MINERAL WELLS — Bulldog fans could not be more proud of the effort shown as the Bulldogs made 2009 a fun season to remember.

One would have a hard time convincing Burnet fans that the better team won Friday night, but the team that played best did come out victorious.

Burkburnett fought hard throughout, minimized their mistakes and finished with a convincing 17-play 90-yard drive. Their final march started inside their own five-yard line after a nice Tyler Clark kick.

Burkburnett was soon faced with a third and long from their own five, when a possible game saving 11-yard, up the gut run by quarterback Canon Cornelius kept the Burk boys alive.

Burkburnett continued pounding away and Cornelius sealed Burnet’s fate 15-plays later by converting on a fourth down attempt before taking a knee, securing a 27-21 Burkburnett victory.

Burnet was hit hard with mistakes on both sides of the ball and even special teams. Never has the saying ‘You win as a team, and you loose as a team,’ been more appropriate.

Burkburnett had first possession, but they were forced to punt after a seven-play, 26-yard drive stalled at their own 39 due to some great plays by Dustin Kuehler, Quade Stubblefield, Taylor Letterman and Ryan Rundzieher.

A nice out of bounds punt had Burnet starting at their own 17, but on the third snap from scrimmage Dillon Chafin tossed one deep to Stephen Young who made a nice grab and run, covering 69-yards of grid-iron before being tackled at the Burk 17.

Spencer Thurman picked up four more on a quick pass, but an incomplete pass and a short Jathan Craig run brought on the field goal unit.

Disaster soon struck in the form of a blocked kick that was scooped up and returned 64-yards for a touchdown. The PAT was good and Burkburnett led 7-0 with 4:57 left in the first.

Defenses traded three and out series forcing one punt apiece.

The Dawgs’ next drive ended in Burkburnett territory when a fourth and 12 screen to Zac Maldonado came up short, turning the ball over on downs.

The Burk Bulldogs put together an eight-play drive that carried the game into the second period and ended with a touchdown toss on third and long. It was a Cornelius to Temi Ogunleye pass in the corner of the zone. The PAT fell short and Aaron Thomas made a valiant effort on a return before being run out of bounds around midfield, 13-0.

A Young fair catch on the ensuing kick had Burnet starting at their own 28. A toss in the flats to Craig came with a big Burk hit, but was good for four yards.

Young got two touches, rushing for eight on his first carry before a nice snag on a quick Chafin pass had him stretching out just inches short of the first at the Burkburnett 34.

Craig stepped into the wildcat on third down and put Burnet on the board when he busted one up the gut for a 34-yard touchdown. Brandon Jacque did a great job corralling the snap and Clark’s kick made it 13-7 with 6:45 in the half.

Burnet’s special teams had the home team crowd roaring when they caught Burkburnett off guard with an onside kick that Burnet’s Quade Stubblefield recovered.

That roar came with an echo on the very next play as a Chafin pass was picked off by Gavin Whittaker who returned the interception 24 yards to the Burkburnett 44.

The men in orange moved to the Burnet 32 in five plays, but Bulldog defenders Alex Wallace, Letterman and Thurman soon helped force a fourth down attempt.

Tyger Fluke along side of Kuehler looked to have come up with a huge play, stuffing the run to turn the ball over on downs, but a generous spot moved the chains, and six plays later the turnover turned into Burkburnett points as QB Cornelius bulled in for a 3-yard score. The PAT made it 20-7 with 2:05 to play in the half.

A Stubblefield return had Burnet starting at the 36. If things weren’t hard enough, a Chafin to Craig pass down the middle was nullified by holding, forcing a first and 20. A Chafin to Thurman pass soon netted 16 yards. Josh Barrera hauled in the next pass and fought hard for extra yards and a first down.

A middle field pass to Thurman picked up nine more to the Burkburnett 29. A toss to Jacque moved seven steps to the 22.

The next two passes fell incomplete, including a near touchdown catch by Thurman. A defensive holding flag flew on third and 10 moving Burnet to the 12-yard line.

