Burroughs comes away a 34-14 Victory over the Nitros on Hall of Fame Night

Brandon Chapparo’s two rushing touchdowns propelled the Bears to a convincing victory over the Nitros

Football players warming up on the field during a sunny day at John Burroughs High School.

Two men in red shirts speaking on a football field during a game, with players in the background and mountains under a clear sky.

The John Burroughs Bears came away winners over the Glendale Nitros 34-14 behind two rushing touchdowns by Brandon Chapparo, giving Jose Calizadilla his first career head coaching win at home. Last week, Burroughs and Calizadilla won their first game of the season with a 41-33 win over Arcadia, while Glendale was shut out 41-0 by Pasadena.

A group of students stands on a football field during sunset, with one person speaking into a microphone. The scene includes a sign for Raising Cane's in the foreground.

The marching band performs on the sidelines of a football game at sunset, with mountains in the background.

Early on, Arman Papazyan thought he started the game with a kick off return for a touchdown, but the Nitros return team committed an illegal block in the back penalty resulting in the score not counting. The Bears defense took the field and held the Nitros offense in check, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Football game at night showing the Bears and Nitros on the field, with the Bears in red uniforms and the Nitros in dark uniforms, and spectators in the stands.

Football game in progress at sunset with players on the field and bleachers in the background.

Brandon Chapparo connected with Sho Fujita for a long third down conversion which helped set up the game’s first score for the Bears. Chapparo then found Tyler Lorenc for a five-yard completion and Carson Shrode ran the ball to advance Burroughs into scoring range. Chapparo capped the drive with a three-yard quarterback keeper to make it a 7-0 game following the successful extra point attempt by Michael Hernandez. Burroughs entered the second quarter leading by seven over Glendale.

A high school football game scene featuring players in red and black uniforms on a lit field during nighttime, with stands and spectators in the background.

A football game in progress at night, with players from two teams on the field. The home team in red jerseys is lined up in formation, while the visiting team in black uniforms is preparing for the play. The scoreboard and stadium lights are visible in the background.

The Bears defense started the second quarter forcing another three and out which resulted in another score for Burroughs. Shrode scored the second touchdown of time with a goal-line run and Michael Hernandez converted the point after try to make it a 14-0 game. Chapparo later threw his first touchdown pass of the game by finding King Milhouse with a seven-yard connection, and Michael Hernandez again converted the extra point to increase the Bears lead to 21. Sho Fujita took it to the house for a 17-yard touchdown run, and another Hernandez extra point sent the teams to the locker room with a 28-0 lead for the Bears at halftime.

A high school football game in progress under lights, featuring the John Burroughs Bears in red uniforms on one side and the Glendale Nitros in black uniforms on the other, with spectators visible on the sidelines.

A night football game in progress with players from two teams on the field. The Bears, wearing red uniforms, are positioned on one side, while players in black are on the opposite side. Spectators can be seen in the background along with stadium lights illuminating the field.

While it was an uneventful start to the second half, Arman Papazyan finally got the Nitros on the board in the third quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run. Leo Blasian’s extra point attempt was blocked by Brendan Smith and Tripton Slothour, and Glendale now trailed 28-6. The Bears and Nitros both traded points towards the end of the fourth quarter. First, Chapparo recorded his second rushing touchdown of the game, this one from seven yards out. Glendale responded when Elijah Venegas found Arlen Avizian for a 65-yard touchdown pass. The Nitros’ two-point try was unsuccessful, and it was a 34-12 final score for the game.

A group of cheerleaders wearing pink uniforms practices on a football field under stadium lights, with empty bleachers in the background.

A high school football game scene at night, with players from two teams on the field, referees discussing a play, and team members in red jerseys on the sidelines.

“I told the guys it was a game of two halves, we executed really well in the first half but in the second half we gave Glendale some hope and were unable to finish them.” said Jose Calizadilla. Calizadilla admitted that this was a lesson that can be learned but also said that Glendale was the easiest one on the schedule but with four games left to go in the season it will be a difficult finish.

A display featuring a plaque and a photograph of Coach Louie Binda, celebrating his induction into the Hall of Fame at John Burroughs High School, set up on a table in a gymnasium.

A table displaying framed certificates for the John Burroughs High School Athletic Hall of Fame, with a water bottle and some paperwork nearby, set in an indoor gymnasium.

A group photo featuring students and a coach posing together in a gymnasium, all wearing red John Burroughs apparel, celebrating the school's athletic Hall of Fame induction.

Group of students and a coach or adult leader posing for a photo in a gymnasium, all wearing red shirts representing Burroughs sports.

Prior to kickoff John Burroughs High school had its first athletic Hall of Fame ceremony since 2019, and inducted two new members in longtime coaches Louie Binda and Roy Bernhardt. Binda has been affiliated with John Burroughs High School for over 65 years, coaching soccer and softball with Bernhardt coaching the Burroughs tennis programs for 34 years.

A gymnasium filled with people attending a ceremony, with banners showcasing various sports championships hanging on the walls.

A speaker addresses an audience during a Hall of Fame ceremony at John Burroughs High School, featuring banners for various sports championships in the background.

Binda was the first ever girls soccer coach in 1989 along with serving as the boys soccer assistant coach with Mike Kodama in 1995. Binda then served as both girls soccer and softball assistant coach from 2008-2025, as he spent the final two years of his career working with Brady Riggs with girls soccer. While coaching on the softball program Binda worked with Jose Valle for two years (2010-2011), Wes Tanigawa from 2016-2017, and spent the last five years working with Doug Nicol. Outside of coaching, Binda also served as a substitute teacher for the Burbank Unified School District. He mostly worked with the John Burroughs High School Physical Education Department. Last fall Binda announced his retirement from coaching and now has moved out of Burbank to reside in Irvine, California, with his wife Silvia with their children and grandchildren along with rooting for his favorite Major League Baseball Team in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Binda graduated from John Burroughs High School in 1963.

A gathering at John Burroughs High School featuring a speaker at a podium, surrounded by audience members. Banners showcasing Foothill League championship titles in various sports adorn the wall, alongside a sign congratulating Coach Knoop.

A speaker stands in front of a group of attendees in a gymnasium at John Burroughs High School, with banners displaying Foothill League championships in various sports above them.

Roy Bernhardt accomplished a lot during his 34 year career as the Burroughs head tennis coach, as he guided the program to six Pacific/Foothill League titles in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2008, and 2013. Bernhardt retired from coaching 2024 as the longest tenured head coach in the school’s history.

A speaker addressing an audience in a gymnasium decorated with banners celebrating various athletic achievements of John Burroughs High School.

A gymnasium filled with attendees during a ceremony at John Burroughs High School, featuring banners celebrating sports achievements on the walls.

“Both Coach Binda and Coach Bernhardt were longtime coaches at our school. So their time here alone warrants Hall of Fame status. But most importantly, they were loved by the players.” said Keith Knoop. Knoop also added that consistency was the key, Roy was always around the tennis courts and Louie was always at soccer or softball, not to mention a substitute teacher at Burroughs.

Football players from the John Burroughs Bears and Glendale Nitros during a night game on the field, with spectators in the background.

Football game action with players on the field during a night match, showing the opposing teams and spectators in the stands.

Burroughs improves to 2-4 overall and 2-1 in Pacific League play with Glendale dropping to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in Pacific League play. Both teams will return for their week seven matchups next Friday as Burroughs will take on Hoover on the road at 5:30 p.m. Glendale will take on Crescenta Valley at 7:00 p.m.