Football previews: Burroughs vs. Hoover; Burbank vs. Muir
BURROUGHS VS. HOOVER
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High)
RECORDS: The Indians are 3-3, 2-1 in the Pacific League; the Tornadoes are 2-4; 0-3
LAST WEEK: Burroughs lost to Muir, 42-7; Hoover lost to Pasadena, 33-13
OUTLOOK: The Indians ran into a quality Muir team last week in absorbing their only Pacific League loss of the season. The lone touchdown Burroughs was able to account for was a scoring pass from quarterback Andrew Williams to wide receiver Conor Joyce. Things should get a little easier for the Indians against a Hoover squad that has struggled in league. In fact, the Tornadoes are giving up an average of 40.3 points a game in three league contests. Hoover has a decent quarterback in Se Jun Kim, who ran for a touchdown and threw for a second last week. However, the Tornadoes had trouble moving the ball against Pasadena and its defense gave up several big plays to Bulldogs running backs. The Indians are in a three-way tie for second place with Burbank and Crescenta Valley, and another league loss could knock Burroughs out of an automatic playoff spot from the league, as CIF takes just three automatic teams from the Pacific League.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burroughs’ defense has struggled this season at times, as it surrendered an average of 45 points a game in its three losses to Paraclete, Camarillo and Muir.
BURBANK VS. MUIR
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Memorial Field (Burroughs High)
RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 5-1, 2-1 in the Pacific League; the Mustangs are 5-1, 3-0
LAST WEEK: Burbank lost to Crescenta Valley in overtime, 48-47; Muir defeated Burroughs, 42-7
OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs enter this week’s game with the defending Pacific League champions in a different position after suffering an overtime road loss last week to Crescenta Valley. Instead of playing for sole possession of first place, Burbank will be looking to grab a share of the league lead with the Mustangs. Burbank — No. 8 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division — is currently in a four-way tie for second place in league with rival Burroughs, Crescenta Valley and Arcadia. Muir — ranked No. 6 in the Southeast Division — has an accomplished quarterback in Dejon Williams (15 of 23 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and the one interception last week). Perhaps lost in last week’s loss was another remarkable performance from Burbank junior running back James Williams. Williams broke the Bulldogs single-game rushing record with 278 yards, carrying the ball 20 times. He also tallied four touchdowns. Williams surpassed the previous record of 246 yards set by Bob McCalmont in 1952 against Burroughs in the annual Big Game. On the season, Williams has gained 747 yards in 68 carries and has 13 touchdowns on the ground.
SOMETHING INTERESTING: On the strength of McClamont’s big performance in 1952, Burbank went on to defeat Burroughs, 33-0, in the Big Game.
Jeff Tully