Burroughs football falls to Arcadia

MEMORIAL FIELD — After not posting a victory in nonleague play, the Burroughs High football team tried to turn the corner Friday night in a different direction: successfully beginning defense of its Pacific League championship.

Unfortunately for the Indians, things didn’t get much better after some sloppy play in the second quarter. Now, the Indians find themselves in a bigger hole then they anticipated.

Burroughs committed four turnovers en route to an 18-8 defeat against visiting Arcadia in a league opener for both teams at renovated Memorial Field.

Burroughs dropped 0-4, while Arcadia improved to 1-3.

“We are not ready just yet,” said Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop, whose team shared the league championship last season with Arcadia. “We made a few mistakes.

“They are mistakes that can be and will be fixed. I don’t know which game, but it will be corrected. We had a great week of practice, and I thought we’d be ready to go.”

Burroughs wasn’t, and Arcadia took advantage of several of the Indians’ miscues.

The Indians struggled on offense throughout the first half, committing four turnovers — three fumbles and one interception.

Arcadia took advantage of a pair of interceptions to build a sizable lead.

On the first play of the second quarter, Burroughs had a first down on its own 19. However, an errant snap soared over the head of Burroughs quarterback Andrew Williams, and Arcadia’s Nick Ryor fell on the ball past the goal line to make it 6-0 with 11:53 remaining.

Williams, who has been dealing with a sprained left ankle throughout the entire season, said the ball unexpectedly sailed over his head.

“I’m always ready, but it just sailed on me,” said Williams, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 135 yards. “I tried to get back there and get the ball.

“Without those turnovers, I think it’s a different story. It’s time for me to get back out there and step it up.”

Jake Medel gave the Apaches a 12-0 lead on a three-yard run with 3:49 left in the first half.

Arcadia’s Joey Willm then recovered a fumble at the Burroughs 18-yard line. The Apaches made the Indians pay for their mistake when Sheldon McKinley scored on a one-yard run with 1:04 left to extend the advantage to 18-0.

Burroughs, which opened the season with defeats against Paraclete, North Hollywood and Camarillo, avoided being shut out when Garrett Manoukian scored on a two-yard run with 4:48 remaining in the contest. Conor Joyce then caught a pass on the two-point conversion from Williams.

It marked the second consecutive game in which Manoukian scored a touchdown. Manoukian finished with 43 yards rushing in 11 carries Friday.

McKinley registered 62 yards rushing in 16 carries. Medel had 55 yards rushing in 15 rushes.

Burroughs, which fell to 0-2 at home, will next meet visiting Glendale in another league game at 7 p.m. Thursday.

“My goal is to now go 6-1 in league and get back to the playoffs,” Knoop said. “We have to fight through the 0-4 blues, and work on some different things.”