By Ernie W. Webb III
MADISON – Winning the Lyon County League has become an emphasis at Burlingame under coach Jeff Slater, partly because the Bearcats often square off against another solid program in Madison to determine the championship.
That was the case again this year, and Burlingame wrapped up its fifth LCL title since 2015 with a 42-24 win over the Bulldogs.
“Our league has good tradition, and a lot of great teams have held that trophy,” said Slater, whose team clinched its 10th straight winning season. “Traditionally, our league has performed well in the playoffs, and it’s always a good measuring stick of where your team is.”
Where this year’s team likely is after winning a critical game against Madison is the playoffs. In a loaded district featuring two of the best teams in Eight Player Division I (Lyndon and Cair Paravel) and a tough Chase County squad, qualifying for the postseason would be an accomplishment for a program that graduated several seniors last year but expects to win every year.
“You hope our district has prepared us for when it counts the most,” Slater said. “We still have some work to do, but I like the direction we are going.”
Burlingame’s coaching staff made a couple of key adjustments after back-to-back losses to Chase County and Cair Paravel that have changed the season. One of those was moving Parker Haid back to center from tight end and Timmy Roberts back to tight end from running back. Those two players have anchored an offensive line paving the way to big seasons by quarterback JD Tyson and running back Dane Winters.
Against the Bulldogs, Tyson had 332 total yards and five touchdowns, Winters 176 yards and four scores and Roberts 34 yards on three receptions. Emerging receiver Drake Skirvin added 92 yards and a touchdown.
“We have simplified some things up front. I think Parker has been able to get guys lined up and communicating up front,” Slater said. “JD is really good at what he does, seeing things pre-snap, adjusting and picking up on matchups we like. JD has great chemistry with Dane and Timmy, and now as the season goes, him and Drake are developing that, as well.
“Our offense has always been much more successful when we are aggressive and taking shots. We have found ways to generate the big play lately.”
One of those big plays came early in the second quarter after neither team scored in the opening frame. Winters made a leaping catch for 29 yards on a pass from Tyson to set up a first-and-goal from the 1, and the former scored on a run on the next play. Tyson and Roberts connected on a conversion pass for an 8-0 lead at the 8:36 mark.
After forcing a punt, the Bearcats pushed the lead to 14-0 when Tyson and Winters hooked up for a 16-yard pass. Winters cut around the defender on the play and raced into the end zone with 1:08 remaining.
Slater rolled the dice on the ensuing kickoff, and Burlingame recovered an onside kick at Madison’s 31. The Bearcats needed only three plays to build a 21-0 lead. Tyson ran for 14 yards, Winters hauled in an 18-yard pass on a first-and-17 after a holding penalty, and the former scored on a 7-yard keeper. Jose Arevalo booted the extra point for a three-touchdown advantage with 30.7 seconds left.
“I would say the biggest thing is just better execution and quite possibly play-calling,” Slater said. “I felt like I hand-cuffed JD a little in our Chase County game and didn’t allow him to do things he likes doing. We have gotten back to him reading more, and then we have thrown it quite a bit.”
Throwing it is not something the Bulldogs excel at, so they faced a daunting task in the second half trying to rally, especially after Burlingame scored on the opening possession of the third quarter.
On that drive, Tyson hit Winters on a 28-yard touchdown pass on third-and-8 three minutes into the period. Roberts’ two-point conversion gave the Bearcats a 29-0 lead.
Madison got no closer than 18 points the rest of the night. Trailing 42-12, the Bulldogs tallied a pair of late touchdowns to narrow the final margin.
Burlingame’s final two scores came on passes from Tyson, one to Winters from a yard out and the other to Skirvin from 16 yards out.
The Bearcats close the regular season Friday at home against second-ranked Lyndon. Like Burlingame in 2022, the Tigers come into the game undefeated with the district title secured.
“Lyndon is a great team and well-coached,” said Slater, whose team lost to the Tigers in the regular season before winning in the state quarterfinals last year. “The competition from here picks up. We need to take another step forward this week with our physicality and execution.”
Tyson passed for 240 yards on 15-of-21 accuracy and rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries to lead Burlingame, while Winters had 176 total yards (114 receiving and 62 rushing).
Hayden Helm paced the Bulldogs with 129 yards rushing. Colton Isch added 57 yards and Lane Darbro 48.
BURLINGAME 42, MADISON 24
Burlingame 0 21 14 7 — 42
Madison 0 0 6 18 — 24
Second Quarter
BHS – Dane Winters 1 run (Timmy Roberts pass from JD Tyson), 8:36
BHS – Winters 16 pass from Tyson (Pass failed), 1:08
BHS – Tyson 7 run (Jose Arevalo kick), 30.7
Third Quarter
BHS – Winters 28 pass from Tyson (Roberts pass from Tyson), 8:53
MHS – Colton Isch 33 run (Run failed), 7:24
BHS – Winters 1 pass from Tyson (Pass failed), 4:32
Fourth Quarter
MHS – Hayden Helm 7 run (Run failed), 11:56
BHS – Drake Skirvin 16 pass from Tyson (Arevalo kick), 8:11
MHS – Helm 45 run (Run failed), 6:05
MHS – 18-yard pass (Run failed), 2:30
GAME IN FIGURES
BHS MA
First downs 18 14
Rushes-Yards 35-161 38-234
Passing 15-21-0 2-5-0
Passing yards 240 28
Total yards 401 262
Punts None 2-36.5
Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0
Penalties 4-27 3-12
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Burlingame: Tyson 19-92, Winters 15-62, Dawson Richman 1-2. Madison: Helm 19-129, Isch 9-57, Lane Darbro 10-48.
RECEIVING – Burlingame: Winters 8-114, Skirvin 4-92, Roberts 3-34.
PASSING – Burlingame: Tyson 15-21-0 240. Madison: Helm 2-5-0 28.