New Outlook for Bulldog Football

Burbank High quarterback Adam Colman will get the start in Friday's season opener against Simi Valley. (Raul Roa The Leader)

With a new field and a first-year coach, Burbank hoping to be among top dogs in Pacific League.

By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader
Published: Friday, September 4, 2009

BURBANK HIGH — The Burbank High football team was hoping Friday would be a momentous day in the history of the school’s sports program.After months of construction and a price tag more than $4 million, the school’s new, on-campus state-of-the-art artificial football field was finished and ready to go.The Bulldogs were chomping at the bit to practice on the field for the first time.However, because of unhealthful conditions caused by the nearby fires, Burbank wasn’t able to practice Friday. That moratorium was extended to Saturday and Monday.“It’s a bummer,” Burbank first-year Coach Hector Valencia said. “You can go out and walk on the new field, but we haven’t been allowed to practice on it yet. We were really looking forward to breaking in our new field.”Burbank hasn’t been able to practice at all because of the conditions.“We can’t even go through our plays in the gym,” he said. “They won’t let us.”Missing practices has been a major setback for Burbank, which opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday in a nonleague Zero Week game at Simi Valley.Valencia said despite the setback, he expects his team to be ready for its opener Friday.“We have just been working on the mental aspects of our game,” he said. “But everything has been positive with the players and they have a great attitude.“This is a team that doesn’t’ get down on itself. These guys are determined to have a successful season and they are working hard toward that goal.”Valencia, a Burbank graduate and former football standout, takes over a program that had its ups and downs last season.Although the football team went 6-6 and just made the playoffs after finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Pacific League, it stepped up in the playoffs.In its Southeast Division opener, coach Ted Amorosi’s group upset second-seeded Santa Fe, 20-14, on the road. It was the program’s first postseason win in 81 years.The team fell in the quarterfinals to West Covina, 49-28.Hoping to get back to the playoffs, and hopefully compete for a Pacific League title, Valencia will be relying on an offense that lost its most productive weapon to graduation.Wide receiver Cody Cardenaz was an All-Area, All-CIF Southern Section and all-league first-team pick. Along with catching 65 passes for 1,001 yards (15.4 yards a catch) and eight touchdowns, he also had a 98-yard touchdown catch to set a school record. In addition, he paced the team in scoring with 48 points.On defense, he had four interceptions and 50 tackles.Stepping up to fill the receiver position is senior Jackson Diamond (6-0, 190) and senior Anthony Cervantes (6-2, 205), who Valencia said “has a great pair of hands.”The team does return its best running back from a year ago, Sam Bethany (5 feet 9, 160 pounds). He gained 618 yards in 97 carries (6.4 yards a carry) and had six touchdowns.He will be joined in the backfield by junior running back Ulises Ochoa (5-10, 185) — who battled injuries last season — and senior fullback Leo Rodas (5-10, 220).The Bulldogs have had a spirited rivalry at quarterback between senior Zach Wilke (6-3, 210) and junior Adam Colman (6-4, 205), who saw time on varsity in 2008.“As of now, Adam will be our starter for Friday,” Valencia said. “Those two guys have been pushing each other in practice. We have two capable guys who could both help us.”Holding down the offensive line will be returning all-league standout Mikey Williams (5-11, 261). Junior Spencer Lee (5-11, 245) will be the center.On the opposite side of the ball, Burbank returns all-league linebacker Ryan Seidler (6-1, 208). Last season, Seidler paced the Bulldogs in tackles with 137.Also playing linebacker will be Cervantes and Diamond, for what Valencia hopes will be a formidable group.Cervantes will also handle the kicking duties.Holding down the defensive line will be senior nose guard Dane Allen (5-10, 205).Bethany earned all-league accolades last season as a defensive back, snagging four interceptions. He will be joined in the secondary by Ochoa.“There are some positions that guys are still fighting for,” Valencia said. “We are going to see who works out the best at what position.”In the league race, Valencia said he expects the stiffest competition to come from defending champion Muir. The Mustangs are ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division preseason poll ahead of league foes Burroughs (No. 7) and Crescenta Valley (No. 9).