Football previews
BURBANK VS. CRESCENTA VALLEY
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Moyse Field (Glendale High).
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 3-4, 2-2 in the Pacific League; the Falcons are 4-3, 2-2.
LAST WEEK: Burbank lost to Pasadena, 27-21; Crescenta Valley lost to Burroughs, 35-22
OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs will be trying to rebound after suffering a loss last week that seriously diminished the team’s chances for a Pacific League championship this season. Penalties and miscues hurt Burbank against Pasadena, as the Bulldogs rallied to get back into the game but just couldn’t finish the comeback attempt. Herman Castro has emerged as a dual threat for Burbank as a receiver and a running back. The Falcons have a good running back in Maro Lee, who gained 212 yards rushing last week. Crescenta Valley also likes to throw the ball behind quarterback Zac Wilkerson.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burbank hasn’t finished a season with a record under .500 since 2007, when it went 3-7.
BURROUGHS VS. MUIR
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: Muir High.
RECORDS: The Indians are 4-3, 4-0 in the Pacific League; the Mustangs are 4-3, 2-2.
LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Crescenta Valley, 35-22; Muir defeated Glendale, 49-10.
OUTLOOK: The Indians have had trouble with the Mustangs in recent years. Over the last four years, Burroughs is 1-3 against Muir with the lone win coming in 2009 by a slim three-point margin, 9-6. With their victory last week, the Indians remained the only team in league still undefeated. They have a one-game lead over Arcadia ( 5-2, 3-1) and Pasadena (4-3, 3-1). The Burroughs offense continues to be dominated by senior running back Zander Anding. Last week, Anding completed his fourth straight 300-plus-yard rushing game. On the season, Anding has tallied 1,901 yards and has 19 touchdowns. He is exactly 100 yards away from breaking Dominique Barnes’ season school record of 2,001 yards set in 2008. Muir has been playing without its head coach, Ken Howard, who has been suspended by the school.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burroughs is attempting to capture its fourth league title in six seasons.
BELL-JEFF VS. ST. GENEVIEVE
WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: North Hollywood High.
RECORDS: The Guards are 3-5, 0-2 in the Santa Fe League; the Valiants are 5-2, 0-1.
LAST WEEK: Bell-Jeff lost to St. Anthony, 40-6; St. Genevieve lost to Salesian, 28-27.
OUTLOOK: Bell-Jeff’s chances at making the CIF Southern Section playoffs are evaporating quickly. If the Guards fail to make the postseason, it will mark the second straight season they have missed the playoffs. The Guards have been struggling on offense the last few games, as they had just 33 yards rushing last week against St. Anthony. The Valiants have an accomplished player in quarterback Mark Chin, who also likes to run the ball as well as throw. St. Genevieve also has the stingiest defense in the league, yielding just 15.1 points a game.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: After this week, the Guards have just one game left — Nov. 5 vs. St. Monica — and end the regular season with a bye week.
Jeff Tully