Burnet football faces familiar foe in Taylor for homecoming
[box]GAMETIME
Burnet Bulldogs vs. Taylor Ducks
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27
WHERE: Bulldog Field, 1000 The Green Mile in Burnet
TUNE IN: Listen to the game at 102.9 FM or KBEYFM.com with pre-game starting at 7 p.m.[/box]
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — It’s homecoming week for Burnet High School, and the football team faces an old foe.
Taylor comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Bulldog Field, 1000 The Green Mile.
The Ducks (1-3) and Bulldogs (3-1) have been in and out of the same district for the past decade, so Burnet knows Taylor will be motivated after losing 23-13 to Gatesville, which is a member of District 8-3A along with the Bulldogs. The Ducks’ only victory this season was against Brookshire Royal 43-6 in Week 2.
Against the Hornets, the Ducks had multiple-play drives but suffered turnovers in Gatesville territory that ended those threats. In addition, the Hornets scored on a 61-yard scamper on third-and-5.
Taylor is led by junior quarterback Joseph Lopez, who has completed nine passes for 331 yards with 14 rushes for 96 yards. Senior running back Isaac Franco has 21 carries for 295 yards and a touchdown, while junior running back Devin Taylor has 25 rushes for 151 yards. Senior receiver Tim Bailey has two catches for 108 yards for the Ducks.
“We want to go take care of our business,” Burnet head coach Kurt Jones said. “I think good things will happen.”
Homecoming activities are part of the week, and Jones acknowledged there are potential distractions. But, he added, he believes his players can put things in perspective.
“We just have to be mentally mature and focused,” he said.
The Bulldogs crushed Canyon Lake 34-7 on Sept. 20, avoiding a potential trap game, Jones said. Because of rainy weather, other contests were postponed or cancelled, and the Hawks entered the game looking for their first win of the season.
“Our kids were solid,” Jones said. “It took us a little bit to get going. They run a ball-controlled offense. Our kids hung in there.”
Senior quarterback Derek Kiser completed 20 of 29 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns. He hit three different receivers, who each caught a touchdown pass.
Senior running back Trenton Hafley recorded 16 rushes for 71 yards.
“We talked about trying to keep our focus,” Jones said. “I don’t think we were at our absolute best. But we kept our focus and came away with a victory.”
The game against Taylor is Burnet’s last pre-district contest before a bye next week. The Bulldogs open district play at Brownwood on Oct. 4.
“The pre-district schedule is about getting better week to week,” Jones said. “I feel like we’re doing that and moving in the right direction. I feel like we have a chance to get better.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com