Burnet football earns first road win in blowing out Canyon Lake

CAPTION: The Canyon Lake Hawks had no answers for the Bulldogs’ air attack and senior receiver Garner Krause. Photo by Daniel Clifton

The Burnet High School football team beat Fischer Canyon Lake 45-20 Oct. 20 to move to third in the District 13-4A Division I standings.

This road victory is the Bulldogs’ (5-3, 2-1) first of the season.

“It was a huge win,” head coach Bryan Wood said. “I told our kids before the game I thought it was going to be a staple win for our program. We needed to win a game we weren’t picked to win. It was a good feeling, satisfying, to know you’re able to win on the road and be a team all the computers you’re not.”

During the first quarter, each offense matched each other score for score with the Hawks winning 14-7 with 1 minute and 44 seconds left. But when the Bulldogs got a stop, the momentum flipped to Burnet and didn’t flip back.

By the end of the second quarter, Burnet led 32-14 that included a 98-yard slant pass touchdown to senior athlete Grant Jones from junior quarterback Rhett Murray. The other touchdown pass, on a deep post to senior receiver Garner Krause, provided a bigger gap at the intermission because it happened in the final 90 seconds of the half.

“We played catch really well,” Wood said. “We scored on every possession in the first half. That (Krause touchdown) made it a three-possession game and then we got the ball coming out of halftime. We were able to come out and we were in cruise control.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs were able to do what they wanted, which was run the football in the second half to shorten the game and not give the Hawks the opportunity to score.

In the end, Burnet got the win it needed and put themselves in position for a playoff berth.

Wood noted the way the first quarter played out — with each offense answering the other — was big mentally as the Bulldog defense was settling into its own rhythm on forcing punts.

“It’s a big confidence booster,” Wood said of being able to answer. “And coaches are not immune to it. They get the ball first and do a methodical march down the field and score. We had four possessions and had four touchdowns. The fact that our kids answered the first one was huge.”

Murray completed 16 of 18 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns. At one point, he had completed 16 consecutive passes after missing on his first throw. Jones had six catches 179 yards and a score and had eight rushes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Krause had six receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Hawks were limited to 384 yards of total offense with 250 on the ground and 134 in the air. The Bulldogs also got three turnovers.

Wood noted the Hawks had a plan and performed it well at the beginning. But Krause’s catch was a game changer.

“I think they were well prepared,” he said. “They brought it. We let them air it out.”

Burnet now turns its attention to traveling to play at district leader San Antonio Davenport at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. The Wolves (6-2, 3-0) beat Lampasas 56-21 Oct. 20.

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CAPTION: Burnet senior athlete Grant Jones contributes 265 yards of total offense during the win against Canyon Lake. Photo by Daniel Clifton