Verbum Dei Rallies to Edge Burbank

The Burbank High football team got sucker-punched. So said Bulldog wide receiver/defensive back Carlos Baker after a 15-14 nonleague loss to Verbum Dei at Burroughs High on Thursday night.

Baker said the Eagles lulled Burbank (3-3) into a state of euphoria by spotting the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead in the first half.

Then came the unexpected knockout blow by the team that gained only 39 yards in the first half. Quarterback Corey Redeaux slipped four tackles and scored on a 34-yard run to make it 14-7 in the third quarter.

Then with 1 minute 32 seconds remaining, Redeaux, who started 0-for-5 passing, found Ali Henry over the middle with an 18-yard scoring pass.

Henry, also the Eagle kicker, then faked and threw a pass to Damion Wright for the winning two-point conversion.

“After we started to dominate in the first half, we kind of let down,” said Baker, who rushed for 112 yards in 12 carries, caught two passes for 38 yards and intercepted a pass to kill a late Verbum Dei drive. “To tell you the truth, I feel I gave this game away.”

Baker got burned on the play that set up the winning touchdown, as Desmond McInnis streaked past him on a 48-yard completion.

Verbum Dei (5-1) scored the game-winner on the next play.

Burbank quarterback Jason Jonas completed 13 of 26 passes for 144 yards, but was sacked four times in the second half and threw an interception with 23 seconds left after Burbank had marched to the Verbum Dei 17.