Badgers pour it on Dawgs late in blowout

The Burnet Bulldogs welcomed the number two stateranked Lampasas Badgers to town last Friday and for two and a half quarters the contest was closer than the final score may indicate.

After trading a few punts, the Badgers put together the game’s first scoring drive starting from their own 42. On the fifth snap of the series Burnet’s Cade Rye separated a Badger receiver from the ball with a big hit, but Badger’s star quarterback Ace Whitehead soon called his own number capping a seven-play drive with a 25-yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was good, 7-0, 5:10 first.

The teams traded two more punts before Burnet’s offense was on the move. A 68-yard Jaxson Denton run had Burnet fans on their feet. The Bulldogs were looking to even the score, but it all ended in a snap when the Badgers caused and recovered a fumble on the ensuing play. In short time the Bulldog

In short time the Bulldog fumble turned into Badger points. Burnet defender Hunter McCoy recorded a touchdown saving tackle chasing down a sprinting Badger after a 56-yard run. Whitehead then went back to the air connecting with 6’6” receiver Lane Haviland who broke a tackle and raced in for a 22-yard score. The PAT by Whitehead was good, 14-0, 57 seconds left in the first. It was a defensive battle

It was a defensive battle for the remainder of the first half. The Bulldogs collected a turnover of their own when a tackle led by Caleb Roberts caused a fumble that was pounced on by Landon Christian for the Bulldogs.

A combination of missed opportunities, big defensive plays and penalties made for a scoreless second quarter. It was a very respectable first half of football for the Bulldogs who were already playing without their starting running back Marcus Escamilla.

The Esprit de Corps put on a great halftime show to entertain the crowd before the third quarter began.

With 8:45 left in the third things were looking up for the Bulldogs whose defense forced a fourth down situation, but the game came to a halt on that third down stop.

The crowds went silent as they tried to see who the injured player was, it was Burnet’s two-way starter, quarterback and defensive back, Jaxson Denton. Denton was lost for the game from that point on due to the injury.

The Badgers overcame the fourth down play but in a blink were facing a third and 17; that too was overcome with perhaps the easiest touchdown of Badger senior wide receiver Michael Murray’s career. Miscommunication in the Bulldog secondary left the wideout standing all alone in the endzone for a 40-yard toss and catch score, 21-0, 7:21 third.

The Badgers poured it on heavy in the final 18 minutes of play. The visitors added two more scores to close out the third, 35-0.

In short time a Badger onside kick attempt gave the Bulldogs a short field opportunity and the Dawgs took advantage. Backup quarterback Cade Rye went to receiver Devonte Miller who scooped one just above the turf overcoming a third and long with a 32-yard gain.

The two soon connected again, this time for a Miller 13-yard touchdown, 35-7, 10:40 fourth.

Whitehead and Murray padded their stats a bit with a 26-yard touchdown connection mid-fourth quarter to make it 42-7.

With the visitors practicing their hurry-up offense in the final minutes they reeled off eight-plays to get Whitehead in range for a 46-yard field goal to make it 45-7 before the final buzzer sounded.

The Bulldogs will get a second bye-week since the Taylor Ducks have forfeited this Friday’s game. Burnet’s varsity team will return to action on Oct. 30 when they travel to play Austin LBJ. The LBJ squad defeated Fredericksburg 35-13 Friday and will play the Badgers this Friday in Lampasas for what will likely be the district championship.

Burnet will wrap-up district play on Nov. 6 when they host Canyon Lake.