PASADENA — Big plays decided the small margin of victory.
The Burroughs High football battled Muir Friday night in a climatic game that was not decided until the final minute.
Muir struck early and often, gashing the Indians with quick-striking-scoring plays, then fought off a second-half surge by Burroughs, securing a 28-21 league win.
On the first play from scrimmage, Muir running back Tairen Owens set the tone for the Mustangs, blazing 45 yards down the field for a touchdown.
Burroughs answered two possessions later with an eight-yard touchdown run by Zander Anding.
The game was tied at 7, but Muir's explosive offense was only getting warmed up.
Five minutes into the second quarter, quarterback Jeffrey Davis hooked up with wide receiver Kevon Seymour on a 60-yard touchdown pass.
Then, with just 20 seconds remaining before halftime, the Mustangs tacked on another touchdown when Davis again passed to Seymour on a 40-yard touchdown. The play put Muir up, 21-7, at halftime.
"We knew we had to try to contain that, and if we didn't, we were going to let them in the game," Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop said of Muir's big-play capability. "They're a big play team."
The Indians didn't go away quietly.
With 4:08 left in the third quarter, Burroughs quarterback Lucas Yanez threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Anding.
Burroughs running back Tadeo Zuniga added a one-yard touchdown with 6:14 left in the game, as the Indians tied it, 21-21.
Davis answered for Muir on a 12-yard touchdown rush with 1:53 to go.
Yanez threw two interceptions thereafter, as the comeback rally fell short.
Zuniga had 19 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown.
