Burnet football beats Taylor to be co-district champs, playing Somerset Nov. 9
CAPTION: Burnet head coach Bryan Wood shows the Bulldogs a gold ball symbolizing they are the District 13-4A Division I champions. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School football team beat Taylor 13-7 Nov. 3 to claim a share of the District 13-4A Division I crown.
The Bulldogs (7-3, 4-1) now prepare for Somerset (6-4, 3-2 District 14-4A Division I co-runner-up) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at San Marcos High School.
“I’m just happy for our kids,” Burnet head coach Bryan Wood said. “We wanted to make the playoffs, we got a piece of the district championship. It hasn’t soaked in yet.”
The contest was scoreless until late in the final quarter. At halftime, Wood said he was honest with his players.
“We have a fight,” he recalled saying. “Keep swinging. Keep giving us all you got.”
Burnet scored twice to go up 13-0 in the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Khris Kassner had a long run that opened up the Taylor defense. Senior Trenton Park scored to complete a 50-yard drive for a 7-0 lead, Wood said.
Senior running back Dash Denton added another run to the red zone. Senior Will Johnson scored from 15 yards for the 13-0 lead.
“We had a couple of big plays,” Wood said. “Finally we were able to get a drive that continued on. We had a lot of three-and-outs.”
The Ducks got on the scoreboard with about four minutes left to trim the deficit in half.
“They’re good,” Wood said of the Ducks. “I kept listening to people talking to me about how many points they give up.”
Burnet had 312 yards of total offense with 189 coming on the ground and 123 in the air. Denton had 15 rushes for 66 yards, while Kassner had six rushes for 60 yards, and Park had eight carries for 30 yards and a score and two receptions for 41 yards.
Junior quarterback Rhett Murray completed 10 of 19 passes for 123 yards and an interception. Senior athlete Grant Jones had four catches for 40 yards.
Taylor had 132 rushing yards and 84 passing yards for a total of 216 yards of total offense. Park had 12 tackles and a pass breakup, while Jones had 10 tackles. Senior defensive back Jacob Atkinson caught an interception.
Wood tipped his hat to the Burnet defense that held Taylor scoreless for 44 minutes of play, noting the Ducks can score quickly and often. Taylor missed a couple of field goals.
“We were sound in everything we do,” he said. “They were playing some tempo. I thought we got ourselves in alignment, and I thought we tackled well. We didn’t give up a big play. We never let them throw over the tops of our heads.”
Wood couldn’t commend the Bulldogs enough for their commitment to doing what it takes to be successful, their willingness to be coached, their embrace of the plays and schemes, and their willingness to prepare leading up to each game. It’s why they ended district play on a four-game winning streak.
“We’re in year three of building a program and buying in and doing your job,” he said. “The kids have so much fight. After the game, I told them, ‘You found a way. Keep doing it and enjoy the ride.’ I’m very proud.”
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