Burroughs football unable to stay with talented Calabasas late

CALABASAS — The players and coaches of the Burroughs High football program all realized what a tough task awaited them Friday evening.

In opening their season, the Indians faced a talented Calabasas team that featured a group of future Division I players, a high-powered offense and a stingy defense.

The Indians were hoping to slow the Coyotes, give them a game and maybe come away with some positive results.

Burroughs got a lot more than that.

Against a team with an estimated 30 transfers and 12 Division I players, Burroughs stayed with the Coyotes well into the third quarter and even held a lead in the second half. However, Calabasas, behind seven touchdown passes from quarterback Tristen Gebbia, tallied 26 unanswered points in the second half to turn back the Indians, 45-24.

“We just went up against a team that was just stacked with talent and we stayed with them for most of the game,” Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop said. “That is a very good team we went against and we were able to do some things against them. …I am very proud of our guys tonight.”

The turning point of the game came in the third quarter. Burroughs took a 25-19 lead with 6:17 remaining in the third quarter on a six-yard quarterback keeper from Steven Hubbell (11 of 22 for 125 yards and one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns).

At that point, Gebbia was one of seven for five yards, no touchdowns and one interception to start the second half. However, the quarterback then got red hot. He completed the next 12 of 13 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns to pull Calabasas in front. Gebbia ended with 474 yards passing.

“We were able to do a good job on their running game,” Knoop said. “But we just let some of their receivers get loose for big plays and they hurt us. We also had problems with our tackling.”

The Indians received a solid effort from running back Chance Bell, who had 27 carries for 137 yards and one touchdown.

Hubbell got the Indians out to an early lead when he connected with Nick Mercado on a 42-yard touchdown pass with 10:40 left in the first quarter.

Bell scored on a three-yard run with 10:09 left in the first half to make it 19-12 Calabasas, as the Coyotes went into the break with a seven-point lead.

In the second half, Burroughs knotted the score at 19 following a 24-yard touchdown run up the middle from Hubbell.