard run. On second down, Araradian’s pass to junior wide receiver Brandon Pena went for no yards and on third down, Araradian was sacked for a six-yard loss.

The two defensive linemen chasing and harassing and causing nightmares for Araradian (13 of 26 for 250 yards with two interceptions) were 6-foot-7 senior Chuck Meyer and 6-6 Logan Tourville.

 

Quarterback Aram Araradian, shown in a win over Pasadena, had an off night against Crescenta Valley. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank’s defense needed to tackle better in open space and not allow Falcon receivers room to roam.

Neither occurred and as a result, Crescenta Valley remained unbeaten and coasted to a 45-14 Pacific League win over the Bulldogs at Glendale High’s Moyse Field on Friday night.

“Every phase of the game, mentally, physically, emotionally, they took it to us,” Burbank coach Adam Colman said. “They were hungrier than we were and that was evident.”

Colman added: “A lot of those seniors were sophomores and we’ve gotten them the last couple of years and they came out mad about that. They wanted to get back and be a championship team and set themselves up for a playoff run.”

There were two bright spots for the Bulldogs (242 total net yards) and the first was Araradian’s 56-yard scoring pass to Pena (122 yards on eight catches) with 1:52 left in the opening quarter that evened the game at 7-7 and closed a 75-yard, five-play trek.

The other was a one-yard carry from Glover (29 yards on 10 rushes) with 3:08 left in the fourth period that ended a 50-yard, two-play march as the Bulldogs (3-4 and 2-1 in league) cut the Falcons’ lead to 31 points.

For much of the evening, Araradian was running away from the Crescenta Valley defense which sacked him five times for minus-forty yards.

Crescenta Valley (6-0 and 3-0 in league) proved too good from the start as it moved ahead 7-0 when junior running back Sebastian DeLeon capped a 60-yard, five-play excursion with a one-yard run and 8:03 left in the first quarter.

Senior runnning back Isaac Glover, pictured in a recent Pacific League game, had a rushing score for the Bulldogs against the Falcons. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

The Falcons were knocking on the door two possessions later, but senior running back Maximus Grant (109 yards on 22 carries and 65 yards on two receptions) fumbled at the Burbank two-yard line as the ball squirted into the end zone.

On its next series, Crescenta Valley, the CIF Southern Section Division X No. 1 ranked team, did score to make it 14-7 as senior quarterback Chase Center (13 of 18 for 252 yards) located senior wide receiver Angel Ochoa with a short pass which resulted in a 47-yard touchdown as 8:17 remained before halftime.

Ochoa, a defensive back, would add an interception and a 65-yard return with 4:21 left in the contest that made it 45-7.

“We’re talking about a team, in terms of Burbank, that was scary offensively, that highly-touted quarterback [Araradian], and he is good, I’m not saying he’s not, but once again you saw what our defense can do,” Crescenta Valley coach Hudson Gossard said of his stifling defense. “Late score at the end. We held them to seven points basically the entire game.”

With 2:51 showing before the intermission, Center (59 rushing yards on 12 carries) had the ball at the Crescenta Valley 47-yard line and six plays later hooked up with senior wide receiver Colby Rees (87 yards on four receptions) on a 20-yard strike as the Falcons’ extended their lead to 21-7.

The next time Crescenta Valley, which only punted once, had the football, it marched 61 yards on six plays and ended when Center drilled Rees with a 24-yard laser for a 28-7 edge as 45 seconds remained.

The Falcons (418 total yards) took the second half kickoff and made it 35-7 when Center hit Rees with a 22-yard scoring pass as 6:49 was left in the third quarter and finalized an 11-play, 67-yard drive.

When sophomore kicker Anthony Sharlakian converted a 30-yard field goal with 2:01 on the clock in the third period, the Falcons zoomed ahead 38-7.

Burbank’s next league match will be play on Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Muir at Memorial Field.

