Burges senior running back Tavorus Jones rushed for three touchdowns and caught a fourth as the Mustangs (6-3 overall, 4-1 in district) overwhelmed the Irvin Rockets (2-8 overall, 0-6 in district) by a score of 54 to 20 before a Senior Night crowd at Irvin High School. Mustangs junior quarterback Andrew Routledge tossed two touchdown passes and ran for a third.
The Mustangs returned the opening kickoff 79 yards to the Irvin 1 yard line. Minutes later, senior wide receiver Ray Campos found the end zone and Burges took the early lead 6 to 0.
After the Mustang defense forced a punt on the Rockets’ opening drive, Jones found the end zone for the first time on a 78-yard run. The Burges defense forced another Irvin punt on their second possession of the game and Jones sprinted to the end zone for his second touchdown, a 51-yard run.
The Rockets offense began to show signs of life in the second quarter. Junior wide receiver Jonathan Chairez scored on a 4-yard run. The Mustang offense showed no signs of slowing down on the ensuing drive, capped by a 28-yard TD pass from Routledge to Jones.
Burges stopped Irvin on their next possession, the Mustang offense took over, and played ball control on a long drive culminating on a 6-yard TD pass from Routledge to senior wide receiver Sean Street.
The Mustang defense continued to dominate the first half, stopping the Rockets yet again. Burges found the end zone once again on a 7-yard Routledge scramble, making the score 40 to 6 with 1:47 remaining in the first half.
The Rockets took the opening kickoff of the second half. A combination of Irvin penalties and a huge sack forced the Rockets to punt. The Mustangs continued their onslaught and Jones found the end zone for the fourth time in the contest, a 5-yard run. Irvin senior quarterback John Knutson scored on an 8-yard run late in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kick, Burges junior running back Andrew Armendariz returned the kickoff to the Irvin 7 yard line. The Mustangs would land in the end zone for their final touchdown, a 2-yard run by sophomore quarterback Alex Rios.
The Irvin Rockets’ final drive of the contest culminated in a Chairez 6-yard TD run.
Final score: Burges 54, Irvin 20
Ryan Adams Reporting