Southern Section Football Playoffs : Burroughs’ Late Rally Produces 26-16 Win

Burroughs Coach Butch McElwee says his team plays best when it’s behind. That was never more evident than Friday night.

The Indians rallied for 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 26-16 win over El Segundo in a Northwestern Conference semifinal game at El Segundo High.

Burroughs (12-1) will face Arroyo Grande in the final next Friday.

Burroughs took the lead for good with 6:47 remaining on a 33-yard touchdown run by tailback Doug Dragomer, who led all rushers with 126 yards in 14 carries. Tommy Phillips’ conversion attempt was wide, leaving the Indians with a 19-16 lead.

After stopping El Segundo on the ensuing possession, Burroughs mounted a nine-play, 76-yard drive, icing the game on a one-yard touchdown sneak by quarterback Jeff Barrett. A 57-yard run by tailback Jason Applegate, who broke several tackles, gave the Indians a first down at the Eagles 14-yard line, setting up the score.

“Our kids showed again that their character comes out when they’re down,” McElwee said.

Burroughs had fallen behind, 16-7, after El Segundo scored nine points in the third quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Eric Evans and a 70-yard swing pass from quarterback Joe Montanez to Evans, a senior tailback.

Burroughs mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter, aided by a strong wind.

Barrett, who had been ineffective throwing the ball in the first three quarters, suddenly could not miss. He completed three consecutive passes on an 80-yard scoring drive to open the fourth quarter, capping it with a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bruce Luizzi with 9:58 remaining. Luizzi went up between two defenders to pull down the pass in the left corner of the end zone, which pulled Burroughs to within 16-13.

For the game, Barrett completed 7 of 12 passes for 72 yards. The Indians rushed for 282 yards, with Applegate gaining 85 in 14 carries, and fullback Wes Bender gaining 60 yards in 14 carries.