MidValleySports.Com

James “The Body Electric” Williams (Photo by Doug Brown)

By Joe Torosian

(Burbank)- In retrospect the “Big Game” in beautiful downtown Burbank was like a bomb  waiting to go off. There was the tension of the first half as the teams went back and forth, and then there was the third quarter where the Burbank Bulldogs exploded for 30 points and defeated the Burroughs Indians 47-21 on Friday night.

Because of the logjam behind Muir in the Pacific League coin flips determined slots for winners and losers. Burbank needed the win to finish in second place. A loss would have dropped them into fourth place and a petition situation with CIF for the Southeast Division’s lone wild card birth.

As it is Burbank finishes second in the Pacific, Burroughs third, and the 8–2 Crescenta Valley Falcons are in fourth and petitioning CIF for the final playoff spot.

In the “Big Game” after going toe to toe for the first 24 minutes, it was the Bulldogs who blasted out four touchdowns and a safety in the third quarter to take control of the game.

The Indians went three and out on their first series and were forced to punt. The boot was poor and Burbank was in business at the Burroughs 37.

Ryan Meredith went right and executed an option toss to James Williams, the toss appeared late, it looked high, but Williams caught it and was gone. Hurdling one defender on the ground and racing to the end zone.

On the Indians next series the offense lined up in what Keith Knoop in 2011 (with Zander Anding) called “The Wild Ram”, which loaded up the line of scrimmage and put running back Javier Pineda at the quarterback position in the shotgun formation.

The result was another three and out. The Bulldogs took possession at their own 31, and two plays later it was Joseph Pendleton going 62-yards to paydirt and a 31-14 lead.

Another series with “The Wild Ram” began at its own 26. A false start moved it to the 21, and a bad snap put the ball into the end zone. Pineda chased it down, but was tackled by Burbank Martin Caro for a safety.

Following the free kick, the Bulldogs moved to the Burroughs 29 and Williams did the rest from there racing his third touchdown of the contest and a back breaking 40-14 advantage.

Three minutes later Pendleton capped the scoring with a 17-yard run.

***The Bulldogs came out in a “Wildcat” formation to start the game with Gary Clements at tight end and James Williams at quarterback

***Harry Avetisyan put Burbank on the board first with a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter.

***The Avetisyan field goal were the only points scored in the first quarter.

***In the second quarter the lead would change hands five times.

***Burroughs quarterback Andrew Williams scored on a 2-yard run at 9:03 mark to make it 7-3 in favor of the Indians.

***Burroughs’ Williams completed 11 of 16 passes for 121 yards, Td, 2 Ints.

***The Bulldogs Williams scored on a 6-yard run with 7:42 to play in the half to give Bank a 10-7 lead.

***James Williams finished with 170 yards on 23 carries and 3 Tds.

***With 5:55 to play before the break Andrew Williams went 80-yards to Kevin Joyce for a touchdown and 14-10 Burroughs lead.

***Indian alums Kohl-Adams Hurd and Zander Anding begin to give former Indian Oharjee Brown a bad time about being beat on the touchdown pass to Joyce.

***With 2:21 to play in the half Andrew Williams throws deep down the sideline for Joyce, but Brown responds with a leaping interception that silences his critics. Brown returns the ball down the sideline and a brief melee begins after he is tackled out of bounds.

***The Bulldogs Joseph Pendleton scores on a 6-yard run at the 1:31 mark.

***Burbank leads at halftime 17-14.

***The Bulldogs Pendleton rushes for 120 yards on 10 carries for 3 Tds on the night.

***After its first series to begin the second half ends in a three and out, the Indians then go to “Wild Ram” for the next to series. The new formation minus-14 yards in two series.

***Burroughs running back Javier Pineda carried the ball 16 times for just six yards. (He lost 21 yards on the bad snap that led to Martin Caro’s safety in the third quarter.

***Burbank’s Ryan Meredith went five of 12 for 133 yards. Oharjee Brown caught three passes for 100 yards.

***Indians wide receiver Kevin Joyce caught five passes for 114 yards and a Td.

***Burroughs started on the offensive line: LT: Andrew Mills. LG: Anthony Olea. C: Jacob Lopez. RG: Oscar Quintana. RT: Jacob Pentland.

***Burbank started on the offensive line: LT: Michael Wong. LG: Mark Salgado. C: Daniel Murphy. RG: Max Montoya. RT: Jordan Meza.

***Burroughs finishes the regular season 6-4 overall and in third place in the Pacific with a 5-2 record.

***Burbank finishes the regular season 8-2 overall and in second place in the Pacific with a 5-2 record.