Burlingame’s ground game too much for Palo Alto as Panthers roll

PALO ALTO — Harrison Evars and Hayden Haba combined for 226 yards rushing and four touchdowns to lead Burlingame to a 35-14 nonleague football triumph over host Palo Alto on Thursday night at Hod Ray Field.

Burlingame (1-1) used a late second quarter touchdown to spark a 21-point surge that broke a tie and put the game away.

“I’m really proud of the offensive line,” Burlingame coach John Philipopoulos told his team after the game. “You guys are really getting off the ball. They had the whole school in the box and it didn’t matter.”

On the Panthers’ first play from scrimmage, Evars broke around left end for nine yards. Two plays later, Qasim Abutair ran for 14, and Evars followed with a 21-yard blast. That set up Haba’s four-yard TD run.

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All those plays had something in common: the backs were untouched until the second or third levels. Burlingame realized it could run and pounded the ball continuously, gaining 314 yards on the ground. Evars had 133 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, and Haba gained 93 on 18 carries with three scores.

“That was all my offensive line,” Evars said. “I just ran hard and did what I was told.”

Palo Alto’s Kacey Washington (3) pulls Burlingame’s Harrison Evars (44) out of bounds while running for yardage in the first quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

The line was left tackle Quincy Yu, left guard Lucas Cunningham, center Nathan Lierman, right guard Tyler Fletcher, right tackle Nico Shew, and tight end Bryce Cone.

“When we scored our first touchdown and started to get our momentum going, that’s when the energy picked up for our offense,” Yu said.

After two quick Burlingame touchdowns to start the game, Palo Alto (0-2) countered with two of its own. Quarterback Justin Fung, who passed for 373 yards in 46-43 season-opening loss to Mountain View last week, was deadly when given time to move in the pocket and to find his rhythm.

Fung hit Clement Romanski on a crossing pattern for a 25-yard score and went 4-of-5 on a drive that tied the score, 14-14, with 54 seconds left in the second quarter.

Palo Alto’s Clement Romanski (7) breaks a tackle and runs for a touchdown against Burlingame in the second quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

But that was plenty of time for Burlingame. Luke Doss returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards and in three plays, the Panthers were in the end zone. The key play began with Nick Armstrong’s bootleg to the right before firing a pass to Will Armstrong cutting across the field in the opposite direction for 30 yards. Nick hit Will on the next play for a four-yard go-ahead TD.

Burlingame kept its foot to the pedal after the second-half kickoff with a no-huddle drive that took the Panthers 80 yards in 10 plays, with Haba scoring from a yard out for a 28-14 lead.

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However, constant pressure disrupted the Paly attack. Fung finished with 198 yards on 19 of 29 passing, but Burlingame freshman defensive tackle Siale Po’oi-Unga and teammates never let Fung get comfortable.

For the two schools on the railroad corridor, Thursday’s game marked 98 years since their first meeting. In 1927, Burlingame — newly renamed after beginning its life as San Mateo High, Burlingame Branch – joined Palo Alto, San Jose, Sequoia, and San Mateo in the five-team Peninsula Athletic League.

The red and green-clad Vikings got a late 28-yard pass play from McLachlan to Lacombe (first names unknown) and a McLachlan extra point to win, 7-6, at Palo Alto’s Embarcadero Field.

Burlingame’s John Alves (18) makes a finger tip catch while warming up before their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto running back Nathan Rodriguez (4) gets gang tackled by the Burlingame defense in the fourth quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto’s Clement Romanski (7) breaks a tackle and runs for a touchdown against Burlingame in the second quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto’s Jake Wang (15) breaks up a potential interception as Burlingame’s Hayden Haba (2) reaches for a pass intended for Wang in the fourth quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The Palo Alto junior varsity team heads to the locker rooms as they walk through a pocket of light after their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Burlingame head coach John Philipopoulos walks the sideline in the first quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto head coach David DeGeronimo walks the sidelines while playing against Burlingam in the first quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto’s Jake Wang (15) catches a pass while warming up before their game against Burlingame at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Palo Alto’s Kacey Washington (3) tackles Burlingame’s Qasim Abutair (4) after a reception in the second quarter of their game at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Burlingame defeated Palo Alto 35-14. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)