By Josh Ouellette
(San Gabriel) – The Burbank Bulldogs hung on for a 44-36 victory over San Gabriel (0-3) Friday night after going up 37-14 at the half.
Andy Guerrero came in at the six minute mark in second quarter for the Matadors and sparked a lack luster offense after starting quarterback Eric Alvarez came out after a leg injury. Guerrero ended the night with 200 yards of offense and three touchdowns, at times looking like former Matador Issac Valdez.
Burbank (2-1) was able to control the game for the majority of the first half with a healthy combination of the run and the pass utilizing the talents of Ulisies Ochoa and Adam Colman. Ochoa was able to rack up 269 yards (192 rushing) and four rushing touchdowns. Colman was able to compliment with 201 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air, both to Ryan Thanaratnam, one for 20 and the other for 46.
The Bulldogs went up on the board first and didn’t look back scoring 37 unanswered points in the first two quarters before the Matadors discovered Guerrero. On ensuing drives San Gabriel scored to close out the half with the momentum in their direction.
The Matadors opened the second half with a 4:27 drive effectively using the run and the pass with the double threat of Guerrero which ended with an 11-yard dash to paydirt by Arthur Brown.
The Bulldogs were able to respond with a 3:53 second drive of their own with Colman connecting Thanaratnam twice for first downs and Ochoa pounding the ball on the drive and into the end zone from 12 yards out.
San Gabriel got lucky on its next drive. When it looked to have stalled Burbank was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, allowing the drive to continue. Guerrero and Brown were able to move the chains all the way into the red zone. The Bulldog defense, led all night by Ryan Seidler, shored up the Matador attack and forced a turnover on downs.
Burbank took over at its 10 and on the second play Colman’s pass was intercepted by Mark Covarrubias and taken back to the house making the score 44-28 with 9:45 left in the game.
On San Gabriel’s first play of its next possession Guerrero hit a wide open Steven Park on a 41 yard bomb to the touchdown, and then connected with Covarrubias for the two point conversion. With 7:31 left the score is settles at the final 44-36. Colman, Ochoa and the Bulldogs ran down the clock on two drives to close out the win.
Burbank will have to wait for two weeks to play their next game when they open up their Pacific League action away at Muir (1-2).
The Matadors will play stay at home and play Contreras.
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