Burnet 7-on-7 team qualifies for state tournament
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
LORENA — The Burnet High School varsity 7-on-7 team won the Lorena state-qualifying tournament May 17.
That means the Bulldogs qualified for the state tournament in College Station on July 10-11 in its first tournament of the summer. Burnet has qualified for the sixth consecutive year and ninth overall since 2002.
“They came out and did what they needed to do to get the job done,” Burnet coach Jon Huff said. “Our goal was to qualify in the first weekend we played.”
Burnet is the tournament champion because China Spring elected not to play in the final. The two squads that qualified for the finals advanced to the state tournament.
What made the day even more interesting was that quarterbacks Taylor Barksdale and Austin Moore each played. Based off the results of “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” Moore was the quarterback in the first half of each game, while Barksdale took over in the second half.
“Taylor had the opportunity to watch,” Huff said. “I asked Taylor, ‘What are you seeing?’ They both played extremely well.”
So in the second half, Barksdale was able to take advantage of the defense, Huff said.
Huff praised the Bulldogs defense, noting the players refused to get allow the team to get into a shootout with an opponent.
“We had several times we made big plays and big steps for turnovers,” he said. “(Against) Robinson, we came out fast and jumped all over them. They have very athletic players.”
In the semifinals, the Bulldogs defeated Robinson 40-19. Kody Hall had two interceptions, while Jake McElroy and Peyton Utsey each had one.
In pool play, Burnet was 2-1 with wins against Lorena, 20-13, and Gatesville, 47-14. Its only loss was to McGregor, 34-32.
Huff said he believes there were some questionable calls that hurt Burnet against McGregor. The first was a call that wiped out a touchdown when officials said the Bulldogs took more than four seconds to make a pass. Huff said his time was under three seconds.
Another four-second penalty was called when the Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game.
jfierro@thepicayune.com