Inside Info

Football previews

September 06, 2011

BURBANK VS. WEST RANCH

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Valencia High

RECORDS: The Indians and Wildcats are both 1-0.

LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Warren, 10-3; West Ranch defeated Nordhoff, 53-21.

OUTLOOK: Although the Bulldogs endured their share of mistakes in their season-opener last week, they were nonetheless able to come away with a victory. Although the offense sputtered at times, the Burbank defense played well, not allowing Warren into the end zone. The only points scored against Burbank came on a first-quarter field goal. The biggest play of the game came with the Bulldogs clinging to a 7-3 lead late in the third quarter. The Bears had a third-and-goal situation from the Burbank three-yard line after earning a first down at the six. However, the Warren ballcarrier fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Burbank's Allen Coy at the six-yard line. West Ranch went 6-5 last season and finished third in the Foothill League. The Wildcats have a solid running back in Jeff Coprich, who rushed for more than 200 yards and scored three touchdowns in last week's opener.

SOMETHING INTERESTING: It was the fourth straight year the Bulldogs have opened their season with a nonleague win, having last lost their first game to Torrance, 7-0, in 2007.

BURROUGHS VS. CANYON

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

WHERE: Canyon High.

RECORDS: The Indians are 0-1; the Cowboys are 0-0.

LAST WEEK: Burroughs lost to Saugus, 31-20; Canyon didn't play.

OUTLOOK: For the second year in a row, Burroughs is starting the season by playing against three nonleague games against teams from the competitive Foothill League, a league in which the Indians — along with Burbank High — were members for decades. The tough schedule paid off for Burroughs in 2010. Although the team lost all three of its contests against Saugus, Canyon and Hart, Burroughs did go on to capture a share of the Pacific League championship. One of the highlights last week for the Indians was the play of senior running back Zander Anding, who had 15 carries for 278 yards and scored three touchdowns. The Indians are going to have to contend with the talented Canyon offensive duo of senior quarterback Jonathan Jerozal and junior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky. Last season, Jerozal passed for 3,048 yards (254 a game) and 32 touchdowns and Wolitarsky had 1,472 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. The Burroughs secondary will likely get tested big time in this one.

SOMETHING INTERESTING: The Cowboys went 10-2 last season and finished as runner-up in the Foothill League behind Valencia.

Jeff Tully

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