By Ernie W. Webb III
LEBO – Burlingame’s coaching staff figured they would learn quite a bit about their team during Friday’s game against a perennially solid Lebo team on the road. Simply put, they learned the Bearcats have the potential to make another run in Eight-Player Division I.
Burlingame (2-0) took control with a flurry at the end of the second quarter and rolled to a 60-12 rout in a game that ended seven seconds into the final period.
“I learned that we are who I thought we were, and that’s a team that understands what it means to be a Burlingame football player,” said Burlingame coach Jeff Slater. “We are nowhere near where we need and want to be, but it’s a good start. This one feels good.”
The Bearcats lost a strong core to graduation after a trip to the state semifinals in 2022, but the junior class, notably the new core of Dane Winters, J.D. Tyson, Parker Haid and Timmy Roberts, has taken the baton without a hitch.
Those four players accounted for eight of Burlingame’s nine touchdowns. Winters scored five times (two runs, two receptions, one punt return), and Tyson threw for four touchdowns. Roberts had a 5-yard scoring jaunt and 37-yard pick-six, while Haid hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass to end the game.
“These juniors are really good at football and have been for a while,” Slater said. “A lot of development took place at the youth level. They have all the respect of their teammates, and they are raising the level of play with the guys around them. That’s what’s fun to watch.”
In a game that could go a long way in determining the Lyon County League champion, Tyson had a breakout performance. Taking over at quarterback this season, the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder is quick and elusive, but he also packs a wallop that might surprise the opposition.
Tyson carved up Lebo’s defense with 295 total yards, and many of his 13 carries ended with him plowing into defenders.
“We did what we came out to do, be physical and play Burlingame football,” Tyson said. “Mostly what I did was get the ball to my teammates, and they did the rest.”
Tyson did his share, too, finishing with 86 yards on the ground and 209 through the air on 11-of-14 accuracy. He also was a key component on a defense that limited the Wolves (0-2) to 57 yards rushing while forcing three fumbles and picking off two passes.
“My mom (Hall of Fame volleyball coach Julie Slater) always tells me that somebody will step up after a great graduating class,” Slater said. “A lot of hard work and sacrifice goes into this. We are seeing guys take on new roles and step up. We are asking a lot from our seniors, as well, and those guys are answering the call.”
The game was close early, as Burlingame scored first on Winters’ 10-yard run, and Lebo countered with a 10-yard run of its own from Drew Konrade. The Bearcats answered late in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Tyson to sophomore Drake Skirvin.
Leading 12-6 after the opening frame, Burlingame dominated the second quarter with 27 straight points, including 20 in the final four-plus minutes of the first half. Winters’ 49-yard punt return gave the Bearcats a 19-6 edge, then he scored on a 31-yard pass from Tyson on fourth-and-4 at the 4:24 mark.
Winters crossed the goal line on a 3-yard scamper with 1:23 left in the half, then Roberts capped a demoralizing quarter for the Wolves by picking off a pass and rumbling 37 yards for a 39-6 advantage.
Lebo never recovered, though the Wolves did score first in the second half on a short pass from Konrade to Grayson Shoemaker. Burlingame countered with three straight touchdowns – Winters’ 44-yard reception, Roberts’ 5-yard-run and Haid’s 12-yard grab – to improve to 2-0 in the Lyon County League.
“I challenged our guys tonight to show me their will to win,” Slater said. “It was very noticeable how our kids competed. We had a stronger will to win. Lebo’s recent success is no coincidence. They are coached very well and have some great athletes. The LCL title is a huge priority in our program every year, and this game means a lot. We have a lot of respect for Lebo.”
Winters had 134 total yards (84 receiving, 50 rushing), Skirvin 68 yards on four receptions and Roberts 51 total yards. Konrade led Lebo with 109 yards, including 90 passing, while Corey Reese had 91 yards (46 receiving, 45 rushing).
BURLINGAME 60, LEBO 12
Burlingame 12 27 15 6 — 60
Lebo 6 0 6 0 — 12
First Quarter
BHS – Dane Winters 10 run (Kick failed) 9:06
LHS – Drew Konrade 10 run (Run failed) 5:54
BHS – Drake Skirvin 9 pass from J.D. Tyson (Pass failed) 1:34
Second Quarter
BHS – Winters 49 punt return (Jose Arevalo kick) 10:52
BHS – Winters 31 pass from Tyson (Run failed) 4:24
BHS – Winters 3 run (Arevalo kick) 1:23
BHS – Timmy Roberts 37 interception return (Arevalo kick) 1:12
Third Quarter
LHS – Grayson Shoemaker 1 pass from Konrade (Pass failed) 7:52
BHS – Winters 44 pass from Tyson (Parker Haid pass from Tyson) 5:51
BHS – Roberts 5 run (Arevalo kick) 1:22
Fourth Quarter
BHS – Haid 12 pass from Tyson (End of game) 11:53
GAME IN FIGURES
BHS Lebo
First downs 15 10
Rushes-Yards 22-142 24-57
Passing 11-15-0 12-23-2
Passing yards 209 141
Total yards 351 198
Punts None 3-21.7
Fumbles-lost 0-0 13-0
Penalties 3-22 6-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Burlingame: Tyson 13-86, Winters 7-50, Roberts 2-6. Lebo: Corey Reese 10-45, Konrade 10-19, Dominic Risner 4-(-7).
RECEIVING – Burlingame: Winters 3-84, Skirvin 4-68, Roberts 3-45, Haid 1-12. Lebo: Shoemaker 5-65, Reese 4-46, Eli Hauff 2-23, Brayden Hopkins 1-7.
PASSING – Burlingame: Tyson 11-14-0 209. Lebo: Konrade 7-18-2 90, Risner 5-5-0 51.