Three Indians named All-CIF

Coaches from the Pacific League recognized the worth of Burroughs High senior running back Zander Anding, voting him the league’s top honor this past season.

Area sports writers and editors also acknowledged Anding’s record-breaking campaign by naming him the 2011 All-Area Football Player of the Year.

Tuesday, Anding added another award to his coffers when he was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Southeast Division first team.

But the running back wasn’t the only Burroughs player earning All-CIF honors, as senior offensive lineman Gus Ferrat and senior linebacker Kody Jensen also made the first-team list. Only a first team was selected for the Southeast Division, according to Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop, who was the Pacific League representative.

“That’s the most All-CIF players we’ve had since 2006, and we had a pretty good team that year,” Knoop said. “Really, it was a good representation for the Pacific League.

The Pacific League had 13 selections, more than any other league in the division.

The campaign Anding had was nothing short of remarkable. He shattered school records, set the single-season league rushing record, finished first in the state in two rushing categories and was No. 1 in the country in yards per carry.

Knoop said Anding was a clear choice by the division’s coaches.

“When we put all the names on the board, the coaches were like ‘Circle his name, he’s on,” ’ Knoop said of Anding. “He was pretty much a lock for All-CIF.”

Despite missing one game with a partially collapsed lung and being pulled late in contests when the outcome was already determined, Anding put up eye-popping numbers.

He rushed for 2,686 yards in 204 carries and 26 touchdowns (30 total). He averaged 13.17 yards a carry and a whopping 268.6 yards a game. According to maxpreps.com, Anding’s yards-per-carry average was tops in the country and his per-game average was first in the state.

In addition, Anding notched five games in which he gained 300 yards or more, his best effort coming with a 393-yard performance in a league game against Glendale to set a Burroughs record. He also had games of 368, 360, 326 and 319. He holds the top five spots on the all-time school list. His 2,686 total also set a single-season record, as did his 182 points.

He leaves the school as the program’s all-time scoring leader (250 points) and career rushing leader (3,345).

Ferrat was one of the reasons why Anding was able to rack up the massive amount of yardage. He was a member of a line that provided the backbone of the Burroughs offense.

“He played both ways all season and he never came off the field for 11 games,” Knoop said of Ferrat.

Jensen was ineligible for the first three games of the season. However, when he returned to the lineup he proved an invaluable member of the Burroughs defense. He ended the season with 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception.

“When he came back for the first league game, we changed things drastically on defense,” Knoop said. “He made that much of a big, big difference for us.”

The three players were instrumental in helping Burroughs (6-5, 6-1 in league) win a share of its third straight league championship.