Only one significant change in Burroughs football schedule
Burroughs High football coach Mike Reliy realized that it was not a good way to begin the 2016 season.
The Indians opened the campaign last year against a talented Cathedral team. Burroughs was blitzed, 51-7. The Phantoms finished the season 11-1, won the Angelus League championship and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals.
“We were looking for a week one opponent last season and they were looking for someone to play, so we mutually agreed on the game in a one-year contract,” Reily said. “They wanted to pick us up for a second year even before we played, and we told them we’ll see how it goes and we’ll tell you afterward.
“After that game, we said thanks, but no thanks. So then we went looking for an opening opponent for this upcoming season.”
Burroughs replaced Cathedral with West Ranch from the Foothill League.
With the exception of that one change, the Indians will play the same schedule as a year ago in the 2017 campaign.
The Indians will be looking to rebound from a 2016 season in which they went 4-6, 3-4 in the Pacific League for fifth place and failed to make the playoffs.
“I think this is a good schedule for us,” Reily said. “With dropping Cathedral, I think we will have more of a competitive chance against West Ranch.
“But we have some good nonleague games against some good opponents and league should be a challenge as well.”
An advantage for Burroughs is it will play six of its 10 games in the confines of Memorial Field, including the final four.
The Indians will kick off their season at home Sept. 1 in a nonleague contest against West Ranch. Last season, the Wildcats went 4-6 and 1-4 for fifth place in the six-team Foothill League.
“West Ranch is a fantastic football team and they come from that tough Foothill League,” Reily said. “All those schools in Santa Clarita seem to live, die, eat and breathe football and they produce some great football players.
“We actually saw West Ranch and played against them in the Saugus passing tournament and they just had some great looking kids. It is going to be a good challenge and a great opportunity for us in game one.”
Burroughs will hit the road for its second nonleague game against Royal (2-8), a team it defeated in 2016, 26-21. The Indians finish nonleague play Sept. 15 on the road against Diamond Ranch (5-6), looking to avenge a 35-17 loss to the Panthers a year ago.
“We are looking for two great games from those two teams,” Reily said. “With the kind of season that we’re came off of, we can’t take anyone lightly and we have to look at every team as a powerhouse team. We really have to earn respect and earn our stripes this season.”
First up in Pacific League play will be Pasadena (2-8, 2-5 in league for sixth place), which Burroughs will host Sept. 22. A road game Sept. 29 at Arcadia (9-3, 5-2 for third place) will follow and the Indians will be on the road against Glendale (1-9, 0-7 for eighth) on Oct. 5.
Thereafter, Burroughs will begin a four-game stand at Memorial Field.
Reily expects one of the toughest league challenges to come Oct. 13 when the Indians host defending league champion Crescenta Valley (9-2, 7-0).
“It’s never an easy league and there are a lot of teams this season who will be gunning for that top spot,” Reily said. “CV looks like they can really throw the ball and that offense looks so crisp and good. They seem to do that year after year with the success and the attention to detail for their passing game.”
The Indians will host Muir (6-5, 4-3 for fourth) on Oct. 26 and host Hoover (4-6, 1-6 for seventh place) on Oct. 26 before wrapping up the league campaign Nov. 3 with the annual crosstown rivalry game against Burbank (10-4, 6-1 in league for second) at Memorial Field.
“Burbank had a fantastic season last year and they are breeding that atmosphere and environment of high success and high competitive football,” Reily said about the Bulldogs, who advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division VIII championship game in 2016.
Twitter: @jefftsports
