Burbank starts out right, 41-39

DOWNEY — Burbank coaches will have to wait at least another week if they want to see what their defense is capable of.

Reason being there was not much defense played Friday night when the Bulldogs hit the road in a Zero Week nonleague opener against Warren.

Fortunately for the Bulldogs, the Bears’ defense didn’t play that well, as Burbank managed to get out of Justice Stadium with a 41-39 nonleague victory.

“We expected a close game,” said Burbank Coach Hector Valencia, whose team is ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Southwest preseason poll. “We knew they have a good team over there, especially with a good quarterback and running back.”

Bears quarterback Sam Bettencourt and running back Jamill Magee ran up, down and sideways against the Bulldogs defense.

Magee did the most damage, totaling 180 yards in 18 carries, including four touchdown runs, the last one giving the Bears a 39-35 lead with 2:22 remaining in the contest.

As it played out throughout the game, however, Magee and the Bears’ offense was let down by the team’s defense, which committed two penalties on Burbank’s ensuing drive that allowed them to take over on the Bears’ 47 without completing a pass or running for positive yardage.

From there, Adam Colman completed four of seven passes, including the game-winning touchdown to Jose Rodriguez.

Colman and Rodriguez also hooked up in the third quarter on an eight-yard touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 23-20 advantage.

The Burbank quarterback went into the locker room completing just four of 13 passes for 39 yards. He came out on a mission, however, in the second half, as the touchdown pass in the third quarter was the first drive of the third quarter for the Bulldogs. Colman passed for 136 total yards in the second half.

Prior to the 14-0 run, the Bulldogs were able to obtain the biggest lead of the night after an Ulisies Ochoa rushing touchdown. They recovered the ensuing kickoff that allowed for another Ochoa endzone march.

“Their quarterback has incredible balance,” Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Seidler said. “Also credit their O-line, they out manned us.”

Ochoa countered the Bears offense almost single-handedly, rushing the ball for 122 yards and three touchdowns.