This is how Arcadia ended its season last year. Will it end like this again? The road won’t be easy …

Pasadena and Arcadia can’t look too far ahead to their highly anticipated game Friday night at Arcadia High. Arcadia (13-3, 5-0) visits Burbank (9-8, 2-2) in the first of two meetings while Crescenta Valley (11-5, 3-2) visits Pasadena (10-7, 4-1). Both games are slated for 3:30 p.m. It was just last season when the Bulldogs considered finishing in the top-4 as a successful season. Things have considerably changed under second-year coach Mike Parisi. Pasadena very well could vie for the league championship, and his players know it. “If we want to contend for a league title we’re going to have to step up against two of the best teams in the Pacific League,” Parisi said. “I know we’re going to be prepared.” The Bulldogs are not deterred by the fact they’re coming off an 0-4 performance in the Northview Tournament and that their last league contest — a 17-1 win over Muir — was 11 days ago. “We learned a lot from that Northview Tournament,” Parisi said. “When we got to play the East San Gabriel Valley teams I found out what players can handle pressure situations and what players can’t. This upcoming schedule doesn’t favor us by any means.” Arcadia’s upcoming schedule may also be a bump on the road. The Apaches, who have played 13 of their 16 games this season at home, play six of their last eight games remaining on the road. Arcadia is 2-1 on the road with wins over Temple City (6-1) and Hoover (10-2) and a loss to Alhambra (5-4).