By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – On a miserably cold, rainy night, Burlingame coach Jeff Slater shouted a simple command to his team in the closing seconds of the third quarter: “Guys, let’s go home.” Moments later, the Bearcats obliged when Dane Winters scored on a 14-yard run, capping a 62-14 rout of Wichita Independent during Friday’s regional championship game.
With the win, Burlingame (9-1) advances to the sectional round for a rematch against Lyndon (8-2) and reaches the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2015 to 2017 teams played in the state semifinals.
“I said before the season that this team’s ceiling keeps getting higher, and here we are in the final eight,” said Slater, whose team will play Friday on Lyndon’s home field, where they lost 60-59 on Oct. 21. “I talk about those teams (the 2015 to 2017 semifinalists) a lot with these guys. I told them that they watched those teams play in big games and here they are, living in the moment, in big games. I’m incredibly proud of this team.”
Playing its first season in Eight-Player Division I, Wichita Independent (8-2) excelled during the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs, but the Panthers were outmanned against Burlingame’s bruising ground game and defense.
The Bearcats forced a three-and-out on the opening possession and led 8-0 less than four minutes in on Colby Middleton’s 14-yard run. Winters and Middleton tacked on scoring runs during the next six minutes, and Burlingame led 22-0 after the first quarter. The lead grew to 28-0 early in the second quarter when Winters fielded a punt at his own 39 and raced 41 yards into the end zone.
The only hitch for the Bearcats in the first half was an intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Wichita Independent’s only points in opening two periods.
Middleton, who piled up 310 total yards, hit Matthew Heckman on a 19-yard scoring strike late in the half for a 36-2 edge. Middleton passed the 1,000-yard mark, rushing for 218 yards on 15 carries.
“Colby was ready to go tonight after the last couple of weeks,” Slater said. “The kids have been playing with him for a long time, and they’re more comfortable with him out there. He looked like himself tonight.”
Middleton looked tentative after suffering an injury before the Lyndon game and played sparingly in a blowout against Flinthills last week, but the senior quarterback/linebacker was his usual aggressive, physical self against the Panthers. His 10-yard run early in the second half gave Burlingame a 42-2 lead.
Wichita Independent used a trick play to score its first touchdown when Christian Dean scored on a hook-and-ladder pitch from Joseph Recalde-Phillips after a short pass from Maddon Nguyen. Burlingame answered less a minute later on Middleton’s 39-yard jaunt.
After the Panthers pulled within 48-14 on a 69-yard kickoff return by Javon Beadles, Middleton rambled 31 yards to pay dirt for a 56-14 advantage. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Bearcats ended the game on Winters’ 14-yard run in the final minutes of the third period.
“To be one of the last eight teams in a great accomplishment, and the kids know the challenge they face against a great Lyndon team,” Slater said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
Winters continued a breakthrough sophomore season with 130 yards, including 73 receiving and 57 rushing. Dean led Wichita Independent with 86 yards on 14 carries.
BURLINGAME 62, WICHITA INDEPENDENT 14
Wichita Independent 0 2 12 X — 14
Burlingame 22 14 26 X — 62
First Quarter
BHS – Colby Middleton 14 run (Middleton run)
BHS – Dane Winters 14 run (Run failed)
BHS – Middleton 23 run ( Winters pass from Middleton)
Second Quarter
BHS – Winters 41 punt return (Pass failed)
WIHS – Safety, intentional grounding in end zone
BHS – Matthew Heckman 19 pass from Middleton (Middleton run)
Third Quarter
BHS – Middleton 10 run (Pass failed)
WIHS – Christian Dean 30 run on hook-and-ladder after 8 pass from Maddon Nguyen to Joseph Recalde-Phillips (Pass failed)
BHS – Middleton 39 run (Pass failed)
WIHS – Javon Beadles 69 kickoff return (Pass failed)
BHS – Middleton 31 run (Timmy Roberts pass from Middleton)
BHS – Winters – 14 run (end of game)
GAME IN FIGURES
WIHS BHS
First downs 7 19
Rushes-Yards 32-104 22-291
Passing 3-10-2 4-10-0
Passing yards 6 92
Total yards 110 383
Punts 3-21.7 N/A
Fumbles-lost 3-0 3-1
Penalties 7-45 5-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Wichita Independent: Dean 14-86, Nguyen 15-19, Recalde-Phillips 2-0, Beadles 1-(-1). Burlingame: Middleton 15-218, Winters 7-57.
RECEIVING – Wichita Independent: Recalde-Phillips 2-8, Isaac Combs 1-(-2). Burlingame: Winters 3-73, Heckman 1-19.
PASSING – Wichita Independent: Nguyen 3-10-2 6. Burlingame: Middleton 4-10-0 92.