Burroughs football storms past Arcadia to inch closer to Pacific League title

ARCADIA — Burroughs moved a step closer to its first Pacific League title since the 2015 season with a dominating 41-7 victory over Arcadia on Thursday night that gave the Bears sole possession of first place.

Burroughs’ victory followed its emotional win over Muir last week, in which the Bears won on the final play of the game, stopping the Mustangs with a goal-line stand to prevail.

Burroughs improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in league while the Apaches (5-3, 2-1) suffered their first league loss and had their five-game winning streak snapped.

POST GAME: Talking with Coach Jesse Craven of Burroughs over their 41-7 win over Arcadia @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/gmjHtIhz1f

— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) October 13, 2023

POST GAME: Talking with Burroughs QB Chris Kulikov about his performance in the 41-7 win over Arcadia @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/qnsss77xRY

— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) October 13, 2023

Burroughs quarterback Chris Kulikov threw three touchdown passes, including two over 35 yards, and also ran for a score.

“My line was the whole deal,” Kulikov said. “They get the run game working and if the run game is working then the pass game works and there’s not much else to it.”

Arcadia’s offense was red hot entering the contest, averaging 60 points in its last four games.

However, Arcadia was missing one of its star players, senior Mikal Reed, who broke his femur in last week’s win over Pasadena.

It was a tough night for Apache’s quarterback Keyon Mills as he looked unsettled all night by the Burroughs front seven.

Arcadia’s offense struggled to move the ball, with its only points coming from Keyonn Chapman’s five-yard touchdown run.

However, a positive for Arcadia was that Chapman broke the 1,000 rushing mark midway through the game.

It was total dominance from start to finish by the Bears as they got off to a quick start, scoring touchdowns on two out of their first three drives.

Jake Scozzola was a favorite target of Kulikov, as he finished with two touchdown receptions, including one from 45 yards where he was left wide open on a broken coverage by the Apaches defense.

On top of the stellar night from the Burroughs air attack, the ground game was working too.

Noah Frankel and Santiago Sanchez each had a touchdown on the ground, with Frankel’s coming on an 81-yard touchdown run to end the first quarter.

Frankel, a two-way starter for the Bears, was exceptional. He finished with a touchdown on the ground and had an interception, halting an Apaches drive in the redzone.

The Apaches offense found themselves in the red zone three times but only scored once.

Burroughs head coach Jesse Craven was proud of his defensive effort tonight.

“Our defense stood up really tall versus some really good athletes,” Craven said.

Kulikov’s night ended before the third quarter with the Bears up 34 points.

With two games left, all Burroughs needs is a win to share the league title, and winning both they can win it outright.

“All the pressure comes from us, this is a big team goal,” Craven said.