Crespi Runs Past Defenseless Burbank

Crespi High scored on its first four possessions en route to a 41-8 victory over Burbank in a nonleague football game Thursday night at Burroughs High.

The Celts (4-0) were led by senior running back Joel Garcia, who ran for 81 first-quarter yards and scored the first two touchdowns on runs of eight and 27 yards.

Crespi--unstoppable on offense--gained chunks of yardage against the defenseless Bulldog defense nearly every play.

Fullback Marc Salazar followed Garcia’s touchdowns with a seven-yard scoring run to make it 21-0. With time running out in the first quarter, running back Kevin Turner scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to give Crespi a 28-0 lead.

The Crespi defense, led by senior linebacker Kevin Carden, held Burbank (1-3) to 35 yards on 14 plays in the first quarter.

“We seemed to be clicking on all cylinders in the first quarter,” Crespi Coach Tim Lins said. “I think our team played well tonight.”

Aided by facemask and pass interference penalties, Burbank capped off a 15-play, 74-yard drive with a two-yard run by fullback Mark Pleasant with 6:57 left in the half to make it 28-7.

Operating the two-minute offense, Burbank quarterback Cliff Lohner (11 of 25, 131 yards, three interceptions) connected on three of four passes for 53 yards to move the Bulldogs from their 25-yard line to the Crespi two.

Burbank missed an opportunity to score after a fumbled exchange from center resulted in a turnover with 33 seconds left before halftime.

Turner scored on a 21-yard run down the left sideline and fullback Jimmy Guardino scored from a yard out to close out the scoring.

Garcia led all rushers with 110 yards on 13 carries.

Burbank’s Alan Gutierrez rushed for a team-high 73 yards on 21 carries.