Burnet football season ends in loss to Andrews
CAPTION: Burnet senior athlete Marcus Pimentel and the Bulldogs gave it all they had against Andrews. Photo by Martelle Luedecked/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School football team lost to Andrews 35-21 Nov. 15 in the first round of the Class 4A Division I playoffs.
The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-3) end their season by finishing fourth in District 4-4A Division 1 play.
“I’m proud of our kids,” said Burnet head coach Ben Speer, who finishes his first season at the helm. “I told them I’ve seen the growth. We fail our kids if they leave our fieldhouse just learning football. Are we raising men of good character? It makes me proud and grateful for the opportunities we get. It’s more than football.”
Andrews junior running back JaeSean DeBouse had a 48-yard run that ended on the Burnet one yard line. He scored on the next play for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Andrews junior cornerback Raider Harvey caught a ball over the head of the intended receiver and returned it 39 yards to the Burnet 11-yard line.
Fullback Merq Saiz did the rest with a power run up the middle for the 11-yard score and a 13-0 Mustang advantage in the first quarter.
But the Bulldogs were driving to trim the deficit. Burnet had a touchdown in the end zone, but the ball was dropped. As a result, the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs.
The Burnet defense held, however, and got the ball back to their offensive teammates.
Andrews senior middle linebacker Daylon Jefcoats went to the turf to catch a pass for an interception at the first down marker on the Burnet 35-yard line near the Bulldogs’ sideline.
In the second quarter, DeBouse scored on a 13-yard scamper. The Mustangs converted on the two-point try for a 21-0 lead.
Despite the score, Speer said the Kelly green sideline was calm.
“There was no panic from me and the players,” Speer said. “We know the slot-T teams. It takes a little time to adjust. The sooner you adjust, the better. I was proud of the guys on defense.”
Burnet junior running back Josiah Coronado got the Bulldogs on the board thanks to running 25 yards to paydirt. Marco Campos added the point after to trim the deficit to 21-7 at the half.
Coronado added his second touchdown when he caught a 15-yard pass from senior quarterback Rhett Murray to cut the deficit to 21-14 for the only score of the third period.
In the fourth quarter, Andrews senior outside linebacker Brady Kelley stepped in front of a Burnet pass that was being thrown as the quarterback was tackled. Kelley returned the interception 62 yards for a touchdown for a 35-14 lead.
“They scored first of the second quarter,” Speer said. “They didn’t score again until the pick 6.”
As a result of the score, the Bulldogs made decisions to “go for it” in situations they may not have in other games.
DeBouse added a seven-yard touchdown.
Burnet senior Alejandro Ochoa returned a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown to end the scoring.
Andrews had 268 yards of total offense — all on the ground — with a fumble, was 8 for 16 on third down, and 2 for 4 on fourth down. The Mustangs caught three interceptions and returned one for a score.
DeBouse had 20 carries for 125 yards and three touchdowns with a 6.3 yard per carry average. Saiz had 11 carries for 43 yards with an average of 3.9 yards per carry and a score, and running back Leeroy Millan had 18 carries for 71 yards for an average of 3.9 yards per carry.
Murray was 18 of 41 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Coronado had 14 rushes for 83 yards and a score and caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Senior athlete Marcus Pimentel caught six passes for 74 yards. As a team, the Bulldogs had 20 carries for 99 yards for 323 yards of total offense, was 1 for 10 on third down, and 0 for 4 on fourth down.
“Credit (Andrews),” Speer said. “They did a great job on defense pressuring us and getting our quarterback away from his first read. We made adjustments. Defensively, they did things they hadn’t shown all year. We made them earn it.”
Speer noted that “from the outside looking in,” it seems the three interceptions were the difference in the game.
“It doesn’t come down to that,” he said. “(Our quarterback) tried to press the issue and do as much as he could. It’s a hard, hard lesson. We love him and his competitive spirit, and he did what he could to help his team win. Andrews did a good job of changing the game plan on defense and doing stuff they don’t normally do.”
And he also noted other units also had a play here and there they wish ended differently.
“We had a bad punt and a turnover,” the coach said. “Those things are tough.”
Speer pointed out he didn’t see a Bulldog take a play off. He saw maximum effort, adding there’s plenty to look forward to.
“I’m so proud of our boys and the way we played,” he said. “Our junior varsity went 7-3 on the year and were in every game. We’re excited about that group as well. They kept rolling and winning.”