Burbank Football Starts Quick And Prevails 39-21 Over Pasadena

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Rick Assad

When a quarterback has multiple targets at his fingertips, he’s likely going to rack up significant yardage and score multiple touchdowns.

Aram Araradian has that luxury as the left-handed throwing junior piled up 256 yards through the air in a 39-21 victory over Pasadena in a Pacific League matchup at Memorial Field on Thursday night.

Aram Araradian hands off to Isaac Glover, who had 150 yards and one score. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Araradian ended his night by completing 14 of 25 pass attempts with one interception and launched two touchdowns.

For good measure, Araradian also tacked on a five-yard rushing score that came with 1:49 left in the third quarter and shoved Burbank ahead 33-7, which finalized a 48-yard, five-play march.

“We knew we were playing a talented team, so we knew we had to come out strong,” Araradian said. “All our skill guys have trust in the line and faith in the line that they can get their stuff done and then we do our stuff, run, pass, whatever it is.”

Araradian, who carried the ball five times for no yards, said having so many exceptional players around him does make his job that much easier.

Aram Araradian gets tackled on a running play. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“I put the ball in the spot and they go and get it,” he said. “They’re guys that get yards after catch. It could be like a 10-yard pass and it goes 25, 30 yards.”

On this evening, Araradian’s favorite target was junior wide receiver Brandon Pena, who hauled in nine receptions for 188 yards.

Pena’s 19-yard catch on Burbank’s first possession made it 7-0 with 8:51 left in the initial period and it capped a seven-play, 40-yard drive.

Senior wide receiver Ben Burnham, who is another favorite target, chipped in with four receptions and 61 yards.

Burnham’s 25-yard scoring grab with 50 seconds left before halftime from Araradian, saw Burbank (3-3 and 2-0 in league) slide ahead 27-7.

Aram Araradian passed for two touchdowns in a 39-21 win over Pasadena. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We came out and ready to go. But we executed and kept the drive alive,” Burbank coach Adam Colman explained. “The offense grinded it out. Stayed on the field.”

Colman then added: “We’ve got a lot of weapons,” he said. “When our ground game is working like it was tonight, you just kind of pick your poison. It’s really tough to stop. It puts a lot of pressure on the opponents. They’re all unselfish and about the team.”

Burbank’s ground attack was highly effective as senior running back Isaac Glover accounted for 150 yards on 29 carries, that included a pair of first-half touchdowns.

“Just overall team-work,” Glover explained on why Burbank prevailed over a much-improved Pasadena team. “We just executed on every single level. Moving the ball and executing. Everyone doing their job.”

Isaac Glover gets free on the right side and runs for yards. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

What’s Glover’s approach each and every week?

“Watching film and seeing what they do,” he said. “Learning a new game every week.”

Glover’s six-yard romp into the end zone with 1:57 left in the opening frame made it 14-0 as Burbank drove 80 yards on 13 plays.

Glover’s second scoring tally was a four-yard blast with 7:11 remaining in the second quarter as the hosts pulled ahead 20-7.

On this drive, Araradian calmly and confidently marched the home team 92 yards which consumed 10 plays.

Araradian then positioned Burbank (414 total net yards) down the field after getting the football at the Pasadena 31-yard line and used six plays with senior running back Tyler Murphy (eight yards on five carries) scampering in from two yards and 8:21 left in the game that made it 39-14.

Pasadena (3-2 and 0-2 in league) has skilled players up and down its lineup and trimmed Burbank’s advantage to 14-7 when senior running back Au’dante Bailey (51 yards on seven carries) scored on an eight-yard run that ended the first quarter and finished a five-play, 58-yard excursion.

Bailey’s 68-yard kickoff return for a score for Pasadena (245 total yards) with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter sliced Burbank’s lead to 33-14.

When Pasadena sophomore wide receiver Mekhi Fox (92 yards on six rushes) raced 60 yards with eight minutes remaining in the contest, Burbank’s lead was reduced to 18 points.

