StevenFOOTHILL LEAGUE: Despite Linda's exploits, Saugus scores on late drive to defeat Burbank, 35-28.MEMORIAL FIELD -- Most great shows are preceded by an equally great opening act.
That was the case Friday night at Memorial Field, as the Burbank Bulldogs played host to Saugus in a Foothill League game.
The opening was pure domination by the Bulldogs' junior varsity team in their 28-14 victory.
What followed was a thrilling show put on by both varsity squads that wasn't decided until Bulldog junior wide receiver James Antaplyan fumbled with 13 seconds left in the game, sealing a 35-28 defeat for the locals.
"[Despite the fumble] I'm real proud of [Antaplyan]," said Burbank Coach Greg Sobiech, "He really stepped up tonight, [and] he became a real young man."
Saugus marched 98 yards for the winning score behind the arm of quarterback Zach Summers, who went five of six for 66 yards on the drive, including the game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass to Casey Stevenson with 29 seconds left.
The score came on the heels of a miraculous comeback staged by the Bulldogs and junior quarterback Robert Linda, who finished the game nine of 21 for 197 yards passing and added 62 yards in 13 carries with two touchdowns on the ground.
Linda led Burbank downfield, and capped the Bulldogs' first offensive touchdown of the game with an 11-yard scamper with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. He followed that with a 49-yard touchdown run that had defenders wondering what it would take to bring him down.
"[Linda is] a greater kid than he is a football player," Sobiech said. "His heart and character make him great. [Tonight was] as good a performance as I have seen."
After the Bulldog defense stopped Saugus, Linda led Burbank on yet another scoring drive, this time with his arm, as he found senior Grant Valentine and Antaplyan on the drive. Junior halfback Marcus Hood capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to pull Burbank within two.
Linda then put the Bulldogs on his back and refused to go down as he fought his way in for the two-point conversion and the tie.
The game swung on the little plays, as well as the momentous crowd-pleasers. Saugus marched down the field behind good blocking to score on their first possession -- a two-yard run by Summers.
After Hood fumbled inside the Saugus 6, the Bulldogs responded with senior Chuck Sweeten blocking a punt on Saugus' next possession and taking it in from 30 yards to tie the game.
With Hart next on the schedule for the Bulldogs, Sobiech looks to improve on this week's performance, and is confident in his team's abilities.
