Football previews: Burroughs vs. Hoover; Burbank vs. Muir
BURROUGHS VS. HOOVER
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday.
WHERE: Moyse Field (Glendale High).
RECORDS: The Indians are 2-5, 2-2 in the Pacific League; the Tornadoes are 3-4, 1-3.
LAST WEEK: Burroughs lost to Muir, 21-14; Hoover defeated Pasadena, 37-8.
OUTLOOK: Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop isn’t big on moral victories. But he was pleased with the way his team played last week in the loss to Muir, which many picked to run away with the league championship this season. The Indians defense stepped up and played well in the loss. Quarterback Andrew Williams also had a solid outing, throwing for a 70-yard touchdown. Hoover is likely to be sky high after its big win last week against Pasadena. In the victory, the Tornadoes snapped a 17-game league losing streak and defeated Pasadena for the first time since 1986. Hoover has a talented running back in Jesse Pina, who rushed for 138 yards in 20 carries and had a touchdown last week. The Tornadoes also have a reliable quarterback in Brandon Kerr. The game is an important one for Burroughs, which is fighting for a playoff spot with three regular-season games remaining.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: The last time the Indians failed to make the postseason was in 2005, when they finished fifth in the Foothill League.
BURBANK VS. MUIR
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: Muir High.
RECORDS: Burbank is 5-2, 4-0 in the Pacific League; Muir is 4-3, 4-0.
LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Crescenta Valley, 38-21; Muir defeated Burroughs, 21-14.
OUTLOOK: This is shaping up to be the biggest game of the season for Burbank. Both teams come into the contest as the lone remaining undefeated teams in the Pacific League. With both Burbank and Muir possessing offenses that can run up points, the contest is likely to come down to which squad plays better on the defensive end. Muir surrendered its first points of the league campaign last week after outscoring its opponents, 136-0, in the first three games. Muir has a crafty quarterback in Joshua Muema-Washington, who passed for nearly 100 yards and scored a rushing touchdown last week. Muir also likes to plug in multiple running backs into its offensive set. Burbank also has its share of talented running backs, led by James Williams (168 yards in 14 carries and two touchdowns last week) and Teddy Arlington (one receiving touchdown and one rushing touchdown last week). Sophomore quarterback Ryan Meredith has also stepped up since being given the starting job in the fourth game of the season. Both teams have something else in common — racking up penalties. Muir had 13 infractions for 125 yards last week and Burbank was penalized 18 times for 170 yards two weeks ago against Pasadena.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: The last time Burbank won a league championship was in 2009 when it shared the crown with cross-town rival Burroughs.
Jeff Tully