Burbank football topples No. 1 seed on way back to semifinals
COVINA – A sensational receiving effort from senior Drew Pendleton, gritty and steady quarterbacking from Matthew Porras and a hard-nose resilience from the Burbank High defense turned into a winning combination Friday evening.
From the second time in as many seasons, the Bulldogs are heading to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Pacific League champion Burbank rallied from an early deficit and overcame 135 yards of penalties to upset top-seeded host Covina South Hills, 42-30, in the quarterfinals of the Division VII playoffs at Covina District Field.
“I’m proudest of the kids, it’s always the kids,” said Burbank first-year coach Adam Colman, an assistant on Burbank’s ride to a championship game visit last year. “I love how the kids fought through adversity. They were behind, but they came right back. They never get frustrated or get down, they just keep fighting.”
With the victory, the Bulldogs (10-2) earned advancement to next Friday’s semifinals in Chino against a familiar foe in Don Lugo (10-2).
The Bulldogs defeated the visiting Conquistadores, 44-14, in the semifinals of last year’s Division VIII playoffs.
It was last year in the quarterfinals that Burbank rallied to upset No. 2 Covina, 30-27, at Covina District Field.
This time around, however, the game wasn’t as close as South Hills starting quarterback RJ Stearns was not knocked out of the game on the Huskies’ third drive.
Sterns’ final pass was a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior cornerback Kaydon Spens, who finished with two picks and both his team’s takeaways. Spens’ score came with 10:25 left in the second quarter and, with a successful extra point, tied the score at 10.
South Hills turned to sophomore back-up quarterback Khalil Ali, who was admirable but not nearly as effective.
For that point on, Burbank outscored South Hills, 32-20, and at one time built an 18-point lead after a field goal from Andrew Rovira with 2:11 left in the third as the visitors went up, 35-17.
There was no denying the combo of Pendleton and Porras.
Burbank’s dynamic receiver hauled in 11 catches for 175 yards with several spectacular efforts elongating scoring drives.
“I just played football and didn’t worry about anything else,” Pendleton said. “Nothing else fazed me.”
As for Porras, the quarterback completed 16 of 30 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown, while he rushed 10 times for 66 yards and two additional touchdowns.
Porras’ versatility played out on a three-play sequence when the junior punched in an 11-yard touchdown with 5:28 left in the game.
With Rovira knocked out of the game earlier on a late hit, Porras converted the extra point to put his team ahead, 42-30.
On the ensuing kickoff, Porras came up with a touchdown-saving tackle.
“All this is about hard work,” Porras said. “We practice this and all we had to do was keep our heads in the game. It was tough sometimes, but you had to do it.”
Rovira’s status for the semifinals is up in the air after the senior kicker converted field goals of 41, 43, 30 and 25 yards.
Burbank also received a safety when South Hills turned in one of its several sketchy snaps from center that resulted in a tackle by Christian Fajarado and Max Mendiata of South Hills’ Zion Naulls in the end zone.
The two points put Burbank ahead for good, 19-17, with 4:44 left in the second quarter.
Burbank added to its lead with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Porras to Duncan Smith (four catches for 91 yards and one touchdown) to go ahead, 26-17, en route to taking a 29-17 lead at halftime.
Burbank’s other touchdown was a one-yard score from Porras at the 6:27 mark in the second quarter.
Burbank’s defense finished with five sacks, with two from Anthony Lira.
Bulldogs running back Darnell Williams also turned in a strong effort with 20 carries for 141 yards.
About the only issue came at the end of the game when a South Hills assistant coach went charging after Colman following postgame handshakes after Colman faked a crying gesture.
Cooler heads eventually prevailed.
“All this stuff – the part that frustrates me – is that this is taking away from what matters,” Colman said of South Hills afterward. “This is ‘me, me, me and I’m trying to live my glory days.’ No! It’s about the players and that’s what I’m proud about.”
Twitter: @campadresports
