Burbank vs Burroughs Football Preview

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: Arcadia High.

RECORDS: The Bulldogs are 4-5, 3-3 in the Pacific League; the Indians are 5-4, 5-1 in league.

LAST WEEK: Burbank defeated Muir, 35-24; Burroughs defeated Hoover, 42-14,

LAST YEAR: Burroughs defeated Burbank, 38-35.

OUTLOOK: With renovation still taking place at Memorial Field, this year's "Big Game" will take place at Arcadia High. Both teams have had to play all of their games on the road this season. Burroughs can control its own destiny and win a share of its third straight Pacific League title with a win in the annual rivalry contest.

However, if Arcadia (7-2, 5-1) were to be upset by Crescenta Valley (6-3, 4-2), the Indians would claim the league title for their own. A loss could put Burroughs into a tie for second.

For Burbank, it needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Bulldogs enter the rivalry game tied for fifth place with Muir (5-4, 3-3). Burbank is coming off its biggest win of the season last week, as it stayed in the postseason race with a victory against host Muir.

Confidentially, Burroughs' lone league loss this season came at the hands of the Mustangs, 28-0. However, the Indians were without their potent offensive weapon, senior running back Zander Anding, for that game.

Burbank's fortunes will likely lie with its ability to stop Anding, who has racked up big yardage and broken records along the way this season. Last week, Anding broke the single-season Burroughs rushing record of 2,001 set in 2008 by Dominique Barnes. He has 160 carries for 2,104 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Anding is averaging 263 yards a game, which would put him eighth on the all-time state list. He also holds the school record for yards in a game with 393 against Glendale.

The Bulldogs have a good running back of their own in Herman Castro, who is also a threat as a receiver. The Burbank defense stepped up last week, as its blitz packages frustrated Muir. The Bulldogs are hoping there isn't a repeat of the 2010 game in which they went up, 35-0, in the first half only to see Burroughs fight back and earn the victory.

SOMETHING INTERESTING: Burbank has managed to win just five "Big Games" in the past 20 years.

Jeff Tully, Burbank Leader