Craig pushed for 11 and three-quarter yards, but while fighting to cross the goal line with just eight seconds left in the half numerous defenders delivered shots and Craig lost control. The ball went through the zone for a touchback to end the half, 20-7.

A 29-yard Jacque kickoff return had Burnet starting the second half from their own 39. This was a five-play drive and Craig was the work-horse with runs of 5 yards, 24 yards, 11 yards, and 4 yards before being gang tackled and stripped of the ball 7 yards from paydirt.

Defensive teammates had his back. Letterman, Fluke and Wallace got a three and out started and Barrera ended the series with a nice run stop to force a punt.

Burnet had great field position at the Burkburnett 40. A little frustration set in on the offense with fumbles, dropped passes, and missed assignments, but the Dawg offense was back and directed their disappointment toward Burkburnett. Coaches continued to lean on Craig, and the offensive line did their best against some big Burkburnett boys.

Aside from one incomplete pass, Craig was the go to guy again, covering all 40 yards on three carries, and scored with a spirit-redeeming 30-yard touchdown sweep down the visitors’ sideline. The PAT made it 20-14 with 6:58 left in the third, and the Dawgs were in the hunt.

Three plays later jaws were dropping when Burkburnett QB Cornelius cashed in for a 51-yard touchdown on an up the middle keeper. The PAT was good, bringing the score to 27-14 with 4:48 left in the third.

Chafin went to the air twice completing one to Jacque for 6 yards. A 2 yard Craig run brought on the punt team facing fourth and two. A fake punt resulted in a 7 yard Craig run and a new set of downs.

Craig churned out 17 more on the next play to move the chains again to the Burkburnett 31. Young added 2 yards on a reverse, before Chafin hit Jacque on a pass for seven more steps.

Chafin went back to Jacque on the next play and the crowd was already on their feet as Jacque snagged the pass right at the goal line, but lost control while trying to tuck away the ball and the pass was ruled incomplete.

Craig entered the game for a fourth down attempt but came up just short.

Burnet’s defense soon benefited from a chop block against Burkburnett that forced the men in orange into a second and 19.

Plays by Vincent Rivera, Wallace and Stubblefield helped force a punt early in the fourth.

With 11:42 on the clock, the Dawgs started at the Burkburnett 47. Play one was a 2-yard pass to Young, and Zac Maldonado sprung for 12 steps next. A toss to Thurman followed by a nice stiff arm added 18 more yards. A diving catch by Craig put Burnet on the 12, but the Dawgs soon faced a desperate fourth and 15 after a Chafin sack.

With no other choice, Chafin tossed one up to the corner and Thurman came through in the clutch with an over the top touchdown grab to keep Burnet’s hopes alive. The crowd went crazy as Clark’s PAT made it a six point game with 8:56 to play.

Clark’s ensuing kickoff took a perfect bounce, dying at the three before a scrambling Burkburnett player covered it just inside the five.

Wallace and Letterman had Burnet fans erupting when they tag-teamed Cornelius for a 2-yard sack.

Next it was Travis Meadows and Wallace on the tackle forcing a third and 10.

Things were lining up perfect for a dramatic finish and both crowds were in a frenzied state of mind.

Out of all the plays made offensively by Burkburnett, its an 11-yard Cornelius run with backs to the wall that will likely be most remembered as he barrelled up the middle for an all important first down.

Burkburnett pounded out an unthinkable 17 plays, drained almost nine minutes off the clock and preserved a 27-21 win after converting a late fourth down attempt.

2009 was a fun filled season with lots of great accomplishments. Dawg fans have a plethora of memories to reflect on, and the 2009 Bulldogs can hold their heads high.

Only six previous Bulldog teams throughout the history of Burnet football have matched or beaten this year’s achievements. That puts 2009 in the mix of some pretty good company including the 1991 state finalist, 1992 regional, 1995 regional, 1999 quarterfinal, 2002 state finalist, 2003 state finalist, and 2009 regional finalist.

The Burnet Bulletin will bring you official game stats as soon as they are available as well as the 2009 All-District team selections. Watch for those in the weeks to come.