Pasadena Holds off the Bank

Pasadena's Brandon Cox (with OC Michael McKay) threw for three touchdowns and ran for one

(Pasadena) – Brandon Cox threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to lead Pasadena to a 27-21 win over Burbank Friday night in Pacific League action.

The Bulldogs led 13-7 at the half and extended it to 27-7 with two scores in the third quarter. They had to hold off a late Burbank charge in the final quarter and then recover an onside kick to secure the win.

Cox completed 18 of 27 for 255 yards. He also threw two interceptions, both in the first half, that allowed Burbank to hang around. 

Burbank got on the board first when a short punt put it in good field position. Herman Castro ran through the Pasadena defense for a 37 yard touchdown for an early 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter Cox hit on his first touchdown of the night with a bullet over the middle that Marcus Green caught in stride and turned into a 43 yard score.  

In the second quarter Pasadena pieced together a 10 play, 65 yard drive that Cox finished with a five yard TD strike to Keith Law with just nine seconds before the end of the first half for a 13-7 halftime advantage.

In the third quarter Pasadena looked to put the game away scoring on its first two possessions. Cox hooked up with Riian Simpson on a 41 yard pass play down to the Bank one yard line. From there Cox plowed in for a touchdown. Simpson added the two point conversion when he hauled in a pass from Cox.   

On the Bulldogs next possession, The Cox-Green connection worked again – this time for a 37 yard scoring strike and suddenly it was 27-7.

Burbank didn’t go away though.

A bad snap on a punt attempt by Pasadena left Burbank with a first down at the PHS 30. On the first play of the series Teddy Arlington caught a short pass from Austin Mowatt and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.

The Bulldogs (Burbank is also the Bulldogs) got the ball back two possessions later and marched down the field again. Mowatt found Mitch Camacho in the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds left.

Burbank had recovered an onside kick earlier in the fourth quarter but was unable to capitalize. This time Pasadena fell on the short kick and eventually ran out the clock.

“We’re getting closer to our goal of making the playoffs. I told our kids we control our own destiny,” said Pasadena Coach Randy Horton.

Green was Cox’ main target with eight catches for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  

Simpson had six receptions for 50 yards.

Castro had 12 carries for 128 yards and a score for Burbank.

Pasadena improved to 3-1 in league and 4-3 overall. Burbank fell to 2-2 and 3-4.

P 7  6 14   0    27

B 7  0   0  14   21

1st Qtr:

B – 8:27 Castro 37 yd run (David Hacobian Kick)

P – Green 43 yd pass from Cox (Steven Jernigan Kick)

2nd Qtr:

P :09 Law 5 yd pass from Cox (Kick Failed)

3rd Qtr:

P 7:22 Cox 1 yd run (Simpson pass from Cox – 2 pt)

P 1:44 Green 37 yd pass from Cox (Kick Failed)

4th Qtr:

B 7:54 Arlington 30 yd pass from Mowatt (Hacobian Kick)

B :16 Camacho 11 yd pass from Mowatt (Hacobian Kick)

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