When No. 17 Burbank plays well, it plays very well.
The Titans (3-2, 1-0) opened defense of their 2007 Metro Conference title in impressive fashion on the road Saturday by beating Sacramento High School 59-0.
The game was a far cry from last year, when Burbank needed overtime to beat the Dragons 32-26. The Titans later beat Grant 27-21 in the regular-season finale to finish league play undefeated and secure their first league banner in 40 seasons.
Saturday, senior quarterback Miles Freeman set the tone right away. He scooted 94 yards over left guard for a touchdown on Burbank's first play from scrimmage.
"That was a quarterback lead," said Burbank coach John Heffernan. "It usually goes for a few yards, but he turned it into a touchdown."
The Titans scored 26 first-quarter points and had a 45-0 halftime lead in a contest that went to a running clock in the second half.
Freeman finished with 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Holden, all in the first half. Corey Brice rushed for three touchdowns and Lucky Dozier, Antoine Stocker and backup quarterback Chris Williams each added one touchdown.
The Titans dominated defensively, too, forcing seven turnovers. Stocker, Anthony Larry, Andre Cotton, Moses Sides and Ken Wimberly recovered fumbles and Dozier and Terence Mitchell had interceptions.
The Dragons (1-5, 0-2) also suffered four sacks and were held to 30 yards of total offense.
Burbank had one turnover, a late fourth-quarter fumble, which was a huge improvement over the seven it made in losing 35-6 at Pittsburg in a nonleague game last week.
"I was real pleased overall," Heffernan said. "Our kids played hard and made some big plays. It seemed whatever we did, (Sacramento) didn't have an answer."
Sierra Valley Conference
Vista del Lago 40, Cordova 14 in Folsom – The Eagles (1-4, 1-1) picked up their first win in school history in beating the Lancers (1-4, 0-2).
Trey Hairabedian scored touchdowns on runs of 25, one, two and three yards for the Eagles, playing their first varsity season and without seniors. Spencer Hatten had an interception for Vista del Lago.
Call The Bee's Bill Paterson, (916) 326-5506.
