Burnet football earns road win in impressive fashion
CAPTION: Burnet quarterback Tanner O’Hair (left), junior receiver Will Johnson and the Bulldogs earned a big win against Giddings. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School football team ended a two-game skid with a huge win against Giddings 28-7 Sept. 16.
“I was real proud of them to get the win,” head coach Bryan Wood said.
Junior Grant Jones led the path to victory.
After Giddings (1-3, District 12-4A Division II) took a 7-0 lead, Jones blocked a punt in the second quarter that was returned for a 35-yard touchdown.
“That probably was the difference in the game,” Wood said. “That woke us up. Everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
The blocked punt re-energized the Bulldogs and led to an 11-yard touchdown by senior receiver Braden Ellett-Clark for a 14-7 lead at the half.
The Buffaloes, however, emerged from the locker room determined and started driving the ball to begin the third quarter. When Giddings got to the Burnet 30-yard line, Jones stepped in front of a pass for an interception.
Senior quarterback Tanner O’Hair found Jones on a 5-yard touchdown pass he turned into a 60-yard sprint to paydirt in the third period.
The two hooked up again in the fourth quarter for a 10-yard score.
“Grant has always played hard,” the coach said. “We had times where he was taken out of the game with double coverage. He had a good night. He was the big guy who got everybody going.”
Wood noted defenses must decide which Bulldog they’re stopping because they can all hurt opponents. While Jones had six receptions for 111 yards and two scores, he was simply following in the footsteps of other teammates who put up similar numbers the past three weeks.
“That puts people in a little bit of a pickle,” the coach said. “We have a number of guys who can catch balls and who can carry it.”
Four starters didn’t play. That meant keeping four junior varsity players on the roster and asking them to play.
Burnet had 273 yards of total offense with 187 yards in the air.
Giddings had 226 yards of total offense with 118 rushing yards and 108 passing yards.
Burnet travels to face Early at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.
