Football previews: Burroughs vs. Calabasas; Burbank vs. Bell Gardens
BURROUGHS VS. CALABASAS
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Memorial Field
RECORDS: The Indians are 0-0; the Coyotes are 1-0.
LAST WEEK: Burroughs didn’t play; Calabasas defeated Rancho (Las Vegas), 53-19
OUTLOOK: The Indians open the season after going 6-5 a year ago and tying for second in the Pacific League with a 5-2 mark. Burroughs graduated its share of impact players and has a group of new athletes in starting positions. It should be an early test for coach Keith Knoop‘s bunch, which is thin in a few positions, namely linebacker. Junior Andy Amela will likely get the start at quarterback in his first varsity game. Calabasas is coming off a 2013 season in which it struggled. Not only did the Coyotes go 0-10, but they were also winless (0-4) and placed last in the Marmonte League. However, Calabasas has been bolstered by some transfers, including players who departed high-profile programs like Oaks Christian and Westlake. Quarterback Tristan Gebbia (an Oaks transfer) completed nine of 15 passes for 341 yards and five touchdowns for the Coyotes in last week’s win. Wide receiver Jermani Brown caught five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The Coyotes also have a new coach in Casey Clausen, who played at Tennessee. He is the brother of Jimmy Clausen, who plays for the Chicago Bears.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Since the 2010 season, Burroughs has a 1-11 nonleague record.
BURBANK AT BELL GARDENS
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Bell Gardens High
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 1-0; the Lancers are 0-0
LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Ayala, 26-14; Bell Gardens did not play
OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs suffered a big blow in the waning minutes of last week’s win. Late in the game, senior starting quarterback Ryan Meredith went down with an injury to his left ankle that required medical attention. Burbank first-year Coach Richard Broussard said Tuesday that Meredith had yet to get an X-ray on his ankle because they are waiting for the swelling to subside. “He’s in a boot right now and we just have to wait to see what happens,” Broussard said Tuesday. “He is hell-bent on playing and he’ll do anything to be out there. He was in a great deal of pain Friday. If Ryan doesn’t play, we just need to go into our bag of tricks and see what we can come up with.” Meredith passed for three touchdowns in the victory against Ayala. Bell Gardens opens its season following a productive 2013 campaign in which it went 7-4 and 3-2 in the Almont League for a third-place finish. The Lancers lost their share of athletes to graduation, but return senior running back Christopher Orozco, who rushed for 720 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burbank is ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Southeast Division.
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Follow Jeff Tully on Twitter: @jefftsports.