PASADENA — If there is such thing as a positive defeat, the Burbank High football team got just that Friday night.
Losing in excruciating fashion, 28-27, to host Muir in double-overtime in a Pacific League opener for both teams, the Bulldogs still managed to give their coach a reason to smile.
"This is as proud as I have ever been of a football team," Bulldogs Coach Greg Sobiech said. "There are so many positives for us to take out of this. These kids blossomed before my eyes."
The Bulldogs (1-3) almost took home a victory, playing hard-nosed football for four-plus quarters. But in the end, a two-yard quarterback sneak by Muir (3-1) quarterback Lance Mitchell in the second extra period crippled those hopes.
After fighting from behind to tie the game at 13 in the middle of the fourth quarter on a 11-yard run by Bulldogs running back Marcus Hood, Burbank headed into overtime with some much-deserved confidence.
Starting on the 25 yard line, the Mustangs scored on the first possession of overtime to go up by seven. However, Bulldogs quarterback Robert Linda refused to let his team get pushed aside.
Linda scored on Burbank's first offensive play in overtime, a 25-yard scamper, to tie the score at 20. He followed with a one-yard quarterback sneak for a score on the subsequent possession to give his team a 27-20 lead.
"I can not say enough about Robert Linda," Sobiech said of his quarterback, who finished with 123 rushing yards and three touchdowns. "He put the team on his shoulders."
Unfortunately, Linda could only carry his team so far.
The Mustangs answered back on their second overtime possession. After a 19-yard pass brought the ball to the two-yard line, Mustangs running back Ty Jackson (200 yards in 26 carries) busted through the line of scrimmage and into the end zone for a one-point lead.
But Muir, ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Central Division, wasn't content with tying the score and elongating overtime. Mitchell took care of the rest, as he faked a hand-off and bootlegged a play to the left through two Burbank defenders and past the goal line for the win.
"They just got the ball last," Sobiech said . "I tip my hat to them. Give them a lot of credit"
Hood finished the night with 135 rushing yards in 25 carries and a touchdown.
