Pasadena warms up prior to a prior to a prep football game between the Pasadena and the Burbank at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
School bus arrives prior to a prep football game between the Pasadena and the Burbank at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Brandon Pena #7 of Burbank drops a pass against Pasadena in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mekhi Fox #7 of Pasadena runs for touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reporter James Escarcenga sits alone in the stands in the first half of a prep football game between the Pasadena and the Burbank at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ahmad Jolley #2 of Pasadena scores the two point conversion against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dante Coronel #9 of Pasadena prepares to pass against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jamir Allen #5 of Pasadena catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mekhi Fox #7 of Pasadena runs for touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Aram Araradian #12 of Burbank passes against Pasadena in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kevin Sewrrato #13 of Pasadena runs for a touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Burbank fumbles as Pasadena recovers in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kevin Sewrrato #13 of Pasadena runs for a touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Taylor #12 can???t reach a pass against Jarren Flowers #6 of Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Christopher Walker Jr #3 of Pasadena runs fora first down against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Romel Veal #14 of Pasadena intercepts a pass against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rony Preza #44 of Burbank runs for yardage against Pasadena in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jagg Richer #18 of Burbank catches a a pass for first down against Daniel Martinez #10 of Pasadena in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dante Coronel #9 of Pasadena runs for a first down against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dante Coronel #9 of Pasadena passes against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jagg Richer #18 of Burbank catches a a pass for first down against Daniel Martinez #10 of Pasadena in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jamir Allen #5 of Pasadena catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against Burbank in the first half of a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Pasadena takes on Burbank during a prep football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
PASADENA – Anyone associated with Pasadena High School football for the past eight years has experienced some pain from Burbank. Heartbreak, disappointment and lopsided losses have come during an eight-game losing streak in the series.
All that went away for 48 glorious minutes Friday night at the Rose Bowl.
Pasadena delivered the big plays, and completely outplayed Burbank in a 42-26 Pacific League season opener.
The numbers show the dominance of the Pasadena offense. Quarterback Dante Coronel completed 12 of 18 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Daylon Beasley carried the ball 21 times for a game-high 145 yards. Ahmad Jolley added 67 carries on 15 rushing attempts.
Add it all up and Pasadena accumulated 448 yards of total offense. Not bad for a team that practiced for just a week and a half.
“It feels good no matter what is going on in the world right now,” said Pasadena coach Dejuan Shamburger. “This win is as sweet as cake. I’m glad that we got five games to play (this season.)”
Coronel, a senior, had the hot hand in the first half, completing 11 of 14 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns. He looked comfortable in new offensive coordinator Robert Maxie’s offensive scheme.
“Since the pandemic, we’ve had eight months of nonstop workouts and everyone has been (in attendance),” Coronel said. “I had so much trust in my offensive line. I had so much time in the pocket and our run game was unstoppable.”
Burbank quarterback Aram Araradian had a solid game, completing 17 of 34 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns. However, it was the Pasadena defensive line that made the difference as they forced Araradian to throw four interceptions and held Burbank just seven rushing yards.
All four of Araradian’s touchdown were thrown to senior Brandon Pena, who was the game’s leading receiver with 165 yards on eight receptions.
Pasadena took command of the game from the start with Coronel throwing three touchdown passes to Kevin Serrato (17 yards) and strikes to Mekhi Fox (8 yards) and Jamir Allen (80 yards).
Beasley sealed the win for the Bulldogs with a five-yard run with 6:47 left in the game for a 42-26 advantage.
Pasadena returns to the Rose Bowl Thursday to take on Burroughs of Burbank.