All-star treatment

BURBANK — Burbank High football player Mike Williams is used to playing on a Bulldogs offensive line that is usually undersized.

However, recently Williams has been able to take the field and practice alongside a group that is big and menacing.

“We have some guys who are real big,” said Williams, who graduated last week. “We are looking dominant up front. We definitely have some size and we have players who are really good. We have a good group of guys.”

Williams and a group of area players from Burbank, Burroughs and Bellarmine-Jefferson highs have been practicing in preparation for the East-West High School All-Star Game. The event will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday at Birmingham High in Van Nuys.

The locals will play for the East Team, coached by Burbank’s Hector Valencia. The squad includes many league players of the year and All-CIF Southern Section standouts.

Although their senior seasons ended seven months ago, most of the all-star players — many who will be playing in college — have stayed in shape.

“I have been practicing with [College of the Canyons], so have been conditioning and staying in shape,” Burroughs running back Dalton Williams said. “I think I’ll be ready come game time.”

The East will boast a backfield of Dalton Williams, Burbank’s Leo Rodas and Crescenta Valley’s Harry Pessy.

Last season, Williams earned All-CIF honors, as he had 196 carries for 1,529 yards (7.8 yards a carry) and 21 touchdowns. This yardage total put him fourth on the Indians’ all-time single-season rushing list.

Alex Davidians, a linebacker from Bell-Jeff, said he is looking forward to playing in the game and he expects to go against a talented West squad.

“I’m honored to be picked to play in this game,” said the All-CIF standout. “We have been able to have a lot of fun, along with trying to be competitive. It’s nice to joke around with all of the guys.

“The coaches have also been great. They have made it easy for us to learn what we had to learn for the game.”

In 2009, Davidians was an All-Area first-team pick, collecting 148 tackles for the Guards, averaging 13.5 per game.

“We have some good talent,” said East Coach Hector Valencia from Burbank. “If everything clicks, and the guys do what they’re supposed to do, I think we should do well. We definitely have the athletes.”