Bulldogs take the battle out of the Billies in 28-16 road victory
DANIEL CLIFTON • EDITOR
FREDERICKSBURG — The Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first half over the Burnet Bulldogs, but then it was all Burnet as the Bulldogs rattled off 28 unanswered points. The Billies added a late touchdown, but it didn’t matter as Burnet earned a 28-16 road win.
Burnet improves to 2-1 on the season as they prepare for next week’s game at Waco University.
Fredericksburg scored first with a 27-yard field goal. On their next drive, the Billies drove 85 yards for a touchdown. Fredericksburg quarterback Kyle Reeh (who rushed for well over 100 yards) hit Blake Moffett for a 5-yard score with 1:53 left in the first quarter to take a 10-0 lead.
The Burnet offense then put the Bulldogs right back in the mix. Austin Moore took his squad on a 68-yard drive that included some big plays. He and Brock Foster connected for a 22-yard pass play.
Foster would add another 16 yards on the ground before Steven Gallardo pushed it in from 4 yards out.
Tyler Torres capped it off with the extra point to close in on the Billies, 10-7.
Gallardo’s speed would haunt the Billies throughout the night.
But Burnet’s offense would have some problems in the first half as the Bulldogs turned the ball over three times. The Burnet defense, though, kept Fredericksburg in check.
The Bulldogs took a 14-10 lead when Moore connected with Joel Johnson for a 20-yard touchdown. The score stood through the rest of the half.
Burnet’s defense made some key plays, including on a Billies’ third and six when Bulldog Cullen Ferrill sacked Reeh for an 11-yard loss, setting up a long fourth down and forcing Fredericksburg to punt. After Burnet’s touchdown to take the lead, the Bulldog defense forced a Billies fumble. Then, with less than a minute left in the half and the Billies starting to move the ball down the field, Burnet’s Kyle Cavender came up with a big interception to stop the drive.
In the second half, Burnet came out and scored in just over a minute.
Moore struck Gallardo for a 26-yard pass to get to the Billies’ 43-yard line. Then, he finished off the drive with one more pass, this time to Brock Foster for the 43-yard score and 21-10 lead.
Though Burnet pulled ahead, Fredericksburg did its best to try and stay in the game. The Bulldogs defense, however, found ways to keep the Billies from really getting back in the game. This included Burnet’s Michael Lindley snatching a Reeh pass in the back of the end zone, crushing the Billies’ fans hope.
Burnet’s offense, however, would tag on one more touchdown. This time, Foster had a one-handed, 26-yard reception that set up the Bulldogs on Fredericksburg’s 6-yard line. Three plays later, Moore hit Gallardo for a score and 28-10 lead.
The Billies added a touchdown with 2:02 left in the game. The 2-point conversion failed.
The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 with the 28-16 victory. They continue their road stretch Sept. 18 at Waco University. If you can’t make the trip, tune in to Mark Edmondson and Chad Nelson on 106.5 FM powered by KBEY or at KBEYFM.com under “Burnet Football.” Pregame starts at 7 p.m. with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Pick up a free copy of this week’s The Picayune for full game stats and preview of the Sept. 18 contest.
daniel@thepicayune.com