Pacific League preview
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Having a shot at a second consecutive league title is another example of how league re-alignment has helped Burroughs. For most of its recent existence, Burroughs had to make that long trek to Santa Clarita (you know what I’m talking about if you have ever driven on the I-5 North through the Valley on a Friday afternoon) to get stomped by Hart, Valencia or whoever else was the darling of the Foothill League at the given time.
But those days are over. Burroughs looks poised to capture top honors in the Pacific League again with 25 returning seniors on its roster. Among those players is 6-foot-3 QB Corey Howard, who passed for more than 1,400 yards last season. Other game-breakers include returning LBs Kyle Budrick and Jacob Meza.
Now that the Indians have all the pieces in place, let’s see if they can get farther than the first round of the playoffs. There’s nothing like a long postseason run to win the respect the Pacific League has been lacking in recent years.
The Indians better not breathe too easily, though. Muir has another solid team this season thanks to the league’s most talented duo of players. RB Willie Youngblood returns after rushing for 1,439 yards and 13 TDs in 2006. He is joined by WR Ahmere Owens, who will have to work even harder to get to the ball now that QB Lance Mitchell and his 1,475 passing yards have graduated.
Burbank has a more experienced team this season under first-year Coach Ted Amorosi, but it still won’t get them into the postseason since Pasadena returns the league’s best passing duo of QB Tyron Crockom and WR Michael Harrison. Just don’t mention the words Harvard-Westlake to those two guys for a couple weeks.
Here’s my predictions: 1. Burroughs, 2. Muir, 3. Pasadena, 4. Burbank, 5. Arcadia, 6. Crescenta Valley, 7. Hoover, 8. Glendale
Must-see games:
- Sept. 7 – Muir at Oaks Christian, 7 p.m.
- Sept. 14 – Burroughs at Harvard-Westlake, 7 p.m.
- Sept. 14 - Burbank at Chaminade, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 12 – Muir at Burroughs, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 9 – Muir vs. Pasadena at Rose Bowl, 7 p.m.
- Austin Knoblauch
