TORRANCE — The Burroughs High football team stepped onto the field Thursday against South Torrance trying to erase a troubling memory.
Just six days earlier, the Indians opened their season with mistake-filled game against Schurr that led to a disappointing 13-point loss.
With that defeat still hanging over their heads, the Indians were able to expel their demons with a spirited 34-12 nonleague victory against the host Spartans.
Unlike their performance against Schurr, Burroughs (1-1) appeared more confident, more focused and a great deal more physical against South Torrance (0-2).
“We talked about that loss to Schurr all this week,” Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop said. “The kids didn’t like the feeling of that loss, and they didn’t like the way that they lost. It was something that we definitely didn’t want to deal with again this week.”
Other than a fumble in the red zone in the first quarter, and a rash of penalties in the fourth quarter, the Indians played a more fundamentally sound game Thursday. Against Schurr, the team committed three fumbles.
The Burroughs front line — despite being outweighed — held its own, on offense and defense. On offense, that stability gave junior quarterback Lucas Yanez time to work, and opened holes for senior running back Dalton Williams.
On defense, the line limited South Torrance to just 63 yards on the ground — including 24 in the first half.
“We are probably going to be outweighed every game,” Knoop said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m very lucky to have the best o-line coach around in Mike Reily. He is doing a great job with our guys.”
Williams was kept busy against South Torrance. Playing two of the most demanding positions on the field — running back and linebacker — the senior stepped up and performed. If that wasn’t enough, with the Indians’ regular punter sidelined, Williams attended to those duties as well.
On offense, he rushed for 116 yards in 20 carries and one touchdown, a seven-yard carry with 11:14 left in the fourth quarter. He sat out most of the remainder of the quarter.
“He is only going to get better as the season goes on,” Knoop said of Williams, who has had two 100-plus yardage games.
