Time Runs On for Hart, but It Runs Out on Burroughs : Temple City Holds Off a Late Burroughs Rally, 35-28

A little more than five minutes showed on the clock and a victory was slipping away from Temple City. Burroughs High of Burbank had scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and was threatening to upset the Northwestern Conference’s No 1-ranked team.

Temple City quarterback Tim Vance had to admit that he was getting nervous.

But not too nervous. The senior quarterback took his team on a 61-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown, capping a furious 35-28 semifinal victory over the Indians at Temple City.

Temple City (13-0) will meet Hart (12-1) for the conference title next week.

To get the Rams into the title game, Vance had to connect on a crucial third-down pass with less than two minutes left. It was only his fifth pass of the game, but Vance never flinched. On the next play he ran nine yards for the score.

“That’s the play we always go to when we need to convert on third down,” Vance said of the crucial pass to Mike Napolitana. “I like that play.”

Burroughs still had a minute and a half to try to tie the score, but Bob Rees intercepted a Jeff Barrett pass with 50 seconds left to seal the win.

Barrett had thrown for both of his team’s fourth-quarter scores and Jason Applegate ran for another near the end of the third quarter to fuel Burroughs’ comeback.

“We knew they could throw the ball and they did,” said Temple City Coach Don Swanson. “But we hung in there.”

Vance’s stats were unimpressive. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 43 yards. He gained 68 yards on 15 carries. But he scored the final two touchdowns. Running back Mike Mooney rushed 21 times for 201 yards for ground-minded Temple City.

On the other side of the field, Barrett carried the Indians, completing 22 of 39 passes for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brian Kaloustain caught 9 of those throws for 134 yards and 2 scores.

The game began under threatening skies. Burroughs, a passing team that likes to keep things warm and dry, looked edgy at the start.

Three of the Barrett’s first four passes were dropped. Barrett completed only two of his first seven passes.

Temple City, meanwhile, established its running game immediately. On the Ram’s first possession, Mooney ran a wing-back reverse 52 yards for a touchdown.

It just took a little time for Barrett to warm up in the cold. He came on in the final minutes of the half to complete six of eight passes and take the Indians 80 yards for a score.

The teams traded touchdowns leading up to the final five minutes of the game.

Swanson didn’t share any of his quarterback’s apprehensions. He said he had no doubts his team would pull out the win.