Burbank, which began the season with losses to Moorpark at home and Golden Valley on the road, has now won three of its next four games.

Burbank’s next game will be Friday at Moyse Field on the campus of Glendale High when it plays Crescenta Valley.

Burnham Leads Burbank Football Past Arcadia

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Burbank High senior wide receiver Ben Burnham has played well of late and scored a pair of touchdowns last week in a loss to Hart High.

Thursday night he became the first receiver in school history to gain more than 300 yards in a single game, as he scored three touchdowns in leading the Bulldogs to a 48-7 road win over defending Pacific League champion Arcadia in the league opener.

“I’ve been locked in mentally and I’ve been focused on running my routes. Everything after I catch it just comes naturally,” Burnham said.  “I can’t say enough about my quarterback. He’s a great player, a great teammate, a great leader.”

Junior quarterback Aram Araradian finished 11 of 16 passing for 351 yards with three touchdowns.

Having played a tougher schedule in the first half of the season, Araradian has now passed for 1,387 yards in five games.

Burbank (2-3) jumped on Arcadia quickly and was never under any serious threat.

Araradian and Burnham hooked up on a 32-yard touchdown at the 9:58 mark of the first quarter.

An interception by Austin Blacano helped set up Burbank’s second touchdown, a 1-yard run by Isaac Glover with 5:54 left in the first quarter to make it 14-0.

Tyler Murphy scored on a 1-yard run later in the quarter to make it 20-0.

Araradian and Burnham hooked up on an 89-yard touchdown at the 9:11 mark of the second quarter to make it 27-0. Burnham’s single game record broke the previous school record of Cody Cardenaz, who had 209 yards against Pasadena in 2008.

Arcadia (1-3) took advantage of great field position following a Burbank turnover to help score its lone touchdown.

Glover scored on a 15-yard run with 2:22 left in the first half to make it 34-7.

Araradian and Burnham hooked up again with 58 seconds left in the quarter for their third touchdown. Burnham did not play in the fourth quarter.

Burbank’s lone touchdown in the second half came with 7:14 left in the third quarter as Murphy scored on a 9-yard run.

Bulldog coach Adam Colman was pleased with how his team responded from a tough nonleague schedule in which saw some ups and downs.

“It was nice to get on the board quick and to get to play with a lead. We’ve looked back and some of our losses and we said if we get a lead early it’s a whole different complexion. We really emphasized starting strong,” Colman said. “The defense was awesome and helped give us great field position. It’s nice to start off league with a win, especially against the defending league champs.”
Burbank will host Pasadena High next Thursday at Memorial Field.

Burbank Football Falls Short Against Golden Valley

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The Burbank High football team may be on the short end of the scoreboard, but coach Adam Colman is trying to get his team ready for the tough challenges that lie ahead.

Friday night Burbank ran into another tough challenge, as it faced Golden Valley at Canyon High in Canyon Country.
For the second week in a row, Burbank fell short in a 43-28 defeat.

“We played well against Moorpark, but football is not a do it once and you’ve done it. You have to prove it every week. I think we got rolled into a sense of complacency,” Colman said. “Both with our performance and them not having had a game, what we have to go off of the kids look at their record and think oh that’s great. They were playing in the Foothill League. That’s not a (typical) 2-8 team. They were young last year. We know the Foothill League is a battle, no matter what place you finish.”

(Photo by Ross A Benson)

Burbank had a difficult time stopping Golden Valley’s 6-foot-4, 210-pound running back Johnathan Kaelin. Kaelin rushed for 289 yards in just 13 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.

“On film he stands out more as a receiver,” Colman said. “He was tough to tackle.”

Burbank got a fine performance from junior quarterback Aram Araradian, who finished the game 28 of 40 for 365 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Golden Valley led 15-0 before Burbank got on the board with 8:07 left in the first half as Araradian and Isaac Glover hooked up on a 32-yard touchdown pass.

