Burnet football looks to add another win
Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School football team will travel to play at Fredericksburg at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.
The Bulldogs (1-2) are looking to win their second game in a row, while the Billies (0-3) are searching for their first.
But Fredericksburg’s record is deceiving, Burnet head coach Ben Speer said.
“They’ve played a tough schedule — Lampasas, Wimberley and (Kerrville) Tivy,” he said. “They ran into three really good teams.”
Wimberley, which won 35-9, always has a solid team, while Tivy, which was victorious 51-0, is a District 13-5A Division II member. And most everyone in Burnet County knows how good the Badgers are. Last season Burnet and Lampasas, which beat Fredericksburg 40-21, were co-district champions.
“The Lampasas game was pretty close,” Speer said, pointing out the Badgers led 30-21 at the half. “You’d like to see the one against Wimberley more one-sided; it wasn’t until the end.”
Speer sees some of the same traits in the Billies’ opponents his Bulldogs have faced in the last three games. One has a larger enrollment, while the others have played in the same system for awhile.
Offensively, the Billies run a version of the spread offense with three- and four-receiver sets and a running back with the quarterback, who has the option of running or passing the ball.
Senior quarterback Brooks Immel has completed 32 of 59 passes for 523 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Senior running back Luke Harkleroad had 24 carries for 81 yards, while sophomore receiver Griffin Beard has 13 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns and senior Aidan Neuzil has eight catches for 142 yards.
“The quarterback does a good job,” Speer said. “You know they’re going to try to get (Beard) the ball.”
Defensively, the Billies strive to be disciplined, stingy and tough.
“They don’t do anything flashy or fancy,” Speer said. “They do their techniques and play hard.”
The Bulldogs aim to continue what they started in a 49-35 victory against Little River Academy Sept. 13 when they raced to a 36-0 lead.
Burnet had 482 yards of total offense led by senior quarterback Rhett Murray, who completed 24 of 31 passes for 276 yards, four touchdowns and a score. He hit 10 different receivers led by junior fullback Riley Howell, who had two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Senior Colt Stanford had five catches for 47 yards. Junior running back Josiah Coronado had 17 rushes for 118 yards.
The Bulldogs limited the Bees to 74 yards rushing on 24 carries and 219 passing yards and three touchdowns.
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