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Burrows' 'Gutsy' Game Lifts East Bay

By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 27, 2008

GIBSONTON - East Bay coach Brian Thornton went into Friday's Class 5A-District 7 opener against Brandon with the hopes of holding out injured fullback Chaz Burrows, who suffered an ankle injury the week before against Wharton.

But as the game progressed - and with the Indians in a 14-point third-quarter hole - that option was no longer viable.

After being used solely as a decoy late in the first half, Burrows was somehow able to coax 14 carries and 58 yards out of his gimpy ankle to lift the Indians to a 18-17 win at E.G. Simmons Field.

"The plan was to play Chaz only if it was absolutely necessary," East Bay coach Brian Thornton said. "His ankle is only about 85 percent; he couldn't cut on it at all. But that was a gutsy performance and he gave the team a big lift when he went in there."

The win wasn't enough to ease the pain in Burrows' ankle.

"It's killing me right now," said Burrows, who didn't practice all week except for a short time Thursday. "I noticed the offense was having trouble moving the ball in the first half, and it was always understood that if the team needed me, I was going to play."

Burrows made his presence felt immediately in the second half. He capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to cut East Bay's deficit to 17-11 with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Indians' defense set up the winning score when it forced and recovered a fumble after sacking Brandon quarterback Josh Celerin. Taking over at the Eagles' 13, East Bay needed just three plays to get into the end zone. QB Fred Porter (10 carries, 107 yards) ran a keeper from 4 yards to make it 18-17 with 3:59 left.

Brandon (1-3, 0-1) was forced to punt on its ensuing possession and was unable to prevent the Indians (3-1, 1-0) from running out the clock.