Down 21-7 late in the first half, the Bulldogs missed two great opportunities to make things interesting as Golden Valley was twice called for roughing the passer that gave the Bulldogs automatic first downs in the red zone.

Burbank got as close as the 4-yard line with 12 seconds left in the half, but fumbled to ball away, allowing the host Grizzlies to go into the intermission up by a pair of touchdowns.

Glover scored on a 7-yard run with 9:46 left in the third quarter to make it 28-14.

The Bulldogs actually scored a touchdown on the one play that Araradian had to sit out after limping off the field.

Kuba Raymond threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Pena. Araradian immediately returned for the two-point conversion as he hooked up with Vincent Vang.

Burbank added another touchdown with 6:35 to play as Araradian hooked up with Ben Burnham on a 15-yard touchdown.

Burbank Football’s Defense Shines Against Crescenta Valley

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By Rick Assad

 

Two of the four best football teams in the Pacific League squared off Friday night at Memorial Field.

In what turned out to be a high-scoring game, Burbank High’s defense forced six turnovers and parlayed this into a 45-23 victory over previously unbeaten Crescenta Valley.

The Falcons came in ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division VII and are now 6-1 and 3-1 in league.

The defending league champion Bulldogs are 4-3 and 3-1 in league and were led defensively by junior strong safety Vincent Vang, who accounted for four takeaways, including three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Quarterback Matthew Porras running and gaining yards against Crescenta Valley Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Two of Vang’s picks went for touchdowns including a 70-yarder with 8:26 left in the first quarter that made it 14-0 and a 23-yarder with 1:28 on the clock  in the fourth for the game’s final points.

“This team’s got a lot of heart,” Burbank coach Adam Colman said. “They’re a family. But we’ve gotta finish. We’ve gotta finish. We’ve gotta finish games.”

Crescenta Valley senior quarterback Cole Doyle (11 of 22 for 121 yards) had a rough evening after getting picked off four times and fumbling once.

The Bulldogs, who along with the Falcons are tied with Muir for second place in league, scored on their first series as senior quarterback Matthew Porras (12 of 22 for 227 yards and one interception) directed the team 60 yards on six plays with the capper being a five-yard romp by Porras (71 yards on 14 rushes) with 10:01 left in the first for a 7-0 edge.

“We know that was the narrative they were preaching,” said Colman of the Falcons wanting revenge after last season’s 37-20 loss at Moye Field. “Our defense played amazing. The turnovers were huge. If our defense can make a statement, the offense feeds off that.”

Burbank’s defense forced six Falcon turnovers in a 45-23 win. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

Doyle’s 13-yard scamper with just under three minutes remaining in the opening frame sliced the lead to 14-7.

But Doyle’s fumble recovered by Vang led to a 24-yard field goal by senior Andy Cardenas that made it 17-7 with 6:35 left before the half.

When Porras was called for intentional grounding and 10:06 in the third, the Falcons (386 total net yards) came within 17-9.

Burbank then answered when junior running back Isaac Glover (101 yards on 21 carries) scored on a three-yard burst with one minute in the third to make it 24-9.

“We just kept running and the O-line kept doing their jobs,” Glover said. “I think this was the best game we’ve had all season, besides Pasadena.”

With three games left on the schedule, the Bulldogs (429 total yards) are hoping to finish strong, but are also trying to stay in the moment.

Erik Harutyunyan had one of the four picks for the Bulldogs. Photo By: Edward Tovmassian

“We’re going one game at a time,” Glover said of their mindset. “We don’t think ahead. Game-by-game. Play-by-play.”

Crescenta Valley, which will play Arcadia (5-2 and 4-0 in league) in the final week, trimmed the lead to 24-16 with 11:41 left in the fourth after Doyle (182 yards on 24 carries) dashed 44 yards for a score.

A three-yard toss by Porras to senior running back Max Mendieta and 7:05 on the ticker in the fourth pushed Burbank’s lead to 31-16.

