By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – Tied early in the second quarter of a game in which it was heavily favored, Burlingame finally flipped the switch on Homecoming night. The Bearcats scored 38 straight points in the second quarter, coasting to a 74-26 win while ending a rare two-game losing streak.
The Eagles made it interesting early in the second period, scoring back-to-back touchdowns, including one after recovering a squib kick, to knot the score at 14-14. But Burlingame (4-2 overall, 1-2 in District 2) answered quickly with a five-play, 52-yard drive to regain control. J.D Tyson scored a 6-yard run, and Dane Winters caught the conversion pass for a 22-14 lead four minutes into the frame.
Over the next eight minutes, the Bearcats scored four touchdowns and tacked on a safety to build an insurmountable 52-14 lead at the half. During the flurry, Tyson hit Timmy Roberts on a beautifully thrown ball for a 47-yard score, Drake Skirvin hauled in a 30-yard toss in the end zone, and Colby Heckman grabbed a 2-yard touchdown pass. Amongst those plays, Parker Haid and Cooper Burns sacked Maranatha’s quarterback in the end zone for two more points.
The most electrifying play of the half came in the closing seconds when Winters picked off a deep pass at the 7 before zigging and zagging through the Eagles’ defense on a 73-yard return for a touchdown.
Maranatha (2-4, 0-3) prolonged the game by scoring first in the third quarter on a 59-yard run by Blake Higginbotham. The only other touchdown in the period came on the next play, as Winters raced 68 yards on the kickoff.
The Eagles cut the deficit to 60-26 early in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard pass from Evan Nelson to Daniel Dean, but Burlingame ended the game with two Tyson-to-Winters connections, one from 14 yards out at the 8:22 mark and the other from 13 yards out with 4:55 left.
The Bearcats’ first two scores came on an 11-yard pass from Tyson to Winters and a 36-yard Tyson run. Jose Arevalo followed both with PAT kicks.
Tyson accounted for eight touchdowns, six through the air. He had 269 total yards, including 182 passing and 87 rushing. Winters had five touchdowns, including three interceptions, and scored on a kickoff return and pick-six. He finished with 218 yards (120 rushing, 98 receiving).
Higginbotham had 138 yards, including 73 rushing and 65 receiving, for Maranatha. Nelson completed 15 of 23 passes for 185 yards but threw four interceptions.
Burlingame plays at Madison on Friday in a game that will likely determine the final playoff spot in the loaded Eight-Player District 2.
BURLINGAME 74, MARANATHA ACADEMY 26
Maranatha 0 14 6 6 — 26
Burlingame 7 45 8 14 — 74
First Quarter
BHS – Dane Winters 11 pass from J.D. Tyson (Jose Arevalo kick) 4:43
Second Quarter
BHS – Tyson 36 run (Arevalo kick) 11:15
MA – Blake Higginbotham 54 pass from Brock Nelson (Pass failed) 10:22
MA – Nelson 2 run (Peter Heddings pass from Nelson) 10:05
BHS – Tyson 6 run (Winters pass from Tyson) 8:09
BHS – Timmy Roberts 47 pass from Tyson (Winters run) 6:44
BHS – Drake Skirvin 30 pass from Tyson (Winters pass from Tyson) 5:41
BHS – Safety. Parker Haid and Copper Burns sack Nelson in end zone. 4:35
BHS – Colby Heckman 2 pass from Tyson (Pass failed) 2:33
BHS – Winters 73 interception return (Kick failed) :33
Third Quarter
MA – Higginbotham 59 run (Pass failed) 7:58
BHS – Winters 68 kickoff return (Tyson run) 7:45
Fourth Quarter
MA – Daniel Dean 8 pass from Nelson (Pass failed) 9:54
BHS – Winters 14 pass from Tyson (Winters pass from Tyson) 8:22
BHS – Winters 13 pass from Tyson (end of game) 4:55
GAME IN FIGURES
BHS MA
First downs 20 15
Rushes-Yards 24-217 34-139
Passing 14-22-0 15-23-4
Passing yards 182 185
Total yards 399 324
Punts None 1-27
Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties 2-20 6-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Maranatha: Higginbotham 14-73, Heddings 5-39, Nelson 15-27. Burlingame: Winters 10-120, Tyson 9-87, Calvin Noonan 5-10.
RECEIVING – Maranatha: Higginbotham 3-65, Dean 4-50, Heddings 4-34, Johnathan Dighton 2-15, David Breazeale 2-12. Burlingame: Winters 10-98, Roberts 2-52, Skirvin 1-30, Heckman 1-2.
PASSING – Maranatha: Nelson 15-23-4 185. Burlingame: Tyson 14-22-0 182.