Football previews: Burroughs vs. Muir; Burbank vs. Crescenta Valley
BURROUGHS VS. MUIR
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High)
RECORDS: The Indians are 3-2, 2-0 in the Pacific League; the Mustangs are 4-1, 2-0
LAST WEEK: Burroughs defeated Crescenta Valley, 24-17; Muir defeated Glendale, 40-0
OUTLOOK: The Indians have to have mixed feelings coming off a wild Pacific League victory last week against previously unbeaten Crescenta Valley. Burroughs didn’t play well in the first half against the Falcons and as a result, fell behind, 17-0. However, the Indians came out rejuvenated in the second half and scored 24 straight points to pull out the win. Wide receiver Aidan Anding capped the wild comeback when he took an inside pass from quarterback Andrew Williams and scampered 37 yards for a touchdown. It was the Burroughs defense that played a big role in the comeback, forcing two important turnovers in the second half. Burroughs will likely have to be on its game this week against the defending league champion. Muir — ranked No. 7 in this week’s CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll — has an accomplished quarterback in Dejon Williams, who threw two touchdowns last week against Glendale. He is also a running threat. Muir also has a stingy defense that allows an average of just 13 points a game. In comparison, Burroughs allows 26.2 points a game.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Muir’s only loss was a 44-24 defeat at the hands of Alemany.
BURBANK VS. CRESCENTA VALLEY
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Moyse Field (Glendale High)
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 5-0; 2-0 in the Pacific League; the Falcons are 4-1, 1-1
LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Pasadena, 42-7; Crescenta Valley lost to Burroughs, 24-17
OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs can’t be caught looking ahead to next week or they might suffer their first loss of the season at the hands of the Falcons. If Burbank gets by Crescenta Valley that would set up a possible Pacific League showdown with defending champion Muir on Oct. 18 at Memorial Field. The Bulldogs will be facing a Crescenta Valley team that can’t be happy with its performance last week, as it led Burroughs, 17-0, only to see the Indians score 24 unanswered points in the second half to pull out the win. The Falcons have a solid quarterback in Brian Gadsby (21 for 35 for 248 yards for one touchdown and two interceptions last week). The Burbank — ranked No. 5 in this week’s CIF Southern Section Southeast Division poll — offense continues to roll, as evidenced by last week’s victory. The Bulldogs are tops among Pacific League teams in offensive output, as they average 48.2 points a game. Crescenta Valley is second, averaging 42.4 points. Burbank has an immerging offensive weapon in wide receiver Oharjee Brown — a transfer from Burroughs — who caught six balls for 63 yards and two touchdowns last week. Quarterback Ryan Meredith continues to run the Burbank offense well in his first full season as a starter.
SOMETHING INTRESTING: Along with its top offense, Burbank is also first in league in points allowed per game, as it give up an average of just 10.8 and opponents have scored just 54 total points on the Bulldogs in five games.
Jeff Tully