Burbank vs. Burroughs 61st meeting

BURBANK — Don’t expect Burroughs High football Coach Keith Knoop to whip his team into a frenzy leading up to the Big Game.

And don’t expect Burbank Coach Hector Valencia to let his squad get caught up in the hoopla surrounding the annual cross-town rivalry game.

Both coaches agree that having their players tone down their emotions, take a more workmanlike approach to the contest and not get too riled up in the grandeur of the game, will lead to better results

The Bulldogs and Indians will get a chance to put that approach to the test when the two meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Field in the 61st meeting of the historic cross-town rivalry.

The game will determine this year’s Pacific League champion, as the Indians (7-2, 6-0 in league) hold a one-game lead over the Bulldogs (7-2, 5-1). If Burbank wins the contest, the rivals will share the league crown.

Along with coaching in the cross-town bash, Knoop and Valencia also know what it’s like to play in the Big Game, as both are former players for Burbank High.

“We just want to approach this as the 10th game in the regular season,” said Knoop, a 1981 graduate. “We really don’t want the guys to get caught up in all the hoopla and all the stuff the city gets excited about. We just want to do what we always do and approach the game like we have the previous nine games.”

Valencia said once players let their emotions get the best of them, their play ultimately suffers.

“We definitely don’t want them to get to hyper for this one,” said Valencia, a 1993 graduate. “If you get too fired up you start doing things you don’t normally do, like on defense, you try to go for the big hit instead to tackling the right way. We have to play within ourselves.”

One of the biggest factors surrounding the game could be the status of Burroughs junior quarterback Lucas Yanez. Yanez injured his non-throwing shoulder last Friday in a league game against Crescenta Valley. He sought medical attention and his shoulder has been in a sling early this week.

Knoop said “it doesn’t look good” for his starting signal-caller to be healthy enough to play in his team’s most important game of the season.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” said Knoop, who confirmed Yanez will see doctors this week to determine the extent of his injury.

Yanez is a big part of the Indians offense, as a passer and a runner. He has completed 86 of 132 passes for 936 yards and five touchdowns and he’s rushed 76 times for 588 yards and four touchdowns.

“He is like another running back in the backfield,” Valencia said. “He is a very dangerous threat when he takes off and runs.”

If Yanez is unable to suit up, Knoop said he has “complete confidence in backup Derek Cwik, a senior.

Burbank counters with a well-balanced offensive attack. The Bulldogs can pass the ball, under the direction of junior quarterback Adam Colman, or run the ball with running backs like junior Ulises Ochoa and seniors Sam Bethany and Leo Rodas — who all have different styles as runners

“We think that Burbank is going to be tougher than [Crescenta Valley],” said Knoop, whose team pulled out a 14-12 win last week against the Falcons.

“Burbank is a very good team and they are well coached. They have three different guys in the backfield that give them three different styles. And they have a big quarterback who can throw.”

Colman has completed 86 of 149 passes for 1,409 yards and 21 touchdowns. Ochoa leads the team in rushing with 989 yards and 11 touchdowns. Rodas has 689 yards and six touchdowns and Bethany has 507 yards and three touchdowns.

The team’s leading receiver is Bethany (24 catches for 429 yards and eight touchdowns).

Burroughs counters with a solid running game of its own, spearheaded by senior running back Dalton Williams.

Williams is the latest in a long line of fine Indian running backs. He has carried the ball 153 times for 1,227 yards and 19 touchdowns. In addition, he averages 136.3 yards a game.

“We respect Burroughs a great deal,” Valencia said. “Williams is a bruising runner who can be very physical. But he also has a lot of speed, and he’ll outrun you if you don’t tie him up.

“Along with their offense, Burroughs also has a very good defense. Their linebackers are really tough.”

That defense is anchored by senior Charlie Hosea, who has 106 tackles from his linebacker spot. At defensive back, senior Daniel Atlas has four interceptions.

The Burbank defense has a talented group that includes junior linebacker Ryan Seidler (118 tackles) and senior defensive back Jackson Diamond (four interceptions).

A win would give the Indians their second league championship in four years. Burbank, on the other hand, will be trying to secure its first league crown in 37 years.