Football previews: Burroughs vs. Santa Fe; Burbank vs. Canyon
BURROUGHS VS. SANTA FE
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Downey High
RECORDS: The Indians are 1-1; the Chiefs are 1-2
LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Rosemead, 45-17; Santa Fe lost to Bonita, 41-7
OUTLOOK: The Indians are coming of an emotional and uplifting victory last week. The athletes played with heavy hearts after the death of former Burroughs player Jake Gnasso and two other graduates in a car crash in the Santa Clarita Valley. The team attended a candlelight vigil outside of the school following the game. After a slow start, the Indians came on in the second half against Rosemead at Memorial Field, scoring 35 points in the third and fourth quarters. Hunter Guerin scored two touchdowns, including one on a 55-yard punt return in the third quarter, to help ignite the second-half surge. The Indians will be taking on a Santa Fe team that plays in the Del Rio League. This is Burroughs’ final nonleague game before opening Pacific League play Sept. 26 against host Crescenta Valley. Along with last week’s loss, the Chiefs also have a loss against Santa Maria St. Joseph, 42-20, along with a win against South El Monte, 21-7. Santa Fe has a good quarterback in senior Eli Ledesma and a solid running back in junior Edward Cisneros.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Santa Fe lost to Burbank, 42-0, in the first round of the 2013 CIF Southeast Division playoffs.
BURBANK VS. CANYON COUNTRY CANYON
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Canyon Country Canyon High
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 2-0; the Cowboys are 1-2
LAST WEEK: Burbank had a bye; Canyon defeated Eastside, 28-7
OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs have had a week to recuperate and prepare after having last played Sept. 5 in a nonleague road victory against Bell Gardens. Burbank, which is ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division, has been able to begin the season 2-0 despite injuries to two of its top players, senior quarterback Ryan Meredith and senior running back James Williams. Meredith, who suffered an ankle injury, has been sidelined for two weeks and will be ready to go against the Cowboys. However, the status of Williams, who was hurt in the game against Bell Gardens, is still uncertain. “We know he won’t play against Canyon,” Burbank Coach Richard Broussard said. “He is seeing an orthopedist, and I would just like to know if we will lose him for a few weeks, if he’s out for the season or what.” With Williams still sidelined, look for senior running back Tony Toledo to get his share of reps. Canyon, which plays in the Foothill League, suffered its two losses against quality teams in Westlake (44-17) and Thousand Oaks (45-40). The Cowboys like to throw the ball behind sophomore quarterback Miles Fallin, who passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns in the shootout with Thousand Oaks. The team also has an accomplished wide receiver in senior Israel Cabrera.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: This will be Burbank’s third straight road game to start the season and the Bulldogs will have one more when they open Pacific League competition Sept. 26 at Pasadena.
Jeff Tully