Burbank football starts strong against Monrovia

BURBANK — A new season of football for Burbank High came out of the gates against Monrovia as the Bulldogs looked to start the new campaign with a victory at home.

In the season opener for both schools, Burbank did not allow an offensive point against the visiting Wildcats and the Bulldogs came away with a 33-7 win in a nonleague contest Friday night at Memorial Field.

“Our defense is the real freakin’ deal. We come to play every day,” Burbank Coach Richard Broussard said. “They wear it on their sleeve. We wore all black tonight for them. They get it done for us. They are what offensive coordinators have to prepare for.”

Burbank’s Forest Fajardo started the season in high gear, dominating the first half, after which his Bulldogs enjoyed a 20-7 advantage. Fajardo scored Burbank’s first points of the season, hauling in a 23-yard pass from Guy Gibbs. On the play, Gibbs pumped once to allow Fajardo to get separation before catching the pass on the right sideline on the way to the score.

Monrovia (0-1) only trailed for 14 seconds, thanks to a 94-yard kickoff return by Michael Washington. The junior was patient before making one cut and sprinting away from the Bulldogs coverage for what would be the visitors’ only score.

Burbank (1-0) went back on top with 1:37 left in the first, once again thanks to Fajardo. Playing in the secondary, the senior jumped a slant route on the outside, intercepted the pass and returned it 12 yards for another touchdown.

Fajardo made his second interception of the contest in the second quarter. The ensuing drive saw the Bulldogs turn the Wildcats turnover into points on a 10-yard run up the middle by Darnell Williams.

“Fajardo is the man. He doesn’t know how good he is,” Broussard, who is in his third year as head coach, said. “He runs like the wind and doesn’t care. He doesn’t have a care in the world. He is just out here playing, happy to help his team.”

The Bulldogs added a touchdowns the third and fourth quarters to round out the scoring.

“We came out slow in the second half, and we work too hard not to be a second-half team,” Broussard said.

Joey Miller ran for a score with 4:02 left in the third, capping a drive that was set up by an interception by Miller to give his team the ball. Williams scored the final touchdown of the contest with 4:03 left on a 13-yard run.

“This year is a new year for me and I’m just looking to run harder and faster,” Williams said.

Williams led Burbank in rushing with 69 yards on 12 carries with the two scores. Nic Warren was close behind, with 16 carries for 62 yards. Miller finished with 35 yards on five carries with the one score.

Gibbs threw a lot of short passes on the way to 21 of 31 for 166 yards and the one touchdown. Fajardo led the Bulldogs in receiving with nine grabs for 94 yards.

Burbank came into the contest carrying a No. 5 ranking in the CIF-Southern Section Division VIII preseason poll against Monrovia out of the Rio Hondo League and unranked in the preseason Division VII poll.

“The win feels nice,” Williams said. “Last year we had to forfeit, but this year we showed why we should win this game.”

Up next for the Bulldogs is another home game against Canyon.

“We have a tough opponent coming up,” Broussard said.