Football previews: Burroughs vs. Crescenta Valley; Burbank vs. Pasadena
BURROUGHS VS. CRESCENTA VALLEY
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Moyse Field (Glendale High)
RECORDS: The Indians are 2-1; the Falcons are 3-0
LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Santa Fe, 33-21; Crescenta Valley defeated La Cañada, 35-0
OUTLOOK: The Indians take on the Falcons in the opening Pacific League game for both teams. Burroughs enters the game after a successful nonleague campaign, notching wins over Santa Fe and Rosemead, 45-17. Its only loss came against Calabasas, 53-31. Crescenta Valley is on a roll heading into league competition, with nonleague wins against Verdugo Hills, 55-14, Golden Valley, 48-25, and the Spartans. The Falcons are the lone undefeated team in league. Crescenta Valley has the most potent offense in the league, averaging 46 points a game and its defense is second-best, allowing 13 points a contest. The offense is led by senior quarterback Brian Garsby. He averages 334.7 yards passing a game. Burroughs has been able to be successful with an entirely new offense under junior quarterback Andy Amela, who was 18 of 27 for 167 yards passing last week. The Indians have a solid running back in Chance Bell (114 yards last week) and weapons in Aidan Anding and Erick Hernandez, who both had a pair of touchdowns against Santa Fe.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burroughs enjoyed its best nonleague record since 2008, when it entered league play 2-1, as well.
BURBANK VS. VS. PASADENA
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Pasadena High
RECORDS: Burbank is 2-1; Pasadena is 1-2
LAST WEEK: Burbank lost to Canyon Country Canyon, 35-21; Pasadena lost to Artesia, 35-24.
OUTLOOK: It is a battle of the Bulldogs as they open Pacific League play. After learning earlier in the week that its star running back James Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury, Burbank suffered its first loss of the season against the Cowboys. Burbank did get its quarterback back, senior Ryan Meredith, who suffered an ankle injury in the team’s opening game of the year. After getting wins against Ayala (26-14) and Bell Gardens (15-14) to begin the season, Burbank struggled at times on offense and defense against Canyon. Pasadena’s lone win this season came in its opener against South El Monte, 50-7. The team also suffered a 28-21 loss to La Salle. Pasadena has a talented player in senior transfer Jorge Reyna, who quarterbacked Downey to a CIF Southern Section Southeast Division championship in 2012. This will be the fourth straight game on the read for Burbank to open the season. It will finally have its first home game Oct. 3 when it plays Crescenta Valley in a league contest at Memorial Field.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: With its loss last week, Burbank dropped from No. 6 to No. 10 in the current CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll.
Jeff Tully