Peters carries Burroughs football past Pasadena

BURBANK — Behind a stellar performance from running back Ben Peters, the Burroughs High football team won its Pacific League opener in a shootout with visiting Pasadena.

Peters ran for 304 yards on 45 carries, including four touchdowns, to outlast the Bulldogs, 45-34, Friday night at Memorial Field.

The workhorse averaged more than six yards per carry as he took all but two handoffs and helped keep his squad stay ahead while sustaining momentum.

The outstanding display makes it consecutive weeks of standing out for the senior, who had nothing but praise for his teammates after the game.

“We have a passing game which opens it for the running game,” said Peters, who has 444 yards in the last two games. “I want to thank my offensive line, every last one of them. The receivers also helped block for me.”

The win marked 10 straight for the Indians over the Bulldogs, as Burroughs has won all but one meeting between the two teams in Pacific League play. Pasadena last defeated Burroughs in 2007.

Still, the latest tilt was an overall see-saw affair that wasn’t solidified until Peters’ fourth touchdown with 7:14 left in the game.

“I thought it’d be more defensive,” said Burroughs coach Mike Reily, whose team improved to 2-1 overall. “Not expecting this many points - from either side - to be honest. It was a great battle … fun game.”

Aside from the final 4:26 of the first quarter, Burroughs played with an advantage and controlled the pace of the game. It was in that stretch when Pasadena (0-4) scored 14 unanswered, including a pick-six to answer the Indians’ fast start and give itself a 14-13 lead.

Burroughs recovered to outscore Pasadena 18-6 in the second quarter. Peters capped off a drive that started on Pasadena’s 47-yard line thanks to Hakeem Hickman’s fumble recovery on a bad snap to retake the lead at 21-14.

Pasadena answered to cut the lead down to one before quarterback Nathan Piper dropped it off to David Lennstrom ,who sprinted 23 yards for a touchdown. The Indians made it a two-score game on Jonathan Rivas’ field goal with eight seconds remaining in the half.

Piper complemented the running game well with 159 passing yards. As a team, the Indians amounted 306 yards of total offense in the first half en route to surpassing 450.

“Almost 500 yards of offense, how bout that for an offensive line,” Reily said.

Pasadena struck first in the second half, cutting the lead to 31-28 on a touchdown from Hakeem Herring, who took over signal calling duties in the second half and passed for 165 yards.

Peters put the Indians back up by 10 with a one-yard touchdown. He had four rushes in the drive for 52 yards.

The same sequence occurred on the next two possessions. This time, however, Pasadena wouldn’t threaten again.

“No quit attitude,” Reily said. “Pasadena rallied and got back right in the game. We could keep fighting or we could quit.”