Panthers roll over Aragon

But those are all offensive guys and key cogs for the Panthers this season. The Burlingame senior who had the most fun, however, was defensive lineman JJ Vea, who had a Senior Night to remember. He returned a fumble for a score and later added an interception as the Panthers drill the Dons, 47-8.

“Initially, we wanted to secure the win,” said Burlingame head coach John Philipopoulos. “Once we got comfortable, we wanted to get other kids in the game.”

Burlingame (3-1 PAL De Anza, 6-2 overall) basically did whatever it wanted against a depleted Aragon (0-2, 1-7) squad. Burlingame took the opening kickoff and promptly drove 72 yards on 11 plays. Kirk did the bulk of the work, carrying the ball five times on the drive for 29 yards, with Hardtke capping it with a 2-yard scoring plunge.

He then danced a little jig with Kirk in the end zone.

But the fun was just beginning for the Panthers. After forcing an Aragon punt on its first possession, Burlingame went back to work. This time the Panthers needed six plays to cover 68 yards. Levitt completed a pair of passes on the drive, including his first scoring pass of the night. On second down from the Aragon 18, Levitt found Flood at the 10, who proceeded to break four tackles and go the rest of the way for an 18-yard score and a 13-0 with a little more than two minute left in the first quarter.

A play later, it was 20-0. On the Dons’ first play of their next possession, Hardtke knifed through the line and punched the ball from the Aragon running back. As the ball laid on the turf for what seemed like an eternity, Vea finally got disengaged from his block, scooped up the ball at the 12-yard line and raced into the end zone.

So, how many scoops and scores is that for Vea in his career?

“One,” Vea said. “My eyes just lit up.”

Kirk came up with a pick on Aragon’s next possession and the Panthers cashed that turnover in, as well. Starting at the Dons’ 33, Burlingame needed just six plays to find the end zone. Kirk picked up 17 yards on a slaloming run and on third down from the Aragon 10. Levitt then rolled left and found Flood cutting along the back of the end zone to put Burlingame up 26-0 less than two minutes into the second quarter.

The Panthers’ defense then ended Aragon’s third straight drive with a turnover. Dons quarterback Izzy Johnson’s pass attempt was deflected a the line of scrimmage and Vea was JJ on the spot, leaping high to grab the loose ball, giving him an interception to go along with his fumble return.

“I really wanted a pick-6,” Vea said. “A sack would have been nice, too.”

Working with another short field, Burlingame cashed in the interception with Levitt hitting Kirk in stride down the left sideline for a 29-yard score and a 33-0 Burlingame lead with 8:21 left in the second quarter.

And the Panthers still weren’t done scoring in the first half. Aragon managed to hang on to the ball long enough to go three-and-0ut on its ensuing possession and the Panthers marched 55 yards on 11 plays, with Ciaran Baker bulling his way into the end zone from 2 yards out to give Burlingame a 40-0 lead at halftime.

The second half was quick as a running clock was used over the final two quarters, but each team managed to find the end zone. After forcing Aragon to punt on its first possession of the second half, the Burlingame backups copied the starters, going 49 yards on 10 plays. Backup quarterback Nick Armstrong capped the drive with a 5-yard run.

The Dons finally put together a couple of strong plays to help them get into the end zone. Moses Pita gave Aragon excellent starting field position when he fielded a Burlingame squib kick at his own 25 and returned it to the Panthers’ 42. On the first play, Johnson found Jalen Scroggins on an underneath screen and the senior receiver went 41 yards before being knocked out of bounds. Johnson then capped the drive with a 1-yard run around the left end.

“Every time we’ve lost a game (this season) it’s because we were cocky,” said Vea, referring to last week’s disappointing 28-21 loss to King’ Academy. “We came out tonight thinking this was the toughest team all year.”