Burbank Faces a Tall Order Tonight Against Claremont

Burbank High, which had one of the top quarterbacks in California last season, will face the top quarterback in the nation at 7 tonight when it plays Claremont at Citrus College in one of the Southern Section games that open the high school football season. City teams begin next week.

The Bulldogs finished 7-4 last season, reaching the playoffs on the strength of Gary Lotka’s arm. The quarterback passed for the fourth-highest yardage total in the Southern Section.

Lotka has graduated, so the quarterback in focus tonight will be Claremont’s Dan McGwire, a 6-8, 220-pound senior. Dick Lascola, of the Scouting Evaluation Assn., said McGwire is among “the four best quarterbacks in the country.”

McGwire passed for 2,246 yards and 24 touchdowns last season in leading the Wolfpack to a 14-0 season and the Eastern Conference championship.

Ten starters return to Claremont, including three All-Southern Section picks: McGwire, wide receiver Travis Watkins and kicker Steve Bayer.

Burbank lost 26 seniors from last season but is still rated ninth in the Coastal Conference. The Bulldogs will counter Claremont’s attack with All-Foothill League running back Frank Valdivia.

In other action involving Valley teams, Westlake plays San Marcos at Thousand Oaks High and Saugus plays Hoover at College of the Canyons. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.