Diego Plancarte records three receiving touchdowns and an interception in the Bulldogs’ win over the Conquistadors
The Burbank Bulldogs dominantly opened the 2026 season, cruising to a 38-0 victory over the Cabrillo Conquistadors behind a standout performance from Diego Plancarte. Plancarte caught three touchdown passes and also made his presence felt defensively, intercepting a pass in the end zone and returning it 50 yards during the second quarter.
Burbank entered the season after finishing 9-3 overall and 6-1 in Pacific League play in 2025. Cabrillo finished last season 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the Ocean League. Both teams advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs last season. The Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Roosevelt in the Division 6 playoffs, while the Conquistadors were eliminated from the Division 5 playoffs following a narrow 22-19 loss to Bishop Union.
Burbank started the scoring in the opening quarter when quarterback Damian Corona connected with Plancarte on an 18-yard shovel pass for the game’s first touchdown. Andranik Brutyan converted the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. The Burbank defense then forced Cabrillo to turn the ball over on downs, setting up another scoring opportunity. Corona found Plancarte again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown that extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 13-0.
Ronald Gordon recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Burbank another possession. However, Cabrillo’s Jonah Williams intercepted Corona, giving the Conquistadors possession at their own 1-yard line. The Bulldogs’ defense responded by recording a safety to increase the lead to 15. Troy Wells later scored on a goal-line run, giving Burbank a 21-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Gio Bernardo added another goal-line touchdown early in the second quarter, extending Burbank’s lead to 28-0. Plancarte then delivered the defensive play of the night when he intercepted Cabrillo quarterback Logan Moss in the end zone and returned the ball 50 yards.
Cabrillo’s defense prevented Burbank from reaching the end zone on the ensuing possession, but Brutyan successfully kicked a 21-yard field goal to send the Bulldogs into halftime with a commanding 31-0 lead. Neither team scored during the third quarter. Burbank added the only points of the second half when Plancarte caught his third touchdown pass of the game, completing the 38-0 victory.
“I liked how the guys played well in all three phases of the game and that we were able to hold Cabrillo to no points throughout the contest,” Burbank head coach Hector Valencia said. Valencia also noted that the Bulldogs have shifted from a pass-first offense to a run-first approach as part of the team’s new offensive philosophy.
Burbank begins the season 1-0, while Cabrillo falls to 0-1. Both teams return to action for their Week 1 matchups on Friday, Aug. 28. The Bulldogs will travel to Las Vegas to face Centennial at 7 p.m., while the Conquistadors will host Hoover of Fresno at 7:30 p.m.
