California edges Burbank, 24 - 21

California edges Burbank, 24-21
By Roger Murray, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/27/2009, Whittier News

WHITTIER - Quarterback Adam Contreras connected with Terris Jones on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 26.4 seconds left to play to give California High School a 24-21 win over visiting Burbank in their CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division second-round playoff game Friday night. The win put the Condors in next week's semifinals against Charter Oak, which beat West Covina, 35-10.

Jones' clutch catch put a damper on a sparkling comeback by the Bulldogs (9-3), who had taken a 21-17 lead when Ulises Ochoa (21 carries, 234 yards) raced 77 yards for a touchdown with 2:08 left in the third quarter. Ochoa's run came just two plays after California (9-2-1) had taken a 17-14 lead when Kevin Attanasio ran 39 yards on a reverse for a touchdown with 2:57 left in the third quarter.

Jones, who entered the game with 1,525 rushing yards on the season, had 160 yards on 24 carries. First-half scoring included three big plays. California's Bryan Barragan returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown with Attanasio throwing the key block at the Burbank 38-yard line to clear the way.

Burbank responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Ochoa's 8-yard run to tie the score with 7:08 left in the first quarter. California's third possession began at its own 48 late in the quarter and after one first down, the Condors had to settle for Tyler Hadden's 50-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

The Condors forced a pair of punts, but fumbled away their possession in between. Burbank gained a 14-10 halftime advantage when quarterback Adam Coleman scrambled to the sideline and then connected with wide receiver Jackson Diamond, who broke a tackle at the California 42 and completed a 70-yard pass play.

California's offense never got untracked in the first half.
Burbank's first-half ground game was led by Ochoa, who had 98 yards on 11 carries, but Coleman struggled as he completed just 3 of 10 passes.

Burbank High Varsity Team/Roster

Tonight is another important game for the varsity bulldogs as they play the California High School tonight in the second round of the CIF Playoffs in Whittier. The bulldogs need to play better than they did last week if they want to beat this tough California High team. GO BULLDOGS! YOU CAN DO IT! THIS IS YOUR YEAR!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Bulldogs play California in 2nd round

Burbank again in CIF second round

FOOTBALL: Bulldogs will take on tough California squad
By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader

Published: November 24, 2009

BURBANK HIGH — For the second straight season, the Burbank High football team has advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division playoffs. Last year, the squad’s playoff win was the first for the program in 81 years. This season, the Bulldogs are confident and are looking for a possible berth in the semifinals. However, to do that they will have to beat a tough California team.

The teams will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at California. “We know California is going to be good,” Burbank Coach Hector Valencia said about the Del Rio League champion. “They have a big line and a very good running back.”The Condors (8-2-1), from Whittier, are led by senior running back Terris Jones, who has 188 carries for 1,588 yards and 25 touchdowns. California is on a nine-game winning streak.

Burbank (9-2) — which won a share of the Pacific League championship for the first time in 37 years — counters with a fine quarterback-running back combination. Junior Adam Colman has completed 106 of 183 passes for 1,679 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Junior Ulises Ochoa has carried the ball 162 times for 1,288 yards and has 13 touchdowns.

“We didn’t play well at all last week,” Valencia said about his team’s 21-14 CIF-opening win against Alhambra. “We are going to have to play a lot better Friday and cut down on our mistakes.”The Bulldogs have a solid defense, led by junior linebacker Ryan Seidler, who leads the team with 145 tackles.

David Bryan Lipera 1957 - 2009

DAVID BRYAN LIPERA Sept. 4, 1957 - Nov. 12, 2009


Born in Glendale and raised in Burbank, David attended Burbank schools and graduated from Burbank High School in 1976. He worked as a carpenter and in construction and graduated from The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic as a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1995. Loved by his patients as, "compassionate", "a good teacher", and "always takes the time to listen", he practiced for 14 years in the Los Angeles area and in Orange County.


David is preceded in death by his much loved and deeply missed mother, Marilyn Tucker LiPera (1972). He is survived by his loving family: father, Peter LiPera and step-mother, Sheila; brothers, Donn and wife, Diane and Scott and partner, Louis. Also surviving David are his maternal grandmother, Margaret Tucker and uncle, Gary Tucker and cousins. A caring, and sensitive person, David's loss is devastating to his family and to others who loved him.


