Indians, Bulldogs are in
Jeff Tully
When football teams play in the Foothill League, they can expect
tough competition.
Because the league is so full of talented teams, squads can also
usually expect their share of respect when it comes CIF Southern
Section playoff selection time.
Burbank and Burroughs highs were the recipients of some of that
respect Sunday when the Division II pairings were released. Despite
finishing fourth and fifth in league, respectfully, the Bulldogs and
Indians received at-large berths for the playoffs.
While the Indians have had success in recent years advancing to
the playoffs, it is the Bulldogs’ first trip since 1991, when they
lost to Los Alamitos, 31-0.
Burbank (6-4) will travel to host Chino at 7:30 p.m. Friday for
its first-round game.
The Cowboys (7-3) finished second in the Sierra League behind La
Verne Damien.
Burroughs (4-6) finds itself in a unique situation. The Indians
will host No. 1-seeded Mission Viejo at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at
Memorial Field.
Although the Diablos (10-0) are the South Coast League champion,
they have been forced to play all of their playoff games on the road
this season after the program was sanctioned by the CIF when it was
discovered the team doctored footballs in the postseason last year.
Mission Viejo defeated Hart -- of the Foothill League -- 10-6, to
win the 2002 championship
“The fact that five of the six teams in our [league] made it to
the playoffs, that says a great deal about the amount of talent and
the strength of this [league],” said Burbank Coach Greg Sobiech, who
is in his second season.
“Being in the playoffs is more than just playing for our school
and our city. We want to represent the league and make a good
showing.”
Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop, in his seventh year, said playing
talented teams in league should prepare his squad for the intense
playoff competition.
“There is no doubt there is some very good football being played
in the Foothill League,” Knoop said.
“We have a very good football team and we lost four times in
league. So that tells you a lot about the league.”
The Indians will be taking on a Mission Viejo team that limits its
opponents to just 11.4 points a game. The team is led by quarterback
Mark Sanchez, who has completed 96 of 129 passes for 1,615 yards, 20
touchdowns and two interceptions.
“Mission Viejo is like a pro team out there,” Knoop said. “They
are powerful and they have just destroyed some very good teams.
“With most teams, you can tell when they put their second-string
into a game, but with them, you can’t even tell. The second string is
just as good as the first.”
Knoop said a big task for him this week is making sure his players
are not intimidated by the Diablos’ mystique.
“I just hope my kids show up,” Knoop said jokingly. “They better
show up, or they’ll be in trouble with me.”
The Indians will be without starting quarterback Nick Payne, who
broke a finger on his non-throwing hand in a league game against
Canyon on Nov. 7.
Burbank will be taking on Chino without its leading rusher, after
sophomore running back Tanner Bennett suffered an injury to his right
knee Friday against Burroughs.
Burbank receivers Jesse Ayers and Robert Nichols have ankle
injures from Friday’s game.
Even the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback -- junior Mike McDonald --
is hobbled, suffering from a bruised quadriceps muscle.
The Cowboys’ biggest weapon is running back Shawn Oatis, who has
carried 159 yards for 775 yards and six touchdowns.
“We know Chino is going to be tough, they are going to be big and
they like to run the ball,” Sobiech said. “But we have done pretty
well this year against the run.
“We are looking forward to playing, and being in the playoffs for
the first time in a while.
“The kids deserve this for the season that they have had.”
The Bulldogs are fresh off a 24-18 league win against Burroughs,
its first over their rival since 1992.