90-minute delay doesn’t slow down Burnet in 55-12 win

DANIEL CLIFTON • EDITOR

BURNET — The Burnet Bulldogs exploded for 55 points in their season opener Aug. 26, even after enduring a 90-minute weather delay in the second quarter. The Bulldogs beat the Austin Reagan Raiders 55-12.

The Bulldogs used a variety of players to put points on the board with Sterling Galban leading with three touchdowns. Koby Edwards, Steven Gallardo, Tyler Ford and Ian Carter added one each. Tyler Torres topped things off with his leg. In addition to hitting every extra-point attempt of the game, Torres nailed 28- and 40-yard field goals.

Burnet struck first in the first half when Edwards connected with Galban on a 12-yard pass into the end zone. On the ensuing kickoff, Burnet recovered a mishandled return and ended up with the ball on Reagan’s 2-yard line. Two plays later, Edwards punched it in, putting Burnet up 14-0.

The Raiders, however, answered back with a touchdown of their own, but failed to convert the point-after attempt. Burnet led 14-6.

Then the lightning came.

The two teams headed into their locker rooms to wait out the weather. When they returned at about 10:30 p.m., the coaches probably had a question or two about how their teams would respond.

Burnet head coach Kurt Jones got his answer right away.

Right out of the gate, Edwards hit Gallardo for a 10-yard touchdown.

Reagan returned the favor on 75-yard drive, and it looked as if it was headed into a game of “you can score, I can score.” But it would be the last time Reagan would find the end zone.

Burnet, however, found it several more times. And Torres topped things off with his foot.

“You want to see if your team is mature enough to handle the delay and stay focused,” Jones said. “I feel like we did just that.”

The Bulldogs kept on scoring, including a Gallardo-to-Galban 36-yard touchdown strike. Galban added one more, while Tyler Ford and Ian Carpenter chipped in one each.

And the defense, well, they stepped up big, putting pressure on Reagan’s quarterback, Alvin Harper.

Reid Dalrymple came up with two fumble recovers for the Bulldogs, and Garrett Young came up with one as well. Late in the game, when Reagan looked as if they might mount a drive, Burnet’s Kyle Cavender crushed those hopes when he intercepted a Harper pass.

The Bulldogs start the season with a 1-0 record, but they know it’s only the first week. Now, it’s back to work as they prepare to host the Marble Falls Mustangs on Friday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

daniel@thepicayune.com