The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at Pierce Brother's Valhallah Chapel at 10621 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606. In lieu of flowers and in honor of David's passion for health and fitness, you may help a child participate in recreational activities not available to him by donating to your local YMCA or the youth organization of your choice. David wou ld like that.

Dogs claw their way back

Dogs claw their way back

By Edgar Melik-Stepanyan, Burbank Leader
Published: November 20, 2009

MEMORIAL FIELD — They didn’t complete a pass in the second half, and still won. They committed a season-high 18 penalties for 178 yards, and still figured a way to erase a 14-point deficit and advance to the second round. The members of the Burbank High football team experienced a wacky night Friday Despite their deficiencies, the Bulldogs still had Ulises Ochoa at running back, and a tough group on defense. Burbank relied on Ochoa’s game-high 137 rushing yards — 22 of which came on a game-winning run — and its defense to come from behind to defeat Alhambra, 21-14, in a CIF Southern Section Southeast Division first-round game at Memorial Field.

The Bulldogs (9-2) will play host California — a 55-27 winner against Rowland — in a quarterfinal game Friday at 7:30 p.m. In 2008, the Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals and won their first playoff game in 81 years. They barely got their second playoff victory in 82 years.Burbank — which shared the Pacific League title with Burroughs, but was the league’s top seed — trailed, 14-0, in the second quarter, and its offense was stagnant, gaining 60 yards in the first quarter.“We couldn’t get our focus,” Burbank Coach Hector Valencia said. “Everyone got distracted.”

They became focused in the second quarter. Leo Rodas’ one-yard touchdown run cut Alhambra’s lead in half with 6:14 to play, as Burbank began its comeback. On its next possession, Burbank’s Anthony Cervantes capped an 11-play, 72-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Adam Colman to tie the score.“We didn’t give up,” Valencia said. “We had been down before. It was a matter of time before we got our game going. They weren’t beating us. We were beating ourselves.

”The Bulldogs also didn’t give Alhambra wide receiver Mitchell Crockom a chance to beat them in the second half. Crockom had five receptions and a touchdown in the first half, as Burbank played man-to-man defense with little safety help. In the second half, Ochoa began to shade to Crockom’s side, and the senior had only three catches for 21 yards. The rest of Crockom’s teammates managed just 15 yards, as Alhambra (6-4) had just 36 yards of total offense in the second half.

The second half was when Ochoa dominated, as he had 10 carries for 72 yards and had a punt return for a touchdown that was called back because of a penalty.“Ochoa played a phenomenal game,” said Valencia, who also received a 76-yard rushing performance from Rodas and 62 rushing yards from Christopher Alcala, as Burbank totaled 282 yards on the ground and 75 through the air. “When he touched the ball, he did his thing. We’re lucky to have him on our side.”

Ochoa was pleased that his team advanced, but not thrilled about its performance.“I’m glad we won, but not satisfied at all,” the junior said. “You’re not going to survive too many playoff games shooting yourself in the foot like that.”

Bulldogs scores 21 unanswered points to win!

In another hair raising and nail biting game which started out lousy for Burbank as Alhambra scored two touchdowns to take a 14 to nothing lead. The Bulldogs came back to make it 14 to 7, but just before the half Burbank scored their 2nd touchdown to tie the game 14 to 14 going into the half. Neither team scored in the third quarter. Burbank then scored their 3rd touchdown with about 7 minute's left in the 4th quarter to take the lead 21 to 14. But Alhambra came close a couple of times but with less than a minute and a half left they failed on 4th down and Burbank got the ball back and let the clock run out for the win. They will advance next week for the 2nd round playoffs. If Burbank is to win next week they need to stop making stupid mistakes causing them penalties and also stop the personal fouls and unlike sportsmanship calls. Also John Burroughs lost Thursday night and so it is up to the Burbank High Bulldogs to advance further.

Last champs (1972) enjoy victory

Last champs enjoy victory
The 1972 Burbank team, the last to capture a league crown, can finally pass the torch.
By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader
Published: Monday, November 16, 2009

MEMORIAL FIELD — The Burbank High football team did something Friday that no other Bulldogs squad had been able to accomplish in more than three decades. By defeating Burroughs, 28-21, in the annual cross-town rivalry Big Game, Burbank won the program’s first league championship in 37 years. Although the Bulldogs had to share the Pacific League title with Burroughs, that didn’t make the accomplishment any less sweeter for Burbank.The championship marked only the third league title in school history, the other coming in 1956.


