Undefeated Waco La Vega blocking Burnet’s path to playoffs
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
BURNET — A been-there, done-that-already contest might be the Burnet High School football team’s best asset when the Bulldogs welcome Waco La Vega on Oct. 30.
The two play at 7:30 p.m. at Bulldog Field, 1000 The Green Mile. Listen to the game on 106.5 powered by KBEY or at KBEYFM.com starting with a 7 p.m. pregame show.
The Pirates (8-0 overall, 3-0 in District 13-4A Division I) enter the contest after a 39-16 win against Lampasas on Oct. 23, while the Bulldogs (5-3 overall, 1-2 in district) lost 19-6 at Gatesville, where they had to wait two hours to play the remaining 34 minutes of the game because of lightning.
Burnet head coach Kurt Jones said his players learned plenty from the contest that he believes they’ll be able to quickly apply, especially since forecasters are calling for more rain Oct. 30.
“We needed to be really flexible in our minds and mentally tough enough to be able to deal with going back into the locker room for two hours and waiting around,” he said. “And we just didn’t handle it as well as we needed to.”
La Vega is a team loaded with talent.
At the top of the list is senior receiver and cornerback Parrish Cobb, who stands at 6 feet and is committed to the University of Oklahoma. He has 15 catches for 397 yards and six touchdowns, one a kickoff return for a 77-yard score.
But he’s not the only Pirate committed to playing college football.
Senior receiver and safety Brandon Benson, who is committed to Southern Methodist University and stands at 6-3, has 22 receptions for 370 yards and six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Senior right tackle Waahid Muhammad, who is 6-7, is committed to Tulsa University, and junior tight end Kedrick James, who is 6-5, is committed to Baylor University.
“They have no shortage of talent over there, I promise you that,” Jones said. “And so they’re going to roll into town undefeated … and bring a very talented squad onto the field, and we’re going to have to be sharp.”
La Vega sophomore quarterback Jamal Williams, who is the son of head coach Willie Williams, makes the offense hum. He ranks 16th in the Waco area in passing with 62 passes for 1,133 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Jones said what makes him so tough to defend against is his ability to extend plays with his feet.
Senior running back Kendall Ratliff ranks 11th in the Waco area in rushing yards with 913 on 102 carries and 12 touchdowns. Jones credits an offensive line that stands on average at about 6-2 and weighs in the 270s.
The Pirates utilize a zone-read scheme that allows them to use play-action to get their passing game going and skill players rely on quickness to get away from tacklers, Jones said.
“They prefer to run the football first, they’re going to spread you out to run the football,” he said. “They’ll put pressure on you with their running game, and if you pack the box with too many kids, they’re going to start slinging it out there with some of their speed guys.”
The La Vega defense also has speed, Jones said, which means they close to the ball carrier quickly and make sure a play goes for only minimal yards.
“Their secondary is very talented,” Jones said. “Their linebackers are some of the fastest kids we’ve seen this year in getting to the football, and their defensive line is very active. They’re as talented a football team as we’ve seen this year.”
Last season, La Vega beat Burnet 33-28 by forcing three turnovers, though Burnet led 14-0 in the first half. The Pirates had 317 yards on the ground.
Jones said the Bulldogs’ focus is on finishing the regular season the right way. With two games left, he said, each one counts.
“Bottom line for us is we got to go get another victory,” he said. “… We’ll get another shot the last week against Lampasas. Our full attention right now is on La Vega. Everybody is fighting for victories, that’s how it is all over the state of Texas. We got to go put another victory or two in our back pocket to become a playoff team.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com