By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – To say Burlingame has endured its share of adversity this season would be a gross understatement. That continued Friday on Homecoming night, as the Bearcats not only fell behind 12-0, but also endured a frightening scene when an assistant coach had a seizure on the sideline in the first half.
Burlingame responded after paramedics treated the coach, causing a 15-minute delay, rolling to a 58-12 win to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in district play. More importantly, the assistant was alert and talking at a hospital after the game.
The Bearcats anticipated a win against the Dragons (3-3, 1-2), but were sluggish after the opening kickoff. On the first series of the game, Valley Falls scored on a 60-yard pass from quarterback Dylan Cervantez to Zac Evans on a fake punt to take a 6-0 lead.
Burlingame tried to convert a fourth-and-four from its own 34 on the ensuing possession, but the Dragons came up with a stop. They scored six play later on Cervantez’s 5-yard run to take a 12-0 lead.
The Bearcats answered on their second drive, marching 56 yards in six plays, capped by Colby Middleton’s 5-yard jaunt. Middleton finished with a game-high 168 yards and five touchdowns. Kicker Jose Arevalo added the extra point to pull Burlingame within 12-7.
After forcing Valley Falls into a three-and-out, Kris Hovestadt fielded a punt at his own 36 and raced through the Dragons’ special teams unit for a 39-yard return to the 5. Hovestadt, who had 92 yards rushing on 10 carries, gave the Bearcats the lead with a 3-yard score. Arevalo’s PAT gave Burlingame a 14-12 edge.
In the second quarter, the Bearcats took control with 20 unanswered points, beginning with a 60-yard pick-six by Matthew Heckman. Middleton followed with a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the final six minutes of the half, and Arevalo added two point-after kicks for a 34-12 lead going into the locker room.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter, including Middleton’s fourth and fifth touchdowns, on runs of 1 and 6 yards, as Burlingame built a 46-12 advantage.
After freshman J.D. Tyson took over under the center, the Bearcats tacked on two more scores. Late in the third, Tyson connected with Lance Noonan on a 15-yard scoring strike to push the lead to 52-12.
The game ended midway through the final frame when Tyson found Heckman over the middle on a 27-yard touchdown pass.
Burlingame finished with 315 total yards, including 273 rushing on 40 carries. The Bearcats limited Valley Falls to 96 yards rushing on 35 carries. The Dragons added 124 yards passing.
Cervantez had 184 total yards, while Samuel Drinkard rushed for 60 yards on 13 attempts, and Evans had three catches for 99 yards.
BURLINGAME 58, VALLEY FALLS 12
Valley Falls 12 0 0 0 — 12
Burlingame 14 20 18 6 — 58
VF – Zac Evans 60 pass from Dylan Cervantez (Run failed)
VF – Cervantez 5 run (Run failed)
BG – Colby Middleton 5 run (Jose Arevalo kick)
BG – Kris Hovestadt 3 run (Arevalo kick)
BG – Matthew Heckman 60 interception return (Arevalo kick)
BG – Middleton 1 run (Arevalo kick)
BG – Middleton 1 run (Kick failed)
BG – Middleton 6 run (Kick failed)
BG – Middleton 6 run (Pass failed)
BG – Lance Noonan 15 pass from J.D. Tyson (Kick failed)
BG – Heckman 27 pass from Tyson (end of game)
VF BG
First Downs 8 12
Rushes-Yards 35-96 40-273
Passing Yards 124 42
Passing 8-21-1 2-6-0
Total yards 220 315
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties 7-51 6-33
Punting 3-38.0 1-37
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Valley Falls – Samuel Drinkard 13-60, Cervantez 15-20, Avery Gatzemeyer 1-10, Evans 6-6. Burlingame – Middleton 23-168, Hovestadt 10-92, Tyson 2-17, Andrew Zeller 1-0, Dane Winters 4-(-4).
Receiving: Valley Falls – Evans 3-99, Drinkard 4-23, Trenton Kraxner 1-2. Burlingame – Heckman 1-27, Noonan 1-15.
Passing: Valley Falls – Cervantez 8-21-1 124. Burlingame – Tyson 2-4-0 42, Middleton 0-2-0 0.