Huddled in a corner of Memorial Field Friday was a group from the winning 1972 team. They reminisced about their gridiron years and marveled that it had taken so many years for another Bulldogs team to win a crown.“There were just some great guys from our championship team,” said Dave Kemp, who was an assistant to Coach Pete LiPera in 1972. “They were just so competitive and they were so tenacious. It was a very special group.”With standout players like Kenny Walker, Loo Orange, Kirk Roberts, Bruce Smentek, Mick Flavin, Ron Warmhoff, Dave Clayton, Dave Cerbin and Mike Ballard, the Bulldogs defeated Burroughs, 14-0, in the 1972 Big Game to secure the title.“Everybody expected Burroughs to win the league that year,” Orange said. “Even when we went into the game with them undefeated in league, a lot of people thought they were going to kill us.”That didn’t happen.


Walker and Orange scored the game’s only touchdowns to boost the team to a victory.“That was a very big win for us,” Flavin said.

Your Varsity Players Profile

The Burbank High School Varsity Football Team has an important playoff game tomorrow night at Memorial Stadium and I thought you might like to meet the Varsity Team Players. GO BULLDOGS! Please chick on the photos to enlarge them to read better.

Trio ready for playoffs

Trio ready to open playoffs
FOOTBALL: Burroughs, Burbank get home games and Bell-Jeff hits the road in first-round games.

By Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader
Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009

BURBANK — It’s been decades since the Burbank High and Burroughs football teams both had first-round playoff home games. However, while the Bulldogs and Indians will enjoy the comfy confines of Memorial Field for their CIF Southern Section postseason games this week, Bellarmine-Jefferson has to hit the road for its playoff opener.

Because Burbank and Burroughs share the same venue, the two will play on different days in Southeast Division games. The Indians will host a tough Diamond Ranch team at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and the Bulldogs will host Alhambra on Friday in a 7:30 game. The Guards will be at Boron Friday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

After tying for the Pacific League championship last week, Burbank received the league’s No. 1 seed and Burroughs is the No. 2 seed. With Memorial Field slated to be torn down and rebuilt early next year, it might be the last opportunity for the teams to play on the venue that has been hosting the cross-town Big Games since 1949.“After Burroughs plays on it Thursday, I can just imagine what the field is going to look like when we play on Friday,” Burbank Coach Hector Valencia said. “It was pretty bad Friday.”

The condition of Memorial Field is probably way down the list of concerns for Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop. He has to worry about a talented Diamond Ranch team.“They are beasts,” Knoop said. “We just don’t ever seem to get a break for the playoffs. This is a very good team and they have a lot of talent.”The Indians (7-3) will take on a team that is 4-6. However, most of those losses have come against tough competition, including defeats against Colony, 25-20, Chino Hills, 17-14, Bishop Amat, 41-13 and Charter Oak, 12-0. The Panthers — second in the Miramonte League — have an outstanding running back in Amari Staten (235 yards against Los Altos) and a solid quarterback in Gus Viramontes. Burroughs counters with a quality running back of its own. Senior Dalton Williams has 182 carries for 1,444 yards and 21 touchdowns. His yardage total puts him fourth on the Indians’ all-time single-season list.

Burbank (8-2) will take on an Alhambra team that likes to throw the ball. Senior quarterback Darian Cazarin has completed 132 of 241 passes for 2,022 yards, 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Moors (6-3 and third from the Almont League) have only 590 rushing yards this season.The Bulldogs posses a much more balanced offensive attack behind running backs Ulises Ochoa (137 carries for 1,151 yards and 12 touchdowns), Leo Rodas (116 for 726 and six touchdowns) and quarterback Adam Colman (100 of 171 for 1,601 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions). Colman is fifth all-time in passing yardage in a season. In 2008, the Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals and won their first playoff game in 81 years.

Boron (8-2) — the Desert Mountain champion — should pose a tough task for Bell-Jeff (6-4 and third in the Santa Fe League).“That’s what you get when you finish third in your league,” Guards’ Coach Rolando Aguirre said. “They are good, but beatable.”The Bobcats have a solid running game behind Reggie Heard (99 for 810 and nine touchdowns) and Leroy Taylor (96 for 736 and 11 touchdowns). Quarterback Josh Core (53 for 92 for 911, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions) runs the offense.The Guards have received a huge effort this season from junior running back/receiver Micah Shirley. Shirley has 77 carries for 902 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and has 44 catches for 651 yards and eight touchdowns. He has even thrown for a touchdown.“We are just going to have to come out tough and battle,” said Aguirre, whose team made it to Northeast Division quarterfinals in 2008.

