Bulldogs display traits that make them winners

The Burnet High School football team’s season came to an end with a 24-0 loss to China Spring last week.

Though the Bulldogs and their fans are disappointed they did not go further than the bi-district round, there’s plenty to be happy about.

First, Burnet suffered through one of the most difficult pre-district schedules in the state.

The Bulldogs opened the season with a 35-24 loss to Brownwood, which boasted several Division I-A wide receivers. At first the Lions took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter when the secondary was confused on coverages. 

Still, Burnet did not fold. Instead, the Bulldogs went to work only to have time run out.

They followed that with a loss to Pflugerville Hendrickson, 18-14. The game was not lost until the final four minutes of the game. That was when the Hawks scored on a punt return and Burnet failed to convert on fourth down. However, Bubba Richards recovered a fumble to give the Bulldogs one last chance. But the Hawk defense was up to the task.

While any loss is tough to take, the setback to Marble Falls looked like it would be one the Bulldogs would not recover from.

Mustangs quarterback and linebacker Thor Woerner led his squad on both sides of the ball with interceptions and touchdown drives. Marble Falls won, 40-30, for the first time since the mid-1990s. 

Though the Mustangs took a 34-13 halftime lead, the Bulldogs never believed they were out of the contest. Instead, they just went to work.

The Bulldogs ensured a happy homecoming by beating Manor, 48-0. The win illustrated complete domination in every phase of the contest and showed what kind of team Burnet had. The Bulldogs scored by running and throwing the ball and made sure Manor turnovers were turned into points. 

But back-to-back losses to Wimberley and Liberty Hill to begin District 8-3A play could have crushed the Bulldogs, especially since Burnet had them beat.

A last-second Liberty Hill touchdown pass and a fourth-down play that was one yard short against Wimberley kept Burnet winless in the first two games of league play.

But Burnet would not give up. Instead, they beat Llano and Fredericksburg before taking a bye. They defeated Ingram and Canyon Lake after a bye. They won both of those quite easily to go into the playoffs. 

Give head coach Doyle Walker and his staff a lot of credit. They got their players ready to go and kept their heads up as the season unfolded. 

Sure, they could have faltered under the setbacks to some very good teams. They were able to bounce back from a 1-5 start when it looked very much like they wouldn’t.

The players showed true character and grit and made sure they would not be remembered as a team that had talent and ability but did not close out games. Instead, they will be remembered as a team that never accepted losing, always played with heart and determination, and performed without excuses.

While being shutout by China Spring is difficult to swallow, the Bulldogs can take pride knowing that when others doubted if they could advance to the playoffs, the only ones who believed it could be done were the people in the locker room.

And they truly exemplify the Burnet Way by how they competed.

jfierro@thepicayune.com

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images