Bears look to produce a turnaround season in 2026
The John Burroughs High School football team will look to produce a turnaround season after missing the CIF Southern Section playoffs in each of the past two years. In Jose Calzadilla’s first season as head coach, the Bears finished 3-7 overall and 3-4 in Pacific League play.
Burroughs will compete in the Boulder League, the middle division of the newly formed Rio Pacific Conference, during the conference’s inaugural season. Calzadilla’s coaching staff includes frosh-soph head coach Fabrian Ospina and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Keith Recchia. Calzadilla will continue to serve as the varsity team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in addition to his head-coaching responsibilities.
“I think this group is very talented coming in,” Calzadilla said. “We have a lot of great skill-position players coming back, which makes me hopeful that we’re going to do great things this year,”Calzadilla added that the Bears’ success will depend on how well they execute in all three phases of the game offense, defense and special teams.
“I’m excited for this new season,” Recchia said. “Being in a new league allows us to compete against some teams we don’t have a history of playing. It also gives us a chance to compete for a league title against teams that are a little more comparable to us.”Recchia also expressed optimism that the defense will improve after a young group endured growing pains last season.
Seniors Brandon Chapparo and Sean Gahman and junior Ryder Celli-Recht are competing for the starting quarterback position ahead of the Bears’ Week Zero opener against South Torrance. Although the starting quarterback has yet to be determined, Burroughs returns a senior-heavy group led by running back Sho Fujita, a first-team All-Pacific League selection last season.
Other returning players include Erick Jacobo, an honorable mention offensive selection; offensive linemen Cooper Beebe and Teddy Severse, who earned second-team all-league recognition; and linebacker Ryder Bowne, a first-team All-Pacific League defensive selection.
All varsity games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Burroughs will open the season at home against South Torrance on Friday, Aug. 21. The Bears will begin Boulder League play on the road against Pasadena on Friday, Sept. 25. Senior Night, honoring members of the Class of 2027, will take place Friday, Oct. 9, when the Bears host Gabrielino.
Burroughs will serve as the home team for the 78th annual Homecoming game against crosstown rival Burbank on Friday, Oct. 30, at Memorial Field. With an experienced group of returning players and a full season under Calzadilla’s leadership, the Bears hope to take a significant step forward and return to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Stay tuned for coverage of Burroughs football throughout the 2026 season.
