Burbank ‘Dogs Feeling the Bite

It has been one of those seasons for Burbank, which has struggled to a 1-6 record. The Bulldogs began with 43 players but that number has dwindled to 21.

Among the reasons Coach Randy Stage cites for the depletion are attitude problems, two players’ straining their knees from a collision in practice, a cracked sternum, and electrical shock.

Electrical shock?

“The kid just stuck his hand in a fuse box while leaning against the wall in machine shop,” said Stage, who added, “Our wide receiver took his helmet off and threw it at me at halftime (two weeks ago against Schurr) and just said ‘I quit.’

“As long as we have at least 16 players, we’ll be OK.”

It’s a first: Alemany running back Terry Barnum (138 carries for 924 yards, 12 touchdowns) caught his first pass of the year in the Indians’ 15-10 victory over Bishop Montgomery last week, and it resulted in a 56-yard touchdown.

It was a simple swing pass, not the kind of play Coach Pat Blackburn thought would get Barnum into the end zone.

“I’ve been wanting to get (Barnum) the ball in a passing situation all year long,” Blackburn said. “There was 35 seconds left (in the first half) when we scored. The play was designed to just get as many yards as he could and to get out of bounds, but the defense collapsed on (receiver Richard) Dice and (Barnum) was able to score.”

Back in action: Notre Dame running back Setefano Malieitulua is expected back in the lineup for the Knights’ Mission League game against St. Bernard on Friday. Malieitulua, who has rushed for 575 yards in 86 carries and scored eight touchdowns, sustained a sprained left knee in Notre Dame’s 35-14 win over Alemany two weeks ago and missed the Knights’ 7-7 tie with St. Paul last week.

Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said that Malieitulua has been jogging and going through light workouts on his own last week in addition to receiving therapy each day. Notre Dame is 4-2-1, 2-0-1 in league play.

A natural Herb: Kennedy Coach Bob Francola’s recipe for disaster in last Friday’s 20-0 loss to El Camino Real included a large helping of the Conquistadore defense and a liberal sprinkling of a nose guard named Herb.

“The nose guard was very good,” Francola said. “He might be the best guy I’ve seen there all year long.”

One thing is certain, Francola did not see this particular player last year--and neither did anyone else. El Camino Real nose guard Herbert Cosey wasn’t on the field. He wasn’t even on the team.

Cosey, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior, is playing his first season of organized football, El Camino Real co-Coach Mike Maio said.

“I think as he understands the game he’s been getting better and better,” Maio said.

Thomas returns: Newbury Park running back Walter Thomas was suspended from last week’s 23-7 loss to Westlake because of disciplinary reasons. But Coach George Hurley said that Thomas, who rushed for nearly 700 yards as a junior last season, will play in this week’s game at Camarillo.

Thomas, whose playing time already was limited because of a knee injury he sustained in the Panthers’ second game, will play defensive back as well as running back Friday.

“His knee is only about 85% ready, and he has a hard time blocking because he can’t really plant and push off,” Hurley said. “But we’re going to give him a shot at defensive back and see how it goes.”

Stone Age team: Cleveland (0-4-1) has been outscored, 71-13, in its past three games and is winless in Northwest Valley Conference play at 0-3.

Coach Steve Landress is sorting through the, well, pebbles and rubble. “Some teams don’t fire on all cylinders, but we don’t even have a motor,” Landress cracked. “We’re like the Flintstones. We’re a pushcart.”

Staff writers Steve Elling, Kirby Lee, Paige A. Leech and Jeff Riley contributed to this notebook.