By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – Burlingame has a strong enough program now that it reloads. Each year, the Bearcats typically have a strong core to build around, and each year, they always seem to have a few seniors who take the big step from role player to key cog.
Based on Friday night’s season-opening 49-0 rout of Marais des Cygnes Valley, Jose Arevalo is going to be one of those cogs in 2023. The senior dominated on the defensive line, spending much of his night in the backfield, and as a kicker, booting five PATs and five touchbacks.
“That was awesome to see from Jose tonight,” said Burlingame coach Jeff Slater, now 76-20 in nine-plus seasons. “We ask a lot of these kids, and they give us everything we ask. When you have a program, you have kids who step up like this as seniors. He’s worked really hard, and he’s quick and strong. We need a big season from him.”
Coming off the school’s fourth Eight-Player Division I state semifinal in eight years, Burlingame opened the year with a bang. On the opening kickoff, Scott Leandro raced 60 yards untouched for a 6-0 lead 12 seconds into the game. Arevalo added the PAT for a 7-0 advantage.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Trojans’ first possession, the Bearcats (1-0, 1-0 in the Lyon County League), blocked the punt, and Arevalo scooped the ball up before trotting into the end zone. Dane Winters’ conversion run made it 15-0.
Moments later, Burlingame tackled Marais des Cygnes Valley’s punter at the 4-yard line after a bad snap on fourth down. Timmy Roberts bulldozed two Trojans en route to the end zone on the next play, and the Bearcats led 22-0 just five-and-half minutes into the season.
“We wanted a good, clean game,” Slater said. “We wanted to be sound, not make mistakes, not commit bad penalties, and we wanted to be physical. The kids did that tonight.”
The Bearcats tacked on three more touchdowns in the opening quarter to build a resounding 43-0 lead. Winters had a 30-yard interception return for a score at the 4:17 mark and hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from J.D. Tyson less than two minutes later. On the latter, he made a nifty spin move around a defender at the 5-yard-line before racing into the end zone.
Tyson’s 13-yard scamper on a keeper with 6 seconds left capped an overwhelming first quarter by Burlingame.
The final score of the night came on Tyson’s 24-yard run less than three minutes into the second frame.
The Bearcats were so dominant on defense that they had a 36-0 lead despite having just 18 yards of total offense with three minutes left in the opening period. They held Marais des Cygnes Valley (0-1, 0-1) to 31 yards, including minus-6 rushing.
Tyson paced Burlingame with 70 total yards, including 44 rushing on four carries and 26 passing on 3-of-3 accuracy. Winters added 26 total yards and had two interceptions on defense.
Burlingame travels to Lebo next Friday.
BURLINGAME 49, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY 0
Marais des Cygnes 0 0 X X — 0
Burlingame 43 6 X X — 49
First Quarter
BHS – Scott Leandro 60 kickoff return (Jose Arevalo kick)
BHS – Arevalo 5 blocked punt return (Dane Winters run)
BHS – Timmy Roberts 4 run (Arevalo kick)
BHS – Winters 30 interception return (Arevalo kick)
BHS – Winters 14 pass from J.D. Tyson (Arevalo kick)
BHS – Tyson 13 run (Arevalo kick)
Second Quarter
BHS – Tyson 24 run (Kick failed)
GAME IN FIGURES
MdCV BHS
First downs 4 3
Rushes-Yards 24-(-6) 8-52
Passing 4-11-2 3-3-0
Passing yards 37 26
Total yards 31 78
Punts None None
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties 1-10 3-34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – MdCV: Landon Traver 13-8, Trey DeCavele 4-(-1), Dallen Flatin 6-(-6), Dominic Knight 1-(-7). Burlingame: Tyson 4-44, Winters 1-7, Danny Cain 1-6, Roberts 1-4, Dawson Richman 1-(-9).
RECEIVING – MdCV: Mason Rose 3-33, Flatin 1-4. Burlingame: Winters 2-19, Roberts 1-7.
PASSING – MdCV: Traver 4-11-2 37. Burlingame: Tyson 3-3-0 26.