Burnet football is fitting the puzzle pieces

CAPTION: Burnet senior athlete Marcus Pimentel’s multiple skills allows coaches to use him where he is needed. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Ludecke Photography

The Burnet High School football team continues its preparations for the District 4-4A opener against Marble Falls at Mustang Stadium and will enter the contest with some momentum.

The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Mustang Stadium.

While the Bulldogs may not have had the start to the 2024 season it wanted, few can argue with the results of the last month.

After losing to Lago Vista 23-20 Aug. 29 and to Georgetown East View 51-0 Sept. 6, the Bulldogs (4-2) beat Little River Academy 59-35 Sept. 13, Fredericksburg 22-15 Sept. 20, Gatesville 23-17 Sept. 27, and San Angelo Lake View 50-14 Oct. 4.

The four-game winning streak under the guidance of new head coach Ben Speer.

While he is new to the position, he is not new to Burnet. Speer served as the defensive coordinator on former head coach Bryan Wood’s staff for three years and as the boys head track coach.

Few are more qualified to chat about the Bulldogs’ pre-district season and reflect on the recent past that included a share of the 2023 district title and a bi-district championship. In his first season with the program, Burnet finished 3-7 overall and 1-4 in district in 2021, 4-6 and 1-4 in district in 2022, and 8-4 and 4-1 in district in 2023.

Last year’s team had veteran playmakers who had been three-year lettermen and some were multi-year starters, especially in the skill positions. That allowed coaches to be creative in how they used those athletes.

“Every team is different,” Speer said. “There was so much complexity last year. We had to be a little bit of smoke and mirrors. We needed a lot of those things to help us out. We were undermanned and undersized.”

Going into this season, the belief was the Bulldogs’ offensive strength were in the trenches and at quarterback with returning starter Rhett Murray. But injuries to the linemen the first part of the season forced others to step in. Now the linemen are healthy as the Bulldogs begin the next phase of this season.

“We can hold our own upfront,” Speer said. “The depth has helped us there.”

Murray is being his usual accurate self thanks to connecting on 85 of 153 passes for 962 yards, 12 touchdown and five interceptions. Junior running back Josiah Coronado leads the ground attack thanks to 88 rushes for 534 yards and three scores, and senior athlete Marcus Pimentel is playing where needed. Throw in seniors Khris Kassner and Lew Laidler and junior Riley Howell, and Speer believes the best is coming.

“We haven’t seen our best stuff,” he said. “We’re getting everybody back. We can really start seeing those puzzle pieces. We’re excited with the momentum we have going into district.”