Bulldogs fight, but fall in OT

INGLEWOOD — It was a game riddled with mistakes, and one in which the teams combined for eight turnovers.

With the Burbank High football team committing four turnovers and Inglewood accounting for four of its own, it was only fitting that Friday’s nonleague game was tied after four quarters.

In the first overtime, Inglewood got the ball and scored a touchdown on a four-play drive. The Sentinels made good on the extra point, putting the pressure on the Bulldogs.

Unfortunately for Burbank, it fumbled the ball at the 10-yard line on its possession and Inglewood recovered, securing a 21-14 victory for the Sentinels on their home field.

“I thought that we were a better team than they were,” said Burbank all-league senior lineman Steven Kim. “But we were making mistakes all over the place. There were just too many mistakes.”

Burbank (1-2) battled back and scored a touchdown with six seconds left in the third quarter to tie the score at 14. Sophomore James Williams crossed the goal line on a one-yard plunge to knot things up.

When neither team could score in the fourth, the squads went to overtime. In each overtime period, both squads get the ball at the 25-yard line and they alternate possessions until one team outscores the other, either by a touchdown or by a field goal.

On Inglewood’s possession, running back Trevon Benton carried the ball three consecutive times — on runs of 16, four and three yards — to put the team on the two-yard line. Benton again got the call on third and goal, plunging up the middle for the touchdown. The Sentinels converted the point-after and went in front, 21-14.

Burbank had a promising start to its overtime possession, as Joe Argenzino carried the ball twice for gains of three and six yards. With first down at the 16, Burbank quarterback Zak Tomlinson took the ball on a keeper and burst through the middle of the line. However, the ball squirted out of his hand and the offering was recovered by Inglewood, securing the victory.

“He ran the right play, he ran hard, but unfortunately he made a slip-up,” Burbank Coach Hector Valencia said of Tomlinson. “It’s a mistake that people make. The ball just got out of his hand.”

Williams led the Burbank running attack, as he had 23 carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Williams scored on a one-yard run with 1:25 left in the second quarter to put the Bulldogs ahead, 7-6.

Senior running back Teddy Arlington carried the ball 12 times for 81 yards.

The game began badly for both teams, as Inglewood (1-2) fumbled on its first play from scrimmage and Burbank got the ball and fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, as well.

“When we watch the film it’s going to be ugly with all the mistakes,” Valencia said. “We had a lot of missed opportunities and we didn’t take advantage of them like we should have. We made mistakes on crucial plays on offense.

“But I was happy with the way our defense played. They played awesome.”

Inglewood struck first with 1:08 left in the opening quarter when quarterback Richie Calderon scored on a one-yard sneak up the middle for a 6-0 advantage.

After Burbank went into halftime with a 7-6 lead, the Sentinels scored on their first possession of the third quarter, thanks to a Burbank miscue. When the Bulldogs were stalled at their own 38-yard line, they set up for a punt. But the ball sailed over the punter’s head and Inglewood took over at the seven-yard line. It took only one play for Benton to score on a seven-yard run, giving the hosts a 14-7 advantage.

Burbank had an opportunity to potentially win the game late in the fourth. With 18 seconds left and the ball on the Inglewood 19, the Bulldogs made what was ruled as a lateral pass, and when the ball finally went out of bounds, Burbank was backed up to the 33. On a desperation play, Arlington tried a half-back pass that fell short.