Bulldogs hope first-game jitters are gone for second contest

BURNET — The Sept. 2 game against Fredericksburg can’t come quickly enough for the Burnet High School football team.

And that’s because the Bulldogs’ 35-19 loss to Giddings in the season opener isn’t so much about the setback — it’s the manner in which it happened.

Head coach Doyle Walker said mistakes highlighted the contest. Missed tackles, missed blocks and missed assignments might have been because of first-game jitters for some of his players who made their varsity debuts.

So, Walker called them into his office as a group after the Aug. 26 game. He told them he believed in them and added those jitters that led to errors can’t happen again.

“Our kids have to overcome mistakes,” he said. “Let’s not make those same mistakes again.”

In addition, the Bulldogs were missing some players expected to make significant contributions, including senior running back Demone Belmarez and senior receiver Caden Connolly.

That forced senior athlete Zach Maldonado to move to halfback.