Burbank share's league title

Burbank's Omar Trancoso (52) congratulates Sam Bethany after he scored on a touchdown pass in the second quarter during a Pacific League game against Burroughs. (Scott Smeltzer/The Leader)

Bulldogs beat Indians, 28-21, to earn share of first league championship in 37 years.
By Jim Riggio, Burbank Leader
Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009

MEMORIAL FIELD — Burbank High football Coach Hector Valencia knew what it was like to win a nail-bitter against cross-town Burroughs as a player. Friday night, Valencia got to experience what it was like to win in the same fashion as a coach.In a battle for the Pacific League crown, his Bulldogs outlasted Burroughs, 28-21, giving each school a share of the league title and Burbank the league’s top spot heading into next week’s CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Burroughs will be the Pacific League’s No. 2 representative.“It was a great experience for me when I won, and this is even better for them because they won something,” Valencia said of his players. “This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”The win gives Burbank (8-2, 7-1 in league) a share of its first league title in 37 years.“There is a lot of pride in the school. There were a lot of alumni supporting us,” Valencia, a 1993 Burbank graduate said.

“We tried to focus on the game and not the league title.”In Valencia’s senior season in 1992, Burbank rallied to defeat Burroughs, 21-17, in the final minute of the game. The Bulldogs scored the game-winning touchdown with 5:36 to play when Ulisies Ochoa scored on a 1-yard run. Burbank took advantage of a 10-yard Burroughs punt to drive 39 yards in 11 plays for the winner.

“It hurt us when we gave them good field position after the punt,” Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop said.Burroughs (7-3, 7-1) took the early lead as Dalton Williams scored on a 19-yard-run with 6:15 left in the first quarter. Michael Solano added the extra point.Burbank fought back under tough circumstances in the second quarter. Facing a fourth-and-goal situation from the 1-yard line, quarterback Adam Colman, reading it as his only option, threw an option pitch to Sam Bethany, who scored the touchdown. But a missed extra point kept Burroughs in front, 7-6, with 3:29 left in the half.

Colman and Bethany hooked up just seconds before halftime, this time on a five-yard touchdown pass. Colman connected with Jackson Diamond on the two-point conversion to give Burbank a 14-7 halftime lead. Burbank appeared to be in good shape early in the third quarter.But the Bulldogs suffered from a miscue, as a handoff between Leo Rodas and Colman was mishandled. Burroughs’ Justin Mayorga picked up the loose ball and ran 15 yards into the end zone. Solano’s extra point tied the score at 14.

Burbank marched right back down the field, going 75 yards in six plays, capped by Christopher Alcala’s four-yard run with 2:02 left in the period. The extra point was blocked, making it, 20-14. Burroughs’ Dalton Williams didn’t give the Bulldogs much time to celebrate, as he scored on a 79-yard run with 29.9 seconds left in the third quarter. Solano’s extra point put Burroughs up, 21-20.Colman, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior, finished 14 of 22 for 168 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jackson Diamond had 10 receptions for 103 yards. Williams led the Indians with 208 yards rushing.

BURBANK BEATS BURROUGHS 28 - 21 WIN PACIFIC LEAGUE TITLE

In a great game that really lived up to the hype that has been going on all week our Burbank High Bulldogs in a see saw battle beat cross-town rival John Burroughs Indians 28 to 21 to win the Pacific League Title. Burroughs had a chance but Burbank stopped them on fourth down and Burbank got the ball back and just let the clock run out.

The Frosh team lost Thursday night to Burroughs and the Junior Varsity lost to Burroughs earlier this evening. But the Burbank Varsity won the Big One. Way to go Bulldogs. The last time Burbank High won a league title was back in 1972, they also won league titles in 1927, 1951, 1956 and now can add 2009. Read more about the big game at the Los Angeles Dailey News.

