Oh Brother, There’s Another

Burbank Coach Dave Carson is a future victim of family circumstance.

He’s not complaining now, mind you, but he knows his good fortune must end someday.

Last year, Carson had the talents of Alfredo Velasco at placekicker. Velasco went on to UCLA this year, where he plays behind starter John Lee.

Exit Alfredo, enter little brother Salvador. This Velasco, a senior, is Burbank’s starting quarterback and an excellent placekicker in his own right. He has six PATs and is two for two on field goals so far this season. One of those field goals was kicked from 42 yards, the other from 48. He kicked a 57-yarder during Thursday’s practice.

Once Salvador is gone, another Velasco will be there to take his place. Abelardo, now a junior, is a starting running back and punter this year.

“I’ve become spoiled,” Carson said, laughing. “We’re going to have to teach their sister to kick next year.”

The three learned to kick as soccer players. Each has been playing since they were five; Sal and Abe are star players on the Burbank soccer team.

For fine tuning, the pair attended the Ben Agajanian Kick School over the summer.

“We had some really good teachers, like Rafael Septien, John Lee and Bryan Wagner,” Salvador said.

Salvador and Abelardo are using what they learned, and dream of one thing--the last-second, game-winning field goal.

“Every game, I look forward to that,” Salvador said. “It would be a challenge--I like that.”