missed opportunities result in bi-district loss

KILLEEN — The Bulldogs are out of the playoffs. Their season is over. 

That was the sad reality for the Burnet High School football team after they lost 24-0 to China Spring during the first round of the University Interscholastic League playoffs Friday at Leo Buckley Stadium. 

Burnet coach Doyle Walker accepted the loss gracefully.

“Well, they whipped our tail,” Walker said. “They are a good football team, and we knew they were a good football team. We made too many mistakes. I’m not making any excuses, but they are good kids, and they played hard, and they should be commended.”

At least through the end of a hard-fought first half, it seemed Burnet with their 5-5 regular-season record did have a decent chance to topple China Spring, undefeated at 10-0 overall this year.  

Neither team scored during the first quarter.  

During the first possession for Burnet, Bubba Richards knifed through the China Spring defense to bring the Bulldogs as far as the Cougars’ 14-yard line. However, the Cougars’ defense held, and Burnet had to give up the ball on downs. 

Later, Chandler West recovered a fumble in Burnet territory to stop China Spring.  

As the first quarter continued, China Spring moved to the Burnet 25. However, the Cougars gave up the ball shortly after Richards sacked Cougars quarterback Brian Bell for a 15-yard loss. 

China Spring went up 3-0 during the second quarter. 

Midway through round two, as a brisk cross wind swept across bundled-up Burnet fans in the home grandstand, Burnet failed on a 27-yard field goal attempt. 

Less than two minutes before half time, China Spring intercepted. Then, Cougars halfback Mike Hicks found daylight up the middle and carried China Spring to the Burnet 2. However, the Cougars retreated to the Bulldogs 27 after they fumbled in the backfield and just managed to recover the ball. During the same series, Burnet nearly intercepted. 

However, with two seconds left before halftime, James French kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Cougars. 

Quickly after halftime, the game started going sour for Burnet. 

Three minutes into the third quarter, a pitchout from Bell to Hicks resulted in a 59-yard touchdown run for China Spring. The Cougars went up 10-0 after French booted the extra point. 

On the kickoff that followed, Burnet fumbled and China Spring recovered on the Bulldogs’ 34. A personal foul put the Cougars 15 yards closer to the goal line. Two plays later, Bell rolled out and completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Travis Veselka. The point after by French was good, and China Spring was up 17-0. 

From that point, the Cougars went wild. 

Hicks took the snap on a perfect quarterback draw and charged 34 yards into the end zone for another China Spring touchdown. The extra point gave the Cougars a 24-0 lead less than two minutes before the end of the third quarter. 

Burnet fans had little to cheer about before the third quarter finished, other than a fumble recovery by Taylor Letterman in China Spring territory. However, the Cougars later intercepted to keep the Bulldogs scoreless. 

The fourth quarter was also gloomy for Burnet. 

Bulldogs defender Bobby Gage recovered a fumble at China Spring’s two after a botched punt. However, two plays later, Burnet fumbled, and the Cougars recovered. 

Less than one minute before the final whistle, China Spring intercepted, and it was wait until next year for the Bulldogs. 

Burnet will lose 12 seniors this academic year.

“You always have to look forward to next season,” Walker said. “But right now these kids are hurting inside and there’s nothing you can say to make it better.”

raymond@thepicayune.com 

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images