Bulldogs look for another victory
They feature a team full of underclassmen, but the Burnet head coach reminded fans Canyon Lake already has played nine games on the varsity level.
“I don’t think you can call them rookies by any means,” he said. “I look to be in a very competitive game with Canyon Lake.”
Ross Wagliardo has completed 128 passes for 1,465 yards. Eric Nelson has 40 receptions for 543 yards, while Drew Riccio has 31 catches for 284 yards.
Devin Collins has more than 200 rushing yards.
“It looks like they throw the ball more than they run,” Walker said. “They get after it. They have some good skills. The quarterback has a good arm and threw it well.”
The players on the offensive line average 6 feet 3 inches tall and weigh about 185 pounds.
“These kids are all juniors and a few sophomores,” the Bulldogs skipper said. “They’re not small by any means.”
What makes the Hawks difficult to defend against is the different formations they use, he said.
“They do a good job of executing those plays,” he said. “They use a lot of play-action passes.”
On the defensive side, Canyon Lake utilizes a 4-3 look and sometimes drops in five on the line with a noseguard.
“They’re blitzing people on every play just about,” the Burnet coach said.
Bulldogs quarterback Dillon Chafin has completed 118 passes for 1,719 yards, while Justin Wills has 24 catches for 414 yards.
Bubba Richards has 84 rushes for 463 yards. Chandler West has 53 rushes for 343 yards and 28 catches for 347 yards.
While some teams have been able to build a big lead and substitute freely, Walker said he was not sure coaches would do that for the Bulldogs.
“We don’t have that luxury,” he said. “We have to get better at what we’re doing.”
The coach said he is looking for improvements in all areas, including the running game and in being technically and fundamentally sound on defense.
Burnet is looking for its fourth win in a row, the team’s longest winning streak of the season.
Walker said this contest is a must-win for his team because of the playoff implications.
“It’s a big game for us,” he said. “If we don’t win, we’re not in.”