BURBANK vs BURROUGHS Tonight

Well gang tonight Friday the 13th is the big game with the Burbank High School Bulldogs taking on our cross town rival John Burroughs High School Indians with the Pacific League Title on the line. Burroughs is going into tonight's game undefeated in league and Burbank has one loss in league losing last week to Pasadena in the last 10 seconds of the game. Burbank has to beat Burroughs tonight and they would then be in a tie with Burroughs for the Pacific League Title, with each teams with one loss in league play. If Burrough's wins tonight game they will clinch the Pacific League Title and remain undefeated. So a lot is at stake tonight! The weird thing is that Burrough's Coach Knoop is a graduate of Burbank High. The JV game is tonight at Memorial Field at 4:00 pm and the Varsity game starts at 7:30pm. You should get there early as parking is a problem and they expect the game to sell out. This is wishing our Burbank High School Bulldog Football Teams a big GOOD LUCK! GO BULLDOGS!

Gloria Mischke Metcalf 1947-2009

Gloria L. Mischke Metcalf 1947 - 2009

Gloria was a 1965 graduate of Burbank High School. Her good friend and fellow classmate Fay Herbert BHS 65 told me that Gloria was born on June 6, 1947 and passed away on September 19, 2009 in Modesto, California after her battle with breast cancer. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea off the coast of Monterey, California.

Kenneth W. Moore 1949-2009

Kenneth W. Moore 1949 - 2009

Ken was one of my classmates. He graduated with me from Burbank High in 1967. According to Ken's wife Sandy he have been ill for a few years. He suddenly passed away in Texas on November 9, 2009 when his heart just stopped. According to a fellow classmate Don Ray that Ken was a great guy. This is what Don Ray had to say about his good friend:
Those of us who attended Joaquin Miller, John Muir and Burbank High remember Ken as a big, tall boy with a gentle heart of gold. I must tell you that Ken sent me hundreds of e-mails of encouragement and inspiration. He served in the military as an assistant to the chaplain. He last worked as a dispatcher for the trucking firm in Texas that he had driven for for many years.

A Box of a Veteran's Mementos

Burbank resident Robin Leslie looks through a chest filled with her father's equipment from World War II at the Howard Museum on Monday. It was shipped to her grandparents after he was shot down and captured by the Japanese. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)

Daughter of a World War II POW donates a box full of his war keepsakes to the Burbank Historical Society.

By Joyce Rudolph, Burbank Leader
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Robin Leslie was only 15 and just getting to know her father, Jack R. Lewis, when he was killed in a private-airplane crash in Newhall in 1962. Leslie knew he had been a prisoner of war, but her father never spoke about what he endured in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. “I never heard the story, but I knew he had been in the POW camp, and that he had been tortured,” the Burbank resident said. It wasn’t until she went through a wooden box filled with his mementos that she found a letter Lewis had written for the Navy, recounting his experience with the enemy.“From the sound of his stories, he was lucky to be alive,” Leslie said.

Lewis, a 1943 graduate of Burbank High School, was an aviation machinist mate in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He joined the Navy in January 1943 and after training, served on the Bombing Squad No. 124 beginning on April 9, 1945. His bomber was shot down on July 7, 1945. “When I came to, I was underwater still in the plane,” he wrote in the letter. “I made my way to the surface.”The life raft had split and sunk, so he grabbed a tire and strut, he said, and that’s when he realized he had lost feeling in his right leg and arm.

After he was captured, he struggled to walk, and when his legs gave out, the Japanese soldiers beat him, he wrote. He was fed dry biscuits and no water.“I had no idea how it had been in reality,” Leslie said. “It was an eye-opener to finally read the story about his capture. Burbank should be proud of him. He is special for who he was and what he went through.”He was liberated on Aug. 18, 1945, and discharged in September 1945. He returned to Burbank, finished his education, got married and started a family.

After his death, the box remained in the garage, Leslie said. A few months ago, she went through it, and decided to donate it to the Burbank Historical Society. But she kept his Purple Heart.“It seems like the time is right,” Leslie said. When volunteers at the historical society’s Gordon R. Howard Museum told Mary Jane Strickland about Leslie’s phone call, Strickland remembered she and Lewis were classmates.

Strickland created a display with the box and its contents, pictures of the veteran, and a shorter version of the letter. Her husband, Harry Strickland, has suspended a model of a bomber jet over the display.The salute to a Burbank sailor was perfect for Veterans Day, Mary Jane Strickland said. “I think it’s nice to bring it to people’s attention again — what these guys went through,” she said. “You didn’t know what was happening to them at war. You would only see pictures in the newspaper or if you went to a movie and saw it in a news reel.

