Burnet football team’s enthusiasm shows at practices
BURNET — The hootin’ and hollerin’ after a huge hit spoke volumes about the enthusiasm of the Burnet High School football team.
The Bulldogs have enjoyed several days in full pads, something that senior athlete Zach Maldonado said he and his teammates have been waiting for some time to experience.
“Oh I love it. It’s great to be able to hit somebody, get some competition,” he said. “I don’t really like the 7-on-7 thing as much without the pads. So definitely digging the pads and everything else with that.”
The Bulldogs were in full form Aug. 9. They broke down into various stations during both practice sessions with the final 30 minutes of each featuring 11-on-11.
The full pads call for full contact.
“I think we’re doing good. We’re getting a lot more physical,” Maldonado said. “Getting in a lot better condition. We’ll definitely be the best conditioned football team out there every Friday night, so that’s what we’re looking for.”
Head coach Doyle Walker said his players are moving in the right direction.
“Better every day,” he said.
The newcomers continue to give maximum effort, he said, and noted the returners are grasping the playbook well.
Senior quarterback Weston Cozby and Maldonado said the younger players are doing well.
“They know everything they’re supposed to do,” Cozby said. “I don’t have to tell them. They do what they’re supposed to do. I already feel like I can count on these younger guys. We still have a whole week and a half almost. Just to get better and better in that week and a half, we’re going to be solid.”
“We’re learning every day,” Maldonado said. “We got some young people, but they’re learning fast. We got a lot of smart players. We talked a lot about being smart on the football field, and we’re learning a lot faster than I thought and I think the coaches are thinking, too, so it’s going good for us.”
The Bulldogs will travel to Boerne Champion for a scrimmage against the Chargers and Fredericksburg on Aug. 13. The scrimmage starts at 10 a.m.
“I think everybody is just so ready,” Cozby said. “It’s been a whole year. So we’re ready.”