Football previews: Burbank vs. Glendale; Burroughs vs. Pasadena
BURBANK VS. GLENDALE
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday.
WHERE: Moyse Field (Glendale High).
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 5-3, 4-1 in the Pacific League; the Nitros are 2-6, 1-4.
LAST WEEK: Burbank lost to Muir, 24-17; Glendale defeated Crescenta Valley, 20-17.
OUTLOOK: Burbank was knocked into second place in league behind Muir with the loss last week. Burbank, ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division, will have to win its final two games of the regular season and hope Muir stumbles against either Arcadia or Pasadena to get a chance at the league crown. One of those wins will have to come against Burroughs in the Big Game Nov. 2. Burbank will face a Glendale team that earned an impressive victory last week against the Falcons. The Nitros had to battle back from a 10-point deficit to gain the win, however. Glendale has a speedy wide receiver in Michael Davis and a steady running back in Christian Osorio. The Bulldogs have a fine crop of running backs that have helped them be successful this season, namely James Williams and Teddy Arlington. The Bulldogs continue to have the toughest defense in the league, surrendering an average of 16.5 points a game.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burbank is trying to earn a postseason spot after missing the CIF playoffs last season.
BURROUGHS VS. PASADENA
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: Pasadena High.
RECORDS: The Indians are 3-5, 3-2 in the Pacific League; the Bulldogs are 1-7, 1-4.
LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Hoover, 42-13; Pasadena lost to Arcadia, 21-7.
OUTLOOK: With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Indians find themselves in fourth place in the Pacific League. Only the top three teams get automatic berths for the CIF Southern Section playoffs out of the Southeast Division, down form four last year. Barring a complete collapse by Burbank and Muir, Burroughs, will not win a share of the league championship for the first time in four seasons. Burroughs received fine efforts last week from a pair of running backs, Josh Storer (144 yards rushing and two touchdowns) and Isreal Montes (121 yards and three touchdowns). Pasadena has taken a nose dive in league after beginning with a 35-0 win against Glendale on Sept. 21. The Bulldogs have proceeded to lose the next four games, putting them out of the playoff picture. Pasadena has struggled since losing starting quarterback Brandon Cox with a broken foot during the second week. During the four-game league losing streak, the Bulldogs have averaged just 9.2 points a contest. Pasadena does have a solid quarterback in Caleb Devine, who has taken over the duties with the injury of Cox.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: The last time Burroughs lost to Pasadena in league play was in 2007, when the Bulldogs pulled out a 28-27 victory.