Pictured L-R: PHS & Muir quarterbacks, Dutch Burbidge & Trey Gamble
Editor’s Note: The stats mentioned in this story are taken directly from the MaxPreps page of both programs. Muir got a win via forfeit last week, so their individual stats are based on eight games as compared to nine for Pasadena.
Football:
When Pasadena jogs onto the Rose Bowl field on Friday night, the Bulldogs will certainly be aware that they’re considered the heavy underdogs in their annual Turkey Tussle showdown with crosstown rival Muir.
PHS understands, accepts and relishes the role.
But that doesn’t mean for a second that the Bulldogs won’t go down without a valiant fight.
Statistically, Muir is as impressive as any SGV area program.
The Mustangs are 6-0 in Pacific League games with one being a forfeit by Hoover last week.
In the five games they’ve played, MHS has outscored Burbank, Burroughs, Arcadia, Glendale and Crescenta Valley by a combined margin of 289-42.
Pasadena’s (5-1) lone league setback was a 35-14 loss at Burbank back on October 10th.
In their six Pacific League games, PHS has outscored the competition by a combined margin of 251-92.
Both programs put up a lot of points and limit their opponents to an average of less than three scores.
MHS (45-14) and PHS (39-19) both have a 20-point or better average margin of victory.
In the most recent MaxPreps state poll, Muir (120) is 304 spots higher than Pasadena (424).
The Mustangs enter Friday’s contest having won seven consecutive games, and they’ve secured the last two Turkey Tussle showdowns by a combined margin of 92-13.
Offensively, PHS and MHS have put up very similar numbers.
Pasadena averages 400 yards of total offense to 375 for Muir.
The Mustangs average one yard more through the air, and the Bulldogs have a 26-yard advantage on the ground.
This game also features two of the area’s most prolific quarterbacks.
Pasadena’s Dutch Burbidge and Muir’s Trey Gamble have been outstanding.
Burbidge has completed 152-of-234 for 2,439 yards.
He’s tossed 29 TD passes and five interceptions.
Burbidge went the first six games without turning the ball over.
In eight games, Gamble has been remarkable.
He’s completed 120-of-165 for 2,172 yards.
Gamble has 29 TD passes and just two picks all season.
Burbidge has been more active with his legs.
The PHS junior has gained 285 yards on 36 carries and that includes six TD runs.
Gamble has carried the ball 17 times for 102 yards.
Pasadena’s Synncere Pitts leads all running backs with 626 yards on 63 carries and seven TDs.
Muir’s Alijah Parker (42-for-311 & 5 TDs) and Zion McDonald (21-for-266 & 5 TDs) have combined to carry the ball 63 times for 577 yards and 10 TDs.
Both programs feature big-game receivers.
PHS’ Kyle Robertson (55-for-966 & 14 TDs) and Damari Pitts (40-for-674 & 8 TDs) have combined to tally 95 receptions for 1,640 yards and 22 TDs.
MHS’ Alijha Smith (18-for-579 & 7 TDs), Deveon Blaylock (31-for-446 & 10 TDs) and Noah Bozeman (23-for-332 & 5 TDs) have been three of Gamble’s favorite targets.
Defensively, the Mustangs and Bulldogs have a number of studs.
Andrew Johnson (95 tackles), J’hari Teasley-Hall (64), Michael Ambrose (61) and Dash Middleton (60) lead the way for Pasadena.
Muir’s Andrew Arnold (72 tackles), Jason Brown (66) and David Cannon (60) have combined for 198 tackles.
The Mustangs’ Jason Brown (7 sacks) and David Cannon (3) lead MHS in sacks.
J’hari Teasley-Hall (6) and Justin Avila (5) have combined for 11 sacks to lead PHS.
Muir’s Ethan Leyland and Andrew Arnold, and Pasadena’s Michael Ambrose and Andrew Johnson have all picked two passes apiece in 2025.
The kickoff is set for 7 at the Rose Bowl.
Here’s hoping for a competitive game, and that both programs enter the CIF-SS playoffs as healthy as possible.
Quotable:
Muir quarterback, Trey Gamble: “As far as wins and stats go, this my best year. Throwing 29 TDs is cool, but I think I’m having my best season because I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had, and they allow me to be myself and just play ball. I’m surrounded by amazing teammates and coaches that believe in me, so yes, it’s been special. The only thing that could make it more special would be to win CIF. This should be fun, because Dutch (Burbidge) and I are both top-five quarterbacks in the area for passing, and he’s always going to do whatever he can to help his team win, so this should be a good one. This game is crucial for us to build momentum and going into the playoffs with a bang, and I believe that wherever they put us in the playoffs, we will be able to get it done. I trust my teammates and coaches, and they trust me.”
