FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2013: Burnet football
[box]2013 BURNET BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(All kickoffs at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Aug. 30 at Fredericksburg; Sept. 6 vs. Rockdale; Sept. 13 vs. Marble Falls; Sept. 20 at Canyon Lake; Sept. 27 vs. Taylor (homecoming); Oct. 4 (bye); Oct. 11 at Brownwood (district); Oct. 18 vs. Gatesville (district); Oct. 25 at Liberty Hill (district); Nov. 1 vs. Llano (district); Nov. 8 at Lampasas (district)[/box]TEAM: Burnet High School football
HEAD COACH: Kurt Jones
DISTRICT: 8-3A
2012 RESULT: 5-6 overall and 3-2 in district; lost to eventual Class 3A Division I state champion Stephenville in a bi-district championship
RETURNERS: Derek Kiser, Trenton Hafley, Blayne Parisher, Austin Huff, Kody Hall, Sam Porter, Cameron Chafin
NEWCOMERS: Eric Walker, Jarrett Thornley, Cody Jones, Brock Foster
OUTLOOK: Back-to-back losses to Brownwood and Gatesville to start district play last year propelled the Bulldogs to work harder and play better against Liberty Hill in the third contest. With that victory, Burnet started a three-game winning streak and finished third in the division — impressively, with only nine seniors on the roster.
So the core of the Bulldogs is returning including starting quarterback Kiser, starting running back Hafley, one of the team’s top receivers in Parisher and at least five offensive linemen who logged significant playing time in 2012.
“We felt like we finished the last half of the year fairly strong last year,” Jones said. “And we just got to build off of that. And, if we’ll do that, then everything else will fall into place and take care of itself.”
During the summer, Burnet qualified for the 7-on-7 state tournament but was eliminated in the second round of the championship bracket.
Jones said there will be at least 36 players on the varsity roster with the majority being upperclassmen. In addition, several members of last year’s 6-3 junior varsity team should help the varsity squad this year, Jones said.
One advantage the Bulldogs have this season that they didn’t have last year is the defensive scheme remains the same. A year ago, defensive coordinator Kevin Hall was installing the new scheme. And Hall will continue to coach the defensive backs this year.
Jones said the Bulldogs must be ready to play every Friday night because district competition won’t be any easier this season.
“I think we’re going to be stronger overall as a team,” he said. “The team strength should be much improved. I also think just in confidence. And that comes with kids coming back that have been one- or two-year starters for us.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
[tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”JUNIOR VARSITY”]
The 2013 Burnet High School Bulldogs junior varsity football team. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro[/tab] [tab title=”FRESHMEN”]
The 2013 Burnet High School Bulldogs freshmen football team. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro[/tab] [/tabs]