Burnet back on Bulldog turf with homecoming match vs. Taylor
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
BURNET — As homecoming brings the Burnet community together, Burnet High School football players know the best way to cap off the week’s festivities is with a win.
That contest is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 against the Taylor Ducks at Bulldog Field, 1000 The Green Mile. Listen to the game on 106.5 FM powered by KBEY or at KBEYFM.com under “Burnet football” starting with a 7 p.m. pregame show.
“Our focus has to be on that ballgame,” Burnet head coach Kurt Jones said. “Our plan is to go out and play well in front of the home crowd. So many people come in for the homecoming game. Maybe they don’t get to see many games in the year, but they plan on coming back for this one. We hope to go out and perform well and get a victory.”
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While the Bulldogs (3-1) enter the contest after winning two games in a row on the road, the Ducks (1-3) are riding a three-game losing streak.
One of Taylor’s assets is its overall speed, Jones said, which was displayed when the Ducks captured the District 25-4A track-and-field championship in the spring.
“They can put speed out on the field,” he said. “It’s gonna certainly help their offense out. We’re going to have to do a good job tackling their backs and their quarterback. It helps their return game. We’re going to have to be better in our kicking game, in our punt coverage, kickoff coverage, and try to eliminate any opportunity for big returns.”
Taylor is led by senior dual-threat quarterback Terrell Reynolds, who has completed 50 of 82 passes for 637 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 10 carries for 28 yards and a score.
Senior running back Xavier Reynolds has 27 rushes for 115 yards and has completed seven of 10 passes for 86 yards with an interception.
Junior receiver Malik Jackson has caught 14 passes for 357 yards and five touchdowns.
“Taylor always has some good talent, especially in their skill positions,” Jones said. “It’s no different this year. Malik Jackson is a very talented receiver. The quarterback, Terrell Reynolds, others in the secondary, they’re able to put some speed and talent out on the field each year. And you have to do a good job of keeping those guys in check.”
Junior linebacker C.J. Cruces and defensive lineman Anthony Chaidez lead the Ducks’ defense.
“Their defense is similar to their offense,” Jones said. “They have a lot of talent and speed in their back seven, their linebackers and defensive backs. That’s not to say their defensive line isn’t good. It is. They always have some guys up front who’ll get after it.”
Burnet will counter with senior quarterback Austin Moore, who has completed 65 passes for 943 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions; senior athlete Brock Foster, who has 32 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns and seven receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown; and senior receiver Joel Johnson, who has 16 catches for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
The two teams met twice last season with Burnet winning the first game 42-10 and the bi-district championship 43-13.
In the first matchup, Taylor’s offense made an effort to throw the ball more. But in the rematch, the Ducks decided to play more of a ball-controlled run-first offense.
The game is the last non-district contest for the Bulldogs, who will be idle next week before starting District 13-4A Division I play..
“We’d love to go into the open week 4-1 and have a little momentum going in there as we prepare for district opponents,” Jones said. “As everybody knows, our district is a very tough district, and we will open district play against a very tough opponent in China Spring on Oct. 9. It would be great to go get a victory against Taylor in our homecoming game and have two weeks to prepare for China Spring.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com