Pasadena quarterback, Dutch Burbidge: “We know we’re the underdogs. Muir is a great team, and they’ve been running it up against the Pacific League competition. We’re going to have to limit turnovers and mistakes and play a disciplined brand of football if we want to leave the Rose Bowl with a win. If we fall behind early, we can’t panic. We have to play composed and not allow the surroundings to get the best of us. To give ourselves the best chance to win, obviously, we need to keep Trey and the Muir offense on the sideline for as long as possible, so we need to put together sustained drives and finish them with points. Trey is a great athlete and he’s able to make plays happen that a lot of quarterbacks can’t. I have a lot of respect for how good he is. We have some great players as well, and we’ll need all of them to make big plays on Friday. It should be an exciting environment.”
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By the Numbers:
Records: M (8-1, 6-0); P (6-3, 5-1)
Points Scored: M (361); P (351)
Points Allowed: M (111); P (170)
Total Offense: M (375): P (400)
Passing Per Game: M (Gamble, 272); P (Burbidge, 271)
Rushing Per Game: M (103); P (129)
Most Points Scored in a Game: M (70 vs Glendale); P (66 vs Hoover)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: M (34 vs COHS); P (42 vs Norwalk)
Current Win Streak: M (7); P (2)
Head-to-Head Win Streak: M (2)
Average Margin of Victory: M (45-14); P (39-19)
MaxPreps State Ranking: M (120); P (424)
Stat Leaders:
Quarterbacks:
Dutch Burbidge (P): 152-of-234 for 2,439, 29 TDs & 5 INT
Trey Gamble (M): 120-of-165 for 2,172, 29 TDs & 2 INT
Running Backs:
Synncere Pitts (P): 63-for-626 & 7 TDs
Alijah Parker (M): 42-for-311 & 5 TDs
Dutch Burbidge (P): 36-for-285 & 6 TDs
Zion McDonald (M): 21-for-266 & 5 TDs
Receivers:
Kyle Robertson (P): 55-for-966 & 14 TDs
Damari Pitts (P): 40-for-674 & 8 TDs
Alijha Smith (M): 18-for-579 & 7 TDs
Deveon Blaylock (M): 31-for-446 & 10 TDs
Noah Bozeman (M): 23-for-332 & 5 TDs
Daniel Freeman (P): 16-for-274 & 1 TD
Delano King (P): 13-for-212 & 3 TDs
Zion McDonald (M): 12-for-192 & 1 TD
Ethan Leyland (M): 9-for-153 & 4 TDs
Synncere Pitts (P): 19-for-121 & 2 TDs
Defensive Leaders:
Tackles:
Andrew Johnson (P): 95
Andrew Arnold (M): 72
Jason Brown (M): 66
J’hari Teasley-Hall (P): 64
Michael Ambrose (P): 61
Dash Middleton (P): 60
David Cannon (M): 60
Damian Aleman (M): 59
James Taylor (M): 55
Diego Delgado (M): 55
Justin Avila (P): 53
Sacks:
Jason Brown (M): 7
J’hari Teasley-Hall (P): 6
Justin Avila (P): 5
David Cannon (M): 3
Ezekiel Rodriguez (M): 2.5
Andrew Johnson (P): 2
Interceptions:
Ethan Leyland (M): 2
Andrew Arnold (M): 2
Michael Ambrose (P): 2
Andrew Johnson (P): 2
Pasadena Schedule/Results:
8/22: PHS 42, Cantwell Sacred Heart 3
8/29: San Dimas 33, PHS 24
9/5: Norwalk 42, Norwalk 34
9/12: Bye Week
9/19: PHS 54, Burroughs 14
9/25: PHS 41, Glendale 0
10/3: PHS 66, Hoover 8
10/10: Burbank 35, PHS 14
10/16: PHS 27, Crescenta Valley 21
10/24: PHS 49, Arcadia 14
10/31: PHS vs Muir at Rose Bowl
Muir Schedule/Results:
8/22: Muir 17, Bonita 14
8/29: Bye Week
9/6: Charter Oak 34, Muir 33
9/12: Muir 22, St. Francis 21
9/18: Muir 70, Glendale 0
9/26: Muir 58, Burbank 28
10/3: Muir 49, Crescenta Valley 0
10/10: Muir 49, Arcadia 14
10/17: Muir 63, Burroughs 0
10/24: Muir def. Hoover via forfeit
10/31: Muir vs Pasadena at Rose Bowl
Pacific League Standings:
Muir (8-1, 6-0)
Burbank (7-2, 5-1)
Pasadena (6-3, 5-1)
Crescenta Valley (5-4, 3-3)
Burroughs (3-6, 3-3)
Arcadia (2-7, 2-4)
Hoover (2-7, 0-6)
Glendale (1-8, 0-6)
Week 10 Schedule:
Arcadia at Crescenta Valley (Thursday)
Burroughs at Burbank (Thursday)
Hoover at Glendale (Thursday)
Muir vs Pasadena at Rose Bowl (Friday)
Recent Turkey Tussle Scores:
2024: Muir 47, PHS 13
2023: Muir 45, PHS 0
2022: PHS 47, Muir 0
2021: No Game
2020: PHS 33, Muir 6
2019: Muir 33, PHS 0
2018: Muir 33, PHS 14
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