Burnet facing always-tough Waco Robinson

JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER

BURNET — Burnet High School head football coach Kurt Jones knows his Bulldogs are hosting a Waco Robinson team that has only one win this season.

The two will play Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Bulldog Field, 1000 The Green Mile. Listen to the game on 106.9 powered by KBEY or at KBEYFM.com under “Burnet Football” starting with a pregame show at 7 p.m.

But Jones said the only number he’s concerned with is the last one.

“The only thing that matters to them right now — is really the same way with us — is that they’re 1-0 in district play, and we’re 0-1,” he said. “I feel like they’re going to come in here walking a little bit high, feeling like if they can get another district win under their belt, they’ll be sitting pretty.”

Robinson (1-6, 1-0 in District 13-4A Division I) defeated Lampasas 21-14 on Oct. 9, while Burnet (4-2, 0-1) lost to China Spring 42-26.

The two met twice last year with the Bulldogs winning both games. The first was a 45-23 victory during district play, while the other was a 38-35 victory in the third round of the playoffs.

Jones said Burnet and Robinson are alike in that both 2014 teams had plenty of seniors; therefore, both are relying on some inexperienced players right now.

“Both of those games were just really tough games that came down to the last possessions, and so we’re familiar with one another,” Jones said. “They’ve got some talent, they’ve got some ability, they run their spread offense very well.”

The Rockets are led by junior quarterback Chase Allison, the son of head coach Tommy Allison.

“He does a good job of making decisions,” Jones said. “He can throw the football, so we’re going to have to come out with a little fire lit under us and ready to play some football Friday night.”

The Bulldogs are bracing to face some linemen who are tall and wide, he said, which isn’t unusual. So the key is Burnet must have the proper mindset, he said.

“When our motors are running, when our kids have that fire underneath them, we feel like we’ll do a few things,” he said. “We just have to go out and kind of access what they’re trying to do to us and then run our stuff and execute our stuff.”

Linebackers Sam Cobb and Holden Wiley anchor the Rockets’ front seven, while Jones called the secondary “intelligent.”

“They’re going to try to keep things in front of them,” he said. “They’re going to give up some throws, they’ll be shorter throws to try to force you to put together long drives, which we got to be patient to do that if that’s what they’re giving us.”

Burnet will counter with senior quarterback Austin Moore, who has completed 116 passes for 1,547 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Junior receiver Steven Gallardo has 36 catches for 569 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior running back Brock Foster has 57 rushes for 199 yards and four touchdowns.

But no matter who the Rockets suit up, Jones said this game is more about the Bulldogs.

“We got to worry about ourselves and getting ourselves better,” he said. “That’s what we’re asking our kids to do right now from day to day is go out and practice and work as hard as they can to get better individually, better collectively. And we feel like if we can continue to do that, good things will happen.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com