Burbank Goalie Turns Turf Into No-Man’s Land

Not long ago, Salvador Velasco was kicking footballs through uprights, scoring points as a placekicker for the Burbank High football team. But now, with a different ball, he’s doing the opposite: blocking the kicks on goal in soccer.

Velasco is the Bulldogs’ goalkeeper, and a successful one at that. He has recorded 13 shutouts and given up only five goals in 18 games this season. That’s an average of 0.28 goals allowed per game, one of the best records in the Valley.

But the former quarterback and placekicker isn’t as stingy when handing out credit for his team’s success.

“We have a very strong defense,” Velasco said. “Our team is very complete.”

Burbank is 17-1 overall, 8-1 in the Foothill League. The Bulldogs have three players--Cesar Zepeda, Brad Watkins and Pony Mier--who have scored more than 10 goals this season. Zepeda and Watkins each have 15.

Zepeda’s total is down from last year. The forward had 33 goals last season, an achievement that has been etched in the memory of opposing coaches and players.

Said Burbank Coach Dave Kemp: “This year they have him double-teamed and triple-teamed, but he’ll pass it to the middle. His passing has gotten real good.”

Guarding the field in front of Velasco is Luis Carranza. Carranza took All-Southern Section honors last year at goalkeeper after Velasco broke his leg in the first league game of the season.

“He’s got a pretty good supporting cast around him,” Kemp said of Velasco. “Luis Carranza is just as good in the goal as he is out. Either one could be doing the job.”

But Velasco’s got it, and he’s likely to keep it through the Southern Section 2-A playoffs.

“He’s so smart,” Kemp said. “He just makes instant decisions, and 99% of those decisions are correct.”

Kemp has coached soccer at Burbank since 1969, beginning on a club level. When Burbank started Southern Section play in 1980, Kemp stayed on.

He has since compiled a career record of 78-35-9. His teams have been to the playoffs three times, but that’s where success usually ends and frustration begins for Burbank.

They have a record of 3-3 in the playoffs, and have never made it past the 2-A quarterfinals. The Bulldogs reached the quarterfinals last year, but lost to Crespi.

“They’ve kind of got a high jinks on us,” Kemp said, laughing. “I don’t know if I want to play them again or not. They play real physical.”

As does Burbank.

Last year’s playoff game against Crespi had to be stopped with two minutes remaining in overtime because of a brawl that involved players from both benches and spectators from the stands.

Crespi won 2-1.