The Falcons responded with Doyle hitting sophomore wide receiver Sebastian De Leon (20 yards on two receptions) with a seven-yard pass and 5:30 left that cut the margin to 31-23.

When senior running back Chadz Vang (30 yards on four carries) bolted in from four yards out and 1:55 left, Burbank’s lead was 38-23.

Burbank’s next league game will be Friday night at Muir with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Burbank Football Shoves Aside Pasadena, 42-0

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By Rick Assad

It took the Burbank High football team one series in order to set the tone and score its first touchdown.

Five more touchdowns followed and a 42-0 rout of Pasadena was on in a Pacific League match Thursday night at Memorial Field.

Junior quarterback Matthew Porras and Drew Pendleton connected on three scoring passes.

Drew Pendleton grabbed three scoring passes in a 42-0 shellacking of Pasadena. (Photo By: Edward Tovmassian)

“He stepped up huge,” Burbank coach Adam Colman said of his senior wide receiver and linebacker, who had a game-best 160 yards on five receptions. “You see the raw talent. You can see the work he’s put in. He’s a workaholic and it shows in his play.”

Porras added a fourth touchdown toss and finished with 266 yards on 19 of 23 pass attempts.

Burbank (5-2 and 4-0 in league) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when Porras located Pendleton with a 32-yard strike and 8:16 left in the opening quarter that capped a 10-play, 78-yard drive.

Burbank’s advantage became 14-0 on a 43-yard pass from Porras to Pendleton with 2:54 on the clock in the same period that ended a 62-yard, three-play march.

“We want to do that every game,” said Pendleton of the early lead that swelled to 21-0 at the intermission. “We had fun tonight. We got the early lead and we were in the driver’s seat and then we do whatever we want.”

Quarterback Matthew Porras threw four scoring passes. (Photo By: Edward Tovmassian)

That tally was made possible when senior defensive back Kaydon Spens intercepted senior quarterback Randy Santellan (nine of 25 for 106 yards with three interceptions).

Spens had another pick that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown with 6:57 left in the third quarter, but it was called back after a roughing the passer penalty.

Junior defensive back/wide receiver Erik Harutyunyan snared four passes for 23 yards and also contributed an interception.

Darnell Williams accounted for only 12 yards on four carries because of an ankle injury. (Photo By: Edward Tovmassian)

When Porras unloaded a 27-yard toss to junior tight end Duncan Smith (64 yards on six catches) and 10:55 left in the second quarter, Burbank’s lead became 21-0.

On Pasadena’s first possession of the second half, senior defensive lineman Anthony Lira scooped up a loose football and returned it 43 yards for a score and a 28-0 lead with 9:55 remaining.

The score was set up after senior defensive back Christian Fajardo’s jarring tackle.

Pasadena (1-6 and 1-3 in league) fell behind 35-0 with 7:06 remaining in the third period on a 74-yard pass from Porras to Pendleton, who did most of the work.

Pendleton had an interception and also contributed a pick that resulted in a 28-yard score with 3:56 left in the opening frame, but was nullified on a roughing the passer penalty.

Burbank ended its scoring with a 16-yard scamper from sophomore running back Isaac Glover (39 yards on 10 rushes) as 2:54 remained in the contest.

Burbank’s defense was hard-hitting in a 42-0 shutout of visiting Pasadena. (Photo By: Edward Tovmassian)

Junior running back Chadz Vang had 22 yards on five carries and caught three passes for 19 yards.

Senior Darnell Williams chipped in with 12 yards on four rushes after injuring his ankle.

Pasadena was limited to 68 total net yards in the opening half and finished with 169 yards while Burbank had 360 yards.

Senior Andrew Rovira added six extra points, but missed a 52-yard field goal that sailed wide left with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs have a showdown next Friday at Glendale’s Moyse Field with a 7 p.m. kickoff when they meet Crescenta Valley, which is also undefeated in league play.