Burroughs High romps

A confident Burroughs High team opened its 2005 campaign Friday with

a convincing nonleague victory against host Schurr, 30-14.

The Indians set and maintained the pace of the game, as they came

out running with senior Thomas Kyle -- who finished the night with

111 yards in 11 carries and a touchdown.

He also caught a 67-yard screen pass from junior quarterback Tony

Banuelos Jr. for a touchdown to put Burroughs ahead.

Banuelos completed 14 of 26 passes for 233 yards and three

touchdowns. He threw just one interception.

Banuelos tacked on 58 yards in five carries.

“[This is] the best first game I’ve had in a long time,” Burroughs

Coach Keith Knoop said.

Burroughs was unable to fully prepare for Schurr since the

Spartans did not have a scrimmage last week.

“[Because of that], we stayed in our base set up and did what we

do best,” Knoop said.

The Indian defense played strongly, but showed some first-game

rust, allowing 187 rushing yards and 284 total.

However, it forced two turnovers in the second half, one of which

resulted in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Banuelos to Tyler Bruno on

the ensuing play.

The offense kept clicking the entire game, totaling 420 yards.

“It was great to get first downs when we needed them,” Knoop said.

Some early rust showed, however, as Banuelos and Kyle

miscommunicated on a pass that was intercepted late in the third

quarter.

“There are a couple things I still need to work on,” Banuelos

said. “I could have made more reads passing, as well as checks and

audibles in the running game.”

Looking forward, Knoop said he is not about to take his team’s

next opponent lightly.

Burroughs takes on the Dons on Friday at 7 p.m. at Verdugo Hills’

Turner Field.

Burroughs’ Jake Ferrer had four receptions for 50 yards and Bruno

finished with three catches, 41 yards and a touchdown.

For Schurr, which has won the past two Almont League crowns and

went 10-2 last year, running back Steven Cano finished with 108 yards

in 23 carries and two touchdowns.