”Leslie wondered what a moment it must have been when her father was liberated from the enemy camp.“They were living minute-to-minute, not knowing how long anyone would last,” she said. He seemed to realize what a gift it was to be able to come home, Leslie said, because he made an effort to enjoy life.“He was a sports guy,” she said. “He rode a motorcycle, flew private planes, did scuba diving and spearfishing on Catalina.”Lewis even handmade a full body wet suit, she said, and tested it scuba diving in a neighbor’s pool, she said.“I think it might have been that what he went through in the prison camp gave him this real joy of life and he wanted to do everything he could.”

Burrough's Memorial Field

I have been attending some of Burbank High's home games at John Burroughs Memorial Field and the field and stadium is in pretty bad shape. But I believe in the spring of next year (2010) Burroughs Memorial Field will get a new face lift just as Burbank High got their new field. They will add artificial grass to the field and redo the bleachers to make Memorial Field into a state of art field. All Burbank and Burroughs home football games will be played probably at Glendale High School. Below is a photo of the rust in the bleachers.

Joshua Daniel Nesbitt 1988 - 2009

This was a tribute to Josh that appears in the Burbank vs Burroughs Football Program.

The photo is from his myspace page. He played at Glendale CC.

Former Burbank High football player, 21, is remembered for leadership.

Joshua Daniel Nesbitt, remembered by family and coaches as a warm-hearted man who harnessed his popularity as a high school football standout to shepherd young teammates to church, shot himself to death Wednesday at the Firing-Line indoor shooting range. He was 21.

As a senior at Burbank High School, Nesbitt served as a team captain, earning first-team All-Foothill League and All-Area honors at linebacker. He later participated in the East-West All-Star game at Birmingham High, intercepting a pass and returning it 29 yards for a touchdown.

The Frederick, Maryland, native graduated from Burbank High in 2006 before going on to a successful freshman season at Glendale Community College, starting every game for the 9-2 Vaqueros and racking up 22 solo tackles and 48 assists to earn All-Western State Conference Southern Division second-team honors on defense. His team went on to win the Western State Bowl against Santa Ana College.

“He just had so much passion to play the game,” said Glendale Coach John Rome, who recruited Nesbitt as an assistant. “I just feel blessed we were able to have him in our program. ”But deep bouts of depression came in May. In July, he was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder, a mental condition that causes a loss of contact with reality and mood problems, his dad, Craig Nesbitt said. He spent time in a mental hospital, where the family believes he was overmedicated, he added.

“[Josh] was in misery as a result of the medication,” he said. But this week his family began to see signs of “the old Josh.” While out Thursday with his mother, he requested they visit the gun range for target practice, said Noelle Nesbitt, his sister. “The next thing you know, Mom saw him drop to the ground,” she said. He died at the scene, authorities said.

Despite taking requisite safety precautions, the range has had a deadly history. A 64-year-old Burbank man in June shot himself to death at the firing range. And last year, a 25-year-old Glendale man used a rented handgun to kill himself at the same site.

Nesbitt is survived by his father, Craig; mother, Michele; brothers Nathan, Justin, Troy and Craig Jr.; and sister, Noelle. He also had a step-mother, Yvonne Nesbitt; and four step-siblings, Ryan Burger, Casie Burger, Whitney Burger and Erick Burger.

A public viewing is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, with the service to follow at 5 p.m. at Media City Church, 269 E. Providencia Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations for the service be sent between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday by calling (323) 769-7372. Or contact Media City Church at (818) 842-2186.

This is from a Florida Newspaper:

Joshua D. Nesbitt -Burbank, CA - Joshua Daniel Nesbitt a former Satellite Beach H.S. football stand out passed away suddenly Wednesday, November 4, 2009 in Burbank CA. Joshua was born March 8, 1988 in Frederick MD. He was also a scholar athlete and all- star football player at Burbank High School and Glendale Community College. He was known as a warm hearted young man who harnessed his popularity as a high school football MVP to shepherd young team mates to church. He is survived by his father, Craig; mother, Michele; stepmother, Yvonne; brothers, Nathan, Justin, Troy, Craig Jr.; his sister, Noelle; four step-siblings Ryan, Casie, Whitney, and Erick Burger; grandparents, Joyce and Bill Blentlinger, eight uncles, seven aunts, 25 cousins, and many loving friends. In addition to a memorial service which took place on Sunday, November 9th there will be a graveside service Tuesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, CA. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations for the service be sent to Forrest Lawn Hollywood Hills by calling 323-769- 7372 or Media City Church at 818-842-2186

