Burbank enters the 2025 season with championship-level expectations 

The Burbank Bulldogs had a turnaround season a year ago in Hector Valencia’s first season back as the Head Coach of the program, but expectations are even higher heading into the 2025 season. This past season, the Bulldogs finished in second place in the Pacific League behind league champion Muir Mustangs with a 9-3 overall record and 6-1 in league play, resulting in a return to the CIF Southern Section Playoffs for the first time in five seasons. The Bulldogs’ season ended with a loss to Highland 42-28 in the CIF Southern Section Division Nine playoff quarterfinals, and this fall, they will look to take it a step further. Burbank and Muir are viewed as the pre-season favorites to win the Pacific League title heading into the 2025 season. 

Under Valencia, the coaching staff will feature Mark Meredith (Frosh Head Coach), Oharjee Brown (Varsity Offensive Coordinator), Tony Toledo (Varsity Defensive Coordinator), and Tyrone Freeman (Varsity Special Teams Coordinator). Freeman will take over for Drew Pendleton as the Special Teams Coordinator, with Pendleton reverting to only coaching linebackers on the varsity staff. 

The players to watch this season for the Bulldogs on the offensive side of the football will be the reigning Pacific League’s Offensive Player of the Year in Junior Quarterback DeShawn LaPorte, returning first team all league players in senior running back and wide receiver Elijah Pendleton, junior running back and wide receiver Tyler Hudson, and returning Pacific League second team offensive lineman in senior Matt Winn. On the defensive side of the football, the Bulldogs have two second-team all-Pacific League defensive backs in Noah May Vaughn and Chase Miles who will help carry the Bulldog defense heading into the new season. Senior wide receiver Exodus Freeman and junior defensive back Kalem Valencia (son of Hector Valencia) could be viewed as breakout candidates for the Bulldogs this season. Freeman transferred from Chaminade last season, and Valencia split time between the frosh and varsity teams as a sophomore last season. 

The Bulldogs will open their season with a road contest against San Dimas on Friday, August 22nd at San Dimas High School, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 PM. The Bulldogs will be playing most of their home games at Kemp Kallem Field at Burbank High School this season. They will also be the home team at the 77th annual homecoming football game at Memorial Field against crosstown rival Burroughs. The crosstown rivalry football showdown between the Burbank Bulldogs and Burroughs Bears will take place on Thursday, October 30th, at 7:00 PM.  Burbank will kick off their home schedule on Friday, August 29th, against Westwood (Mesa, Arizona) at Kemp Kallem Field, also at 7:00 PM. 

“I’m very optimistic heading into the 2025 season,” said Hector Valencia. “We had a very good offseason with our summer training. Our skill position players worked hard all summer to get better day in and day out,” Valencia also added that it’s very exciting that the Burbank High administration approved permission for the Bulldogs to host almost every home game at Kemp Kallem field, providing a true high school home field experience for the student athletes and fans of Burbank Bulldog football.

The Bulldogs will begin Pacific League play against Crescenta Valley on Friday, September 19th, at Glendale High School’s Moyse Stadium. Senior night, honoring the graduating seniors from the class of 2026 on the football, cheer, band, color guard, and pom squad, will take place on Friday, October 17th, at 7:00 PM against Hoover. 

Stay tuned for coverage of Burbank Bulldogs football throughout the 2025 season.