Burcar Glad He Made It Dedicated Soccer Player Does It All On Gridiron

Scott Burcar wasn’t real sure he wanted to spend this week in Spokane.

After just two days in town, he’s glad he’s here, and that’s before he can show anyone why he should be here.

Of all the players in the East-West High School All-Star Football Summer Classic, Burcar probably did more to make it than anyone.

Burcar was a key player on Bethel’s best team ever - 12-1, losing to eventual State 4A champion Richland in the semifinals.

How key?

Well, a state-leading 11 interceptions isn’t bad. Nor is a 41-yard average as a punter. Or nine field goals, including four beyond 40 yards, topped by a 48-yarder.

And, with all of that, Burcar made the West team as a wide receiver, despite just 15 catches. It’s just that he averaged about 30 yards a reception, which is why he ran numerous reverses for the Braves.

For good measure he threw two touchdown passes and returned a punt for a TD. It added up to being named the State Player of the Year by the Associated Press and 4A Player of the Year by Washington Prep Football Report.

Not bad at all for a soccer player.

Yes, the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder’s athletic future is in soccer.

“It fits me,” Burcar said of soccer. “Of all the sports it fits me the most.”

An Olympic Development Player for the West region, Burcar tries out for the national junior team in Rhode Island in a month. Then it’s on to the University of San Diego to play soccer, a choice made because of a chance to play right away, the adventure of being away from home and, in a big way, the weather.

The two weeks leading up to the all-state game were spent in Utah and California. After one day home he had to head to Spokane.

“I told my dad I didn’t know if I wanted to do it,” Burcar said. “The first day I was kind of tired, but now I’m having fun. It’s an honor to be here with the big guys.

“Like my dad said, `Go with a good attitude and kick a 50-yard punt. Maybe somebody will remember you and you’ll get a chance when soccer is done.’ I’m out here having a good time. That’s what everybody should be doing, right, with a little competition.”

It wasn’t that long ago Burcar believed he was just another athlete.

“I always thought I was an average player,” the center-midfielder said. “The last two or three years I really stepped up. I guess I was a slow starter. Now that I’m making all these teams, advancing, I have all these coaches giving me higher expectations.”

He gave up basketball three years ago because it conflicted with club soccer. His decision was quickly rewarded when the Tacoma-based FC United U-18 team won the national championship.

Soccer may struggle to captivate American sports fans but Burcar is one of those who got the bug early. His father had season tickets to the Tacoma Stars, an indoor soccer team, when his son was about 5.

“My dad says I was the only kid that just sat there the whole game and watched, from start to end,” Burcar said. “People ask, `Why not football?’ They just don’t understand how much I like soccer. Now they do.”

Quick kicks

Retiring East Valley coach Jim Clements is the fourth Greater Spokane League coach to work this game for the East in recent years. Rick Giampietri of Central Valley was head coach in 1998 in Kennewick after the Bears won the ‘97 state championship. The year before, when the game was in Spokane, Mike McLaughlin of Mead was the East coach. Two years prior to that, when the game returned to Spokane, retiring Ferris coach Pat Pfeifer was coach.

Giampietri said coaches are selected on the basis of a combination of long-time membership in the state coaches association and winning.

GSL players in the game are: Jeremy Kruskie of North Central; Erik Coleman and Forrest Bohlen of Lewis and Clark; Josh Wilson of Mt. Spokane; John McFarlane of CV; Steve Gabriel and Matt Doyle of Shadle Park; Aaron Sedler of Ferris; and Tom Finnerty and Drew Lockhead of Mead.

A couple of interesting sights: Bohlen and Sedler lined up side-byside at linebacker. The two South Hill rivals have swapped helmet stickers. … Also, Doyle was wearing a Columbia blue CV helmet because he got the wrong size when he grabbed his equipment from Shadle. His brother, Shane, showed up Monday afternoon with four Shadle helmets for Matt to choose from.

This sidebar appeared with the story: TICKETS East-West football

Tickets for Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Albi Stadium are $6 for adults and $4 for students.