Burroughs football opens season on winning note
SIMI VALLEY — It took an extra week to start its season, but the Burroughs High football team appeared to be in mint condition.
Especially on offense, as quarterback Nathan Piper completed 19 of 35 passes for 324 yards and three touchdown to power the visiting Indians to a 45-30 nonleague road victory against Royal on Friday night.
Burroughs was set to begin its season Sept. 1 against West Ranch, but the game was rescheduled for Sept. 2 because of the nearby La Tuna Canyon Fire. The game was canceled because of poor air quality from the fire.
Burroughs, which finished 4-6 last season and didn’t qualify for the playoffs, never trailed Friday. An impressive ground attack from running back Ben Peters complimented the Indians’ passing attack. Peters rushed for 146 yards on 22 carries and had an 80-yard touchdown to propel the Indians.
Burroughs wide receiver Cerain Baker caught two touchdown passes.
Burroughs opened the scoring on an 18-yard field goal by Jonathan Rivas with 7:03 left in the first quarter. The Indians made it 10-0 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Piper to Devin Harrison with 1:41 to go in the first quarter.
Royal (1-2) cut the deficit to 10-7 on a 16-yard pass from Ezekiel Savage to Colin Mitchell with 30.3 seconds left in the first quarter. Then Peters scored on the ensuing play on an 80-yard run down the right side to make it 17-7 with 17.4 to go in the quarter.
After the Highlanders closed to within 17-14 with 5:49 left in the second quarter, Burroughs’ Hakeem Hickman scored on a one-yard run to make it 24-14 with 4:03 to go in the second quarter. Royal pulled to within 24-22 with 2:53 remaining in the first half before Baker grabbed a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Indians a 31-22 with 36.4 seconds left in the half.
Piper tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass down the right side to Bakers to extend the lead to 38-22 with 9:41 remaining in the third quarter. A two-yard touchdown run by Hickman gave the Indians a 45-22 lead with 8:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Royal closed out the scoring with 5:49 to go in the fourth quarter.
Baker caught nine passes for 106 yards for the Indians, who will take on host Diamond Ranch in a nonleague road contest at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
Savage completed 28 of 53 passes for 363 yards.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
