Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School football took a 64-20 victory Friday at Burlingame. The team is now 2-1 and will compete next at Canton-Galva.
The Bearcats failed to gain a first down on the opening series. Lucas Larsen, Braxton Kyle, and Austin Savage each had tackles on defense. A Burlingame punt set up the first drive at the Warrior 15-yard line.
Jon Liska opened the drive with a 38-yard run. Hunter Pickens and Kyle each had rushes on the series. On second-and-goal from the Bearcat 12, Pickens connected with Tommy Morris for the touchdown on the right side of the end zone. Pickens ran the two-point conversion and PBHS led, 8-0, with 7:56 left in the first quarter.
Defensive stops by Morris Larsen, Xavier Jabary, Kyle, Pickens, and Christian Gard halted a 40-yard drive by the Bearcats. A fourth-and-six incomplete Burlingame pass gave the Warriors the ball at their own six-yard line.
PBHS netted only three yards on the next series that ended in a punt by Savage. Burlingame took over the ball at its 36-yard line.
A Bearcat first down run from scrimmage resulted in six points. The conversion pass failed, but the Warriors’ lead was cut to two, 8-6, with 3:33 left on the clock.
Pickens took the Bearcat kickoff to the Burlingame 27. He then scored on the next play, a first-down run to the right side. The conversion failed, but PBHS led 14-6 with 3:01 on the clock.
Warrior defense halted the next drive with stops by Morris, Larsen, Kyle, Gard, Pickens, and Jayden Miller. Early in the second period, a Burlingame punt set up the PBHS squad at their own 11-yard line.
Morris caught a Pickens first down pass in the middle of the field and ran for the score. Pickens added two on the conversion run. PBHS was up, 22-6, just seconds into the second quarter.
Jabary recovered a fumble on the next Bearcat drive to set up a Pickens pass to Savage for a 43-yard touchdown. Pickens ran the conversion, and PBHS led, 30-6, with 8:44 left in the first half.
A short PBHS kickoff gave the Bearcats the ball at midfield. They scored on a fourth-and-13 pass from their own 35. Burlingame added two on the run conversion. The Warriors’ lead was 30-14 with 6:57 left in the second period.
The kickoff return by Morris set up the next Warrior scoring drive at the PBHS 38. Kyle ran on first down for a gain of three yards. On second down, Pickens took the ball the remainder of the field to the end zone. The P.A.T. failed but PBHS led, 36-14, with 6 minutes left in the first half.
PBHS added one more touchdown with 10 seconds left on the clock. Pickens scored six with a 1-yard run through the middle. Savage caught the two-point conversion. PBHS had the 44-14 lead at halftime.
More than 8 minutes into the third quarter, PBHS added six. Kyle ran right then cut to the middle for the 25-yard score. The conversion pass failed, but PBHS had the 50-14 lead.
Early in the fourth from the Bearcat 10-yard line, Kyle connected on a pass to Savage for the next PBHS score. The conversion pass failed, but with 10:55 left in the contest PBHS led, 56-14.
Burlingame had one more score in the game with the return of a Warrior interception. With less than 9 minutes on the clock, the score was 56-20.
The final scoring drive for PBHS had runs by Pickens, Savage and Kyle. The 47-yard series ended with a fourth-and-nine Pickens run from the Bearcat 13 for the touchdown. Pickens added the two-point conversion run and PBHS defeated Burlingame 64-20.
Pickens completed 9-of-18 passes for 224 yards and three passing touchdowns. Kyle was 2-of-2 for 14 yards and one score. Savage had seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Morris caught two for 83 yards and two scores. Kyle had one catch for 27 yards.
Pickens rushed 23 times for 174 yards and four scores. Kyle ran 12 times for 41 and a touchdown. Liska ran twice for 40 yards. Savage had three carries for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Larsen led the defense with nine tackles and three sacks. Pickens had eight tackles and Morris recorded seven. Savage had six tackles and a sack. Jayden Miller had five stops. Garret Schroeder and Kyle each had four tackles. Gard and Seth Topham each earned three tackles and Jabary added two. Marcus Knight had one.