Burroughs makes it two straight, 33-23

The Burroughs High football team learned an important lesson Friday

night: How to win in spite of yourself.

Despite fumbling three times and being penalized for more than 100

yards, the Indians took an early three-touchdown lead and held off

pesky host Verdugo Hills, 33-23, in a nonleague game.

Burroughs (2-0) was led by senior quarterback Tony Banuelos, who

completed nine of 18 attempts for 141 yards and two early touchdowns,

a 30-yard pass to Nick Bryant and a nine-yard score to Jake Ferrer.

Also helping out offensively was senior running back Thomas Kyle,

who rushed for 119 yards in 17 carries -- with 83 yards and two

touchdowns coming in the second half.

“The second half the [offensive] line came through and were making

their blocks,” Kyle said. “I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

The Indian defense added a first-half touchdown when lineman Bryan

Arceo recovered a fumble in the end zone on a busted punt snap.

Despite picking up the victory, Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop

praised the way Verdugo Hills (0-2) fought back.

“We knew [Verdugo Hills was] big and physical,” Knoop said. “They

can throw it, they can run. They did a great job, but we capitalized

on their mistakes, so that’s not too bad.”

After being penalized for 79 yards in the first half alone, the

Indians were able to settle down in the second half.

“We made some adjustments,” he said. “[Verdugo Hills was] doing

some crazy things on defense we had to adjust to. We ran the ball a

lot better. We did what we had to do to win.”

Up, 20-0, Verdugo Hills tried to come back, led by quarterback

Stephen Miller. Miller completed 17 of 35 passes for 219 yards and a

touchdown.

The Dons cut the lead to 20-10 at halftime after a field goal and

a two-yard touchdown run by Darren Hightower that capped a 64-yard,

13-play drive.

Burroughs went right back to work on the opening drive of the

second half. Kyle scored from a yard out with just over eight minutes

left in the third quarter to cap a six-play, 60-yard drive.

Kyle scored the Indians’ final touchdown of the night early in the

fourth quarter on a three-yard gallop.