By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – Even though Burlingame had a big lead, JD Tyson wasn’t too pleased after the Bearcats allowed back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter during Friday night’s Lyon County League game against Waverly.
Those scores prolonged a game that likely would have been over at halftime, so the senior quarterback and linebacker decided to take matters into his own hands. Early in the second half, he outfought a receiver for a pass, then raced through and around several Bulldogs for a 32-yard touchdown.
The pick-six ended the game, and Burlingame improved to 2-0 with a 60-12 rout.
“It shouldn’t have gone to the second half, and we shouldn’t have let them score,” Tyson said. “They had trips on one side and had a cross, and I went and got it. From there it was just finding the end zone.”
Tyson and fellow senior Dane Winters found the end zone often. Tyson had a hand in seven of the Bearcats’ eight touchdowns, and Winters tallied five touchdowns. Burlingame only ran 18 plays, but the Bearcats had 274 yards for an average of more than 15 yards per snap.
“We have so many weapons, so many guys who can get it done on offense,” said Burlingame coach Jeff Slater. “JD and Dane just continue to make big play after big play.”
The first big play came on the second snap from scrimmage when Tyson scampered for 25 yards on a keeper. His short run a little more than two minutes into the first quarter gave the Bearcats a 6-0 lead.
The 25-yard run was one of five plays covering 20 or more yards. Winters had the longest on Burlingame’s second series, hauling in a perfectly placed deep pass from Tyson during a 74-yard touchdown reception.
The other big plays were a 61-yard scoring strike from Tyson to Winters, a 27-yard connection from the same two players, and Tyson’s 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
“I’m pleased with where we are,” Slater said. “We’re getting better, and that’s all you can ask for. We have a lot of work to do, but the kids are progressing.”
The Bulldogs (1-1) struggled much of the night offensively, with the exception of a couple of touchdown passes after the Bearcats built a 38-0 lead. Jayden Wilcox connected with Dustin Foster on a 26-yard reception and Ty Glissman on a 34-yard pass in the second quarter.
“I don’t know if we had a bit of a mental lapse there, but I told the defensive line that we couldn’t allow the quarterback to run around back there like he was,” Slater said. “I was proud of them for responding after we challenged them.”
After Waverly cut the deficit to 38-12, Burlingame scored 22 straight points. In addition to Tyson’s interception return, the defense recovered a fumble at the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line to set up a short touchdown drive.
Tyson finished with 272 yards, including 203 through the air on 7-of-11 passing, while Winters had 168 yards receiving on five catches. Drake Skirvin added a pair of grabs for 35 yards.
Wilcox led Waverly with 136 yards passing, Glissman had five receptions for 67 yards and Foster 45 yards on four grabs.
BURLINGAME 60, WAVERLY 12
Waverly 0 12 0 X — 12
Burlingame 22 32 6 X — 62
First Quarter
BHS – JD Tyson 1 run (Timmy Roberts pass from Tyson)
BHS – Dane Winters 74 pass from Tyson (Tyson run)
BHS – Winters 50 punt return (Pass failed)
Second Quarter
BHS – Winters 27 pass from Tyson (Winters pass from Tyson)
BHS – Winters 61 pass from Tyson (Tyson run)
WHS – Dustin Foster 26 pass from Jayden Wilcox (Pass failed)
WHS – Ty Glissman 34 pass from Wilcox (Run failed)
BHS – Tyson 24 run (Winters pass from Tyson)
BHS – Winters 5 pass from Tyson (Roberts run)
Third Quarter
BHS – Tyson 32 interception return (end of game)
GAME IN FIGURES
WHS BHS
First downs 6 8
Rushes-Yards 13-(-9) 8-71
Passing 13-20-2 7-11-0
Passing yards 136 203
Total yards 127 274
Punts 2-39.0 None
Fumbles-lost 4-1 1-0
Penalties 8-41 5-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Waverly: Carter Ohl 4-2, Wilcox 4-1, Foster 5-(-12). Burlingame: Tyson 7-69, Roberts 1-2.
RECEIVING – Waverly: Glissman 5-67, Foster 4-45, Ohl 2-9, Maxwell McNabb 1-8, Rylan Rasmussen 1-7. Burlingame: Winters 5-168, Drake Skirvin 2-35.
PASSING – Waverly: Wilcox 13-20-2 136. Burlingame: Tyson 7-11-0 203.