Early success not enough, 50-10

MEMORIAL FIELD -- For now, the Burbank High football squad can say

its the only team to hold a lead against powerhouse Oaks Christian

this season.

That lead lasted exactly one minute. The game’s other 47 minutes

didn’t go in Burbank’s favor against one of the state’s premier

offenses.

Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw for 331 yards and

five touchdowns to spark the Lions to a 50-10 nonleague victory

against Burbank in a locally televised contest at Memorial Field on

Friday night.

The Bulldogs (1-2) held their own for most of the first quarter,

trailing just, 14-10. But several long passes from Clausen left

Burbank’s defense tired.

Late in the first quarter, Burbank appeared as if it would take

its second lead of the game against the Lions (3-0). But Burbank

senior quarterback Jason Barbic lost the ball in a pileup at the Oaks

Christian 3-yard line, snuffing out the Bulldogs’ momentum.

Burbank Coach Greg Sobiech said the turnover proved to be a

turning point.

“We had the momentum going, and then the fumble happened,” Sobiech

said. “Sometimes those things are going to happen.

“I’m happy with the way we played on offense, but we just gave up

too many big plays on defense.”

The fumble wasn’t the only misfortune for Barbic, who sustained an

injury to his right early in the fourth quarter. Team trainers iced

and taped the thumb, and Barbic left the field after the game to have

X-rays taken at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.

Sobiech said he wasn’t sure if Barbic would be available Friday to

play when the Bulldogs compete in a nonleague road game against

Hoover. If Barbic doesn’t compete against Hoover, reserve quarterback

Robert Linda would handle the signal-calling responsibilities.

Barbic, a right-hander, completed eight of 18 passes for 100 yards

and one touchdown. Barbic fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide

receiver Jason McNeil in the corner of the end zone to give the

Bulldogs a 10-7 lead. McNeil made a spinning over-the-shoulder catch

with his right hand despite an Oaks Christian defender draped over

him.

Then Clausen, who led the Lions to the CIF Southern Section

Division XI championship last season, and the top-ranked Lions went

to work. Clausen fired a 65-yard touchdown pass to Marc Tyler to give

the Lions a 14-10 lead with 2:25 left in the first quarter.

McNeil caught eight passes for 134 yards. Burbank running back

Marcus Hood rushed for 83 yards in 21 carries.