The Bulldogs pulled off a huge win over Liberty Hill on Friday night and greatly improved their chances for a playoff spot after defeating the Panthers, 44-36 at Bulldog Stadium. 

Burnet threw an interception on its first drive of the night and three plays later Liberty Hill cashed it in for a score, 7-0.

Two drives later the Bulldogs put the ball on the ground and the Panthers were there to recover the fumble. With 1:12 left on the first quarter clock Liberty Hill took a 14-0 lead after turning Burnet’s second turnover into points.

Burnet put their first points on the board early in the second quarter on a 27-yard pass play from Derek Kiser to Cory Cavender.

Following a tremendous defensive effort by Hunter Thomas, Cameron Chafin, and Austin Esposito the Bulldog offensive was back on the field with a fourth down turnover by the Panthers.

Burnet evened the score at 14 all with 8:04 in the second on a 1-yard Kiser keep.

With 5:20 in the half Burnet claimed their first lead of the game on a 40-yard pass from Kiser to Jordan Barnard. After Austin Huff’s third PAT the Dawgs were up 21-14 and that’s how the half ended.

Huff’s second half kickoff was a short one that went straight up and Burnet’s Barnard was there for the recovery. On third and 11 from the Liberty Hill 27 Kiser found a wide open Barnard who put the Dawgs on top, 28-14 with 10:01 left in the third.

Liberty Hill answered with a score on its first drive of the second half, 28-20 with Burnet still on top.

On the 11-play of the Dawgs ensuing drive Huff kicked a 21-yard field goal increasing Burnet’s lead to 31-21.

The Bulldogs once again went to work on special teams with a short kick that Barnard recovered for Burnet and after a penalty Burnet was looking good on the Liberty Hill 29-yard line. Four short plays later Kiser hit Travis Massingill for a 16-yard score, putting Burnet up 37-21.

Liberty Hill answered with a 53-yard rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion which brought them closer at 37-29 and that’s how the third ended.

With 10:14 left in the game Kiser, out of a scramble found an open Trent Hafley for a 16-yard touchdown. Huff’s kick made it, 44-29.

Liberty Hill was forced to punt after just three plays with smothering defense by Kody Hall and Thomas but the kick was a beauty that rolled dead at the 4-yard line. On the second play of the drive Burnet threw an interception that gave the Panthers new life with 7:30 left in the game.

It only took three plays for the Cats to find an open receiver in the end zone and after the PAT it was 44-36.

Burnet was forced to punt and Liberty Hill eventually moved all the way to the Dawgs 33, but that’s where Cameron Langley took over. Langley made three straight stops on Panther runs and on fourth and 11 he put tremendous pressure on the Panther QB, causing an incomplete and turning the ball over on downs.

With 3:40 on the clock Burnet ran two plays, both of which resulted in a loss of yards. On third down and 14 from their own 25 Kiser looked downfield and found Langley who made a great catch 1-yard past the sticks for the biggest first down of the game.

Two Hafley runs followed and a naked bootleg by Kiser on third down that picked up another first sealed the game for the Bulldogs. Three knees later it was in the books, 44-36 Burnet.

The Dawgs will continue their quest for three straight victories next Friday night on the road at Llano. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Pick-up Wednesday’s edition of the Burnet Bulletin for complete game information.