Muir football pulls away from Burbank

BURBANK — Muir started to separate itself from the rest of the Pacific League last season when it romped through games against the other seven schools, dominating each one. This season though, Burbank and its potent offense were hoping to offer a stiff challenge. And while the Bulldogs made the game interesting in the third quarter, the Mustangs’ talent proved too much as they pulled away for a 58-28 win on Friday night.

Muir (4-1 overall, 2-0 Pacific) now has the inside track to what it hopes will be its second straight league title. Burbank (3-2, 1-1) figures to battle Pasadena for second place.

Muir was again led by quarterback Trey Gamble. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. He got some help though from two 100-plus-yard receivers. Alijah Smith caught five passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Deveon Blaylock caught five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Muir led 35-14 at halftime but Burbank got within 38-28 with 5:22 left in the third when Tyler Hudson caught a 37-yard touchdown pass on the left side from quarterback Deshawn Laporte.

The Muir offense was already rolling but then kicked it into overdrive. The Mustangs marched to the Bulldogs’ 28-yard line on the ensuing drive. Gamble then dropped back and found Smith in stride on the left side for a touchdown that gave Muir a 45-28 lead with 1:55 left in the third.

The Mustangs held Burbank on its next drive when the Bulldogs went for it on a fourth-and-24 at their own 42. Laporte’s pass fell incomplete. Muir made it 52-28 on its next drive when Gamble threw deep to the right side to Blaylock with 8:41 left in the game. Blaylock stepped in front of the Burbank defender to haul in the catch for a 28-yard touchdown.

Muir took over a couple of minutes later after stopping Burbank on fourth down at the Burbank 24. Alijah Parker then took a handoff and cut right for a 24-yard touchdown that stretched the lead to 58-28 with 6:55 left. Parker led Muir’s ground game with 80 yards on 11 carries, including two touchdowns.

While Muir won decisively, the Bulldogs held their own early. Muir raced to a quick 7-0 lead on its opening drive. Gamble connected with Smith for a 35-yard pass completion on the game’s first play. That was followed by a Burbank offsides penalty and a pass interference penalty. The Mustangs then scored three plays later when Gamble hit Ethan Leyland on a 5-yard slant pass for a touchdown.

Burbank though came back midway through the quarter to tie it at 7-all when Laporte found Chase Miles on the left side for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Miles broke a tackle and sprinted down the sideline.

Muir took a 14-7 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by David Cannon later in the first. The Mustangs made it a two-score margin early in the second quarter when Parker took a handoff up the middle for a 9-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

The biggest highlight of the first half for Muir, though, came one offensive play after Parker’s touchdown. Burbank’s Elijah Pendleton fumbled the ball after a handoff. Muir defensive lineman Jason Brown scooped the ball up and rumbled 20 yards into the end zone to give Muir a commanding 28-7 lead.

Burbank cut the Muir lead to 28-14 late in the second quarter, but Muir answered in a hurry. Gamble found Smith wide open down the left sideline and fired a pass that resulted in a 63-yard touchdown and a 35-14 lead with 1:16 left before halftime.

Gamble had a productive first half, completing 11 of 13 passes for 202 yards. Smith caught four passes for 119 yards.

Muir faces a struggling Crescenta Valley team next week then will play three more teams that are having rough seasons in Arcadia, Burroughs and Hoover. Muir then closes the season against Pasadena in a Turkey Tussle matchup that could have league championship implications.