Pasadena stuns Burbank, 45-41

SGVN/Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

From the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper:

BURBANK - Pasadena High School quarterback Aaron Simpson connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Wells with 10.8 seconds left in the game to help the Bulldogs pull off a stunning 45-41 upset over Burbank on Thursday night in Pacific League action at Burroughs High.
Pasadena (5-4, 4-2) clinched a spot in the CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division playoffs while also knocking rival Muir out of playoff contention.
Burbank (7-2, 5-1) had one final chance with 1.7 seconds left and attempted five laterals before several flags were thrown, including one for a forward pass. That ended the game and sent the Pasadena crowd into a frenzy.
The Bulldogs were back at their own 32 with 1:20 remaining. Simpson, faced with fourth and 2 at his own 40, found an Eugene Tripling for a 15-yard gain and a first down.
On the next play, without any hesitation and his eyes focused on the end zone, Simpson threw a pass to Wells, who had three Burbank defenders on him. Wells caught the pass, prompting the Bulldogs players, coaches and administrators to rush the field.
Pasadena turned to the Muir football players watching from the visitors stands and yelled, "You're next." The Bulldogs were assessed with an unsportsmanlike penalty, but the damage was done.
Burbank's loss put a damper on next week's showdown against rival Burroughs (6-2, 5-0), which also had players at the game.
The final two minutes of each half were interesting, to say the least.
With less than two minutes left in the second quarter, Burbank's Ulises Ochoa returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown to even the game at 23. But there was a flag thrown on Burbank's sideline, and many thought it was going to be called back for a holding. The flag, however, was picked up by a Burbank bystander. He pocketed the flag and walked over and gave it to the sideline official who threw it.
Pasadena coach Mike McFarland, athletic director Tony Brooks and Pasadena principal Derek Evens marched onto the field for an explanation.

At halftime, the head official indicated the flag was a sidelines warning on Burbank.
Pasadena's Charles Hendricks scored two touchdowns on runs of 18 and 13 yards, and Nick Escoe added two, including 65-yard kickoff return.
The Bulldogs were shut out in the third quarter and trailed 41-30 before mounting the unprecedented comeback in the fourth. Hendricks' 10-yard score with 5:55 left pulled the Bulldogs to within 41-38.
"This by far is the most unbelievable game and finish I've ever been a part of," McFarland said. "I can't say enough about our kids and how resilient they are. I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss right now."

Sad Day In Burbank

Yesterday November 5, 2009 was a sad day for the City of Burbank as it was the funeral of Burbank Police Officier SGT Neil Thomas Gunn Sr. funeral and graveside services. I did not attend the church services as it was out in Porter Ranch. I did attend the graveside services at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. I sat off in the distant as I was in shorts and not dressed for a funeral. There were several Burbank High grads there as some are Burbank Police Officers and my classmate Cathy Coyle BHS 1967 attended both the churh and gravside services. Burbank Mayor Gary Bric BHS 1970 was also in attendence along with many Burbank City Officials. Below are some of the photos that I was able to get.

Burbank Police Officer SGT Neil Thomas Gunn Sr.

The Police Motorcycle escort to the grave site.

The bagpipes are being played while the casket is escorted to the grave site.

The gathering of family and friends and fellow Burbank Police Officers gather at the grave site to pay homage to their comrade.


Burbank Police Officer plays Taps with a BPD police car in the background.

A Final Salute!


Burbank Mayor Gary Bric BHS 1970 attends the services.


The flowers that were left near Gunn's casket.


An overall shot of the the mourners at the graveside services.


Officer Gunn's widow Tina carrying the American Flag that is escorted back to the car after the graveside services.

Just One More Victory Each

That’s what it will take for the Burroughs and Burbank football teams to get the opportunity to face one another for the Pacific League championship.

The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-0 in league) will play Pasadena at 7 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Field. The Indians (6-2, 5-0) host Crescenta Valley at 7 p.m. Friday.

Burbank — ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division — has to defeat Pasadena and it will be playing for their first league championship in 35 years. Burbank hasn’t actually won a league crown in 37 years, when it was a part of the Foothill League.

The Indians — ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division — have one more stumbling block in the Falcons before they can play with a league championship on the line next week. Burroughs won a Pacific League title three years ago.

The Big Game between the cross-town rivals will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Memorial Field.