Burbank football stopped by Yorba Linda in quest for first CIF title

YORBA LINDA — In advancing to a first-ever CIF Southern Section Championship game, no obstacle appeared too large, no circumstance too difficult for the Burbank High football team.

That all changed in Friday evening’s Division VIII title game at Yorba Linda High.

The Crestview League runner-up Mustangs rode the sturdy legs of junior running back Jaydyn Webb to the tune of four touchdowns, while the home team better weathered gusty 20-30 mile-per-hour winds in a 31-21 victory at Nathan Shapell Stadium.

The triumph marked the first-ever championship for Yorba Linda (12-2), which came at the expense of a first crown for the Pacific League runner-up Bulldogs (10-4).

“I wish we could have accomplished just a little bit more and we didn’t do it,” Burbank Coach Richard Broussard said, “but it’s cool to make history and it’s cool to be a first. I’ll never diminish that. This group of kids is special and they’ve done a lot for this school.”

Webb was a workhorse Friday, rushing 34 times for 189 yards and four touchdowns, while the junior was at times his team’s only offense.

Burbank erased a 14-point deficit and knotted the game at 21 on a 23-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Guy Gibbs to receiver Drew Pendleton with 7:19 left in the third quarter.

With the game tied for the first time since early in the second quarter, Yorba Linda responded with a 16-play, 63-yard drive that ate up 6 minutes, 51 seconds and resulted in a six-yard touchdown run from Webb.

Webb carried seven times on the drive for 32 yards, hauled in an eight-yard reception and converted on two fourth and ones with carries of four and one yards.

“Tonight, we just came out flat and the wind just messed with us a little bit,” Burbank senior linebacker Jake Kelley said. “They did their thing and we just didn’t watch enough film. They were more ready than we were.”

Webb’s final touchdown, coupled with an extra point, put the Mustangs ahead, 28-21, at the one-minute mark in the third quarter.

Though Burbank’s defense stifled Yorba Linda on consecutive drives on fourth down on the Bulldogs’ 29- and 35-yard lines, the visitors could not convert those stops into points.

The play following the second turnover on downs resulted in a fumble – Burbank’s lone turnover of the game – which was recovered by Yorba Linda’s Mike Callahan at the seven-minute mark in the fourth.

While Burbank kept Yorba Linda and Webb out of the end zone on a brilliant stand, the Mustangs iced the frigid game with an 18-yard field goal by Cole Magliano to go up, 31-21, with 3:28 left.

“Our guys prepared very well for a very good Burbank team,” Yorba Linda Coach Jeff Bailey said. “It wasn’t easy, regardless of what the stats say, but our guys handled the challenge.”

Burbank turned the ball over on downs on its next drive to virtually end the game.

“I was just trying to play football and do what I had to do,” said Gibbs, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, when asked about the difficulty of throwing in the wind. “It is what it is.”

It was sustained drives versus big plays in a first half in which Yorba Linda led, 21-14.

The Bulldogs were down, 21-7, when senior running back Nicolas Warren tallied the final score of the first half when he spun around a tackler and turned in a 42-yard touchdown score.

The touchdown brought the Bulldogs within 21-14 with 3:27 left in the first half.

Burbank’s first score knotted the contest at 7 with 2:29 left in the first quarter. Gibbs danced around a potential ankle tackle, rolled to his left and hit wide receiver Forest Fajardo (two sacks on defense) for a 14-yard touchdown score.

The touchdown capped a 30-yard drive set up because of Burbank’s defense and special teams.

Burbank senior punter Danny Porras, who was returning from an injury, blasted a 65-yard punt that pinned Yorba Linda at its five-yard line. The Mustangs only picked up six yards and then shanked a punt, which gave Burbank possession at the Mustangs’ 30.

On the flip side, Yorba Linda picked up 13 first downs on its three run-heavy scoring drives that were all capped by touchdown runs from Webb.

The junior opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run on the team’s opening possession that put the home side ahead, 7-0, with 8:18 left in the first quarter.

After Burbank tied the game at 7, Webb put his team ahead on a two-yard score followed by another two-yard touchdown run with 5:30 left in the second quarter that put the Mustangs up, 21-7.

Warren ended the first half with an interception, which was the only turnover of the first half.

“Conditions were tough today, but we just didn’t execute,” said Warren, who rushed 10 times for 69 yards and one score. “I love these guys and it’s special to get here, but it could have been way more special. We could have done better on offense, defense and special teams, on everything.”