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Sports

Burroughs Bumps Off McCluer South-Berkeley, 28-8

Bombers Get Rematch With Lutheran North in Class 3 Sectionals On Monday.

The message was the same to the John Burroughs football team.
 
"Don't panic," John Burroughs captain linebacker Sam Hefler said after the Bombers overcame an 8-0 deficit and cruised to a 28-8 victory over McCluer South-Berkeley in Class 3 Regional action at Lutheran South on Wednesday. "That's been the message all year."

Hefler, one of eight seniors back from last season's Class 3 state runner-up squad that finished 14-1, is an example as to why John Burroughs (10-1) will face Lutheran North (9-2) in sectional play at 7 p.m. on Monday at a site to be determined. Lutheran North defeated Priory, 36-33, on Wedneday. John Burroughs routed Lutheran North, 53-16, on Sept. 24. "Just stay the course," Hefler added after the Bombers won their eighth straight game and have gone 24-2 over the past two seasons.

"This was the best thing that could have happened to us," Hefler added. "It's what we needed. This came at the right time."

Against McCluer South-Berkeley (5-6), Hefler said John Burroughs got "hit in the mouth" but quickly rebounded to dish out its own hits thereafter. A scrappy, undersized Bombers defense was unstoppable thereafter against a hard-nosed speedy Bulldogs squad. "That's been one of our questionmarks at the beginning of the season," said Hefler, who had six tackles, one fewer than junior linebacker Chrstian Bledsoe. "We find a way with a little bit of heart. That's what it takes. We come. We hit. We slide to the ball. We're not the biggest group of guys. We just stay cool. Just give a shot to our defense."

Okay, John Burroughs Coach Gus Frerotte has a few words. "Our defense stepped it up," Frerotte said. "They had one early score and we closed the doors. All-around a great game by our kids. They played pretty well."

After the Bulldogs scored on their opening drive to take an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, John Burroughs rebounded on its second possession of the game. Bombers junior runningback Ezekiel Elliott capped a nine play, four minute, 26 second scoring drive with a two-yard plunge with 3:42 left in the first half. Senior quarterback Davey Holmes tied the game by running into the end zone untouched for the two-point conversion.

John Burroughs' big-play offense provided three big-play touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half to turn an 8-8 halftime tie into a route. On their first drive of the second half, Holmes and senior captain wide receiver Steven Trulaske collaborated for a 39-yard touchdown catch in which he fought for the pass with a Bulldogs defender and battled his way into the end zone with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. The key to the seven-play, 3:32 scoring drive came on fourth down at midfield. Sophomore punter Trevor Bain turned a fake punt into a nine-yard gain to extend the drive.

On the next John Burroughs drive, senior captain wide receiver Nathan Adams turned a reverse from Elliott into a 60-yard touchdown run to cap a five play, 2:00 scoring drive with 1:32 left in the third quarter. Elliott rounded out the scoring with an 18-yard run with 8:08 left in regulation.

"We have so much offense," Hefler said. "Something is going to break."

Elliott finished with 106 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. He now has scored 30 touchdowns this season. Holmes completed 12 of 21 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Foye Oluokun caught five passes for 87 yards, including a 49-yard reception that keyed the first scoring drive. Overall, John Burroughs totaled 391 yards of offense (225 rushing, 166 passing).

"It's all about playing four quarters," Hefler said. "I knew we were good. You just never know. I always believed in our talent. What we're showing now is a lot of heart. Our underclassmen showed the seniors something. We played this game for the seniors. They stepped up with a lot of heart. It's not about X's and O's and talent. It's about giving that little extra. That's what they showed us."  
   

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