BHS Football - Week 6

Published Saturday, October 18, 2008 - Burbank Leader

Loss takes its toll on Bulldogs

FOOTBALL: Burbank left battered and bruised after 47-7 Pacific League loss against host Muir.
By Jeff Tully

PASADENA — The Burbank High football team expected a tough, physical battle Friday in a Pacific League game against Muir.But what the team probably couldn’t have fathomed was the eventual physical toll the game would take on the Bulldogs players.
Two Burbank players required medical care at a hospital and a third suffered a possible concussion in the contest at Muir High.In the end, the Bulldogs hobbled to a 47-7 loss.“There was a time in the game where we probably had eight or 10 of our guys who were on the sideline with injuries,” Burbank Coach Ted Amorosi said. “The injury bug really bit us big time [Friday].”At times, the Bulldogs sideline looked more like a triage unit, as the team’s medical staff tended to the wounded and dinged-up players.One of the worse injuries was suffered by junior Sam Bethany, a versatile offensive and defensive weapon for Burbank (3-3, 1-2 in league).Bethany scored the Bulldogs’ only touchdown of the night on a 15-yard sweep with 11:28 remaining in the second quarter. However, on the play he was hit at the goal line and pushed out of bounds. He landed on a concrete long jump runway adjacent to the field, sliding on his back. The friction of the fall opened a big gash on his back.Burbank kicker Anthony Cervantes converted the extra point kick and the Bulldogs had a 7-6 lead.But the Mustangs (5-1, 3-0) came roaring back, posting 14 points in the second quarter to take a 20-7 lead at the half.Still with a manageable deficit, Burbank attempted to get back on track in the second quarter. However, two consecutive fumbles led to two Muir touchdowns, and the Bulldogs were looking at a 34-7 disadvantage.“Turnovers really killed us,” Amorosi said. “We kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”Burbank couldn’t stop Muir senior quarterback Reuben Thomas. Thomas carried the ball seven times and gained 160 yards, scoring three times on runs of 32, 24 and 84 yards. He also passed for a touchdown.“We just have to learn from this, regroup and get ready for Glendale next week,” Amorosi said. “That’s all we can do.”