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Photos by Chris Darus
September 2, 2021
Bulldogs open football season with losses, but show promise.
By Chris Darus
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera's Bulldogs, both JV and varsity, opened their season against the Poteet Aggies last week.
JV
The Bulldogs were looking to open the season Thursday with a win, but came up on the short end of a 20-12 score.
Poteet's ball control game was evident from the opening kickoff as they scored on an extended drive with 4:42 left in the first quarter on a 16 yard rush. A failed two point conversion would keep it 6-0.
Bandera did stop the Aggies short on fourth down attempts numerous times, taking over on downs.
Late in the second quarter, Bandera started a drive with 1:56 left and was moving the ball well through the air, but an interception at the Poteet one yard line on a fourth and seven, killed the drive and keep the score 6-0 at the half.
Poteet stopped Bandera early in the third and after a short Bulldog punt and a good return, got good field position at the Bulldog 25. The Aggies would score on their first play and another stop by the Bulldog defense on the conversion try makes it 12-0.
The Bulldogs scored on a 59 yard catch and run from Dylan Gherman to Corben Gonzales. Bandera tries a two pointer but it falls short and the score is 12-6 with 7:58 left in the third.
The Bulldogs fail to score on a short field later, but get the ball back on a fumble recovery and start from the Poteet 34. On a third and long, Poteet takes over after a hard hit on Gherman to stop another Bulldog chance to tie the game.
Going into the fourth, the Bulldogs still had a chance to battle for a win, right where you want to be if you aren't in the lead.
After another Poteet interception, the Aggies had the ball on the Bulldog 32 and scored on a short rush and a good two point conversion, to go ahead, 20-6.
The Bulldogs other QB, Dylan Peace, found Tyler Bivens, who broke a few tackles on his way, to score a 56 yard touchdown to make it 20-12 with 7:48 left in the game.
Bandera was threatening to score and maybe tie the game late in the fourth, but a fumble ended their last chance to score.
Bandera moved the ball well with 176 yards through the air and almost 100 on the ground and looked good in their first contest of the season.
The JV does have some work to do though, reducing the drops on catchable balls, protecting the QB, turnovers and scoring in the red zone. With work in these areas, the Bulldogs will win some games this season.
Varsity
Much like the JV, the Bulldog varsity were looking to avenge a loss from last season, but it would be a tall order as Poteet is one of the better teams Bandera will face this season.
Both teams showed a bit of opening day jitters, with both going three and out on their first set of downs, before settling down.
Bandera moved the ball well on their second possession and looking at a fourth and goal from the 7, score first on a 17 yard Tyler Moore field goal to take a 3-0 lead, the only time Bandera would have it.
The potent Aggie ground control running game, led by 2000 yard rusher, RB Ernest Davila, gave the Bulldog defense a hard time, but Poteet's inital score was on a fourth down on a 16 yard pass with 3:26 left in the first. A missed PAT keeps it 6-0.
Davila scored three minutes later on an 85 yard run with 29 seconds left in the first to make it 13-3 to end the quarter after a good PAT.
Bandera has a turnover due to a bad exchange on a handoff, giving the Aggies a short field at the Bulldog 32 and Davila scores on a six yard rush and another missed PAT makes it 19-3.
Poteet's blocks a Bulldog punt and advance it to score once again in the second, taking a 26-3 lead at halftime.
Bandera finally found the end zone in the second half as Bulldog QB, Tyler Moore found a wide open Luke Barnett for a 30 yard catch and run.
The following kickoff saw Davila run back 90 yards to score and negate the Bulldog score just seconds before and a good PAT made it 33-9.
After stopping the Aggies on a fourth and 3 deep in Bandera territory, the Bulldogs make an extended drive topped of with Moore making a nifty 45 yard run, actually more like 65 with the dodging and cutbacks, on his way to the end zone late in the third.
Moore's kick on the PAT would hit the left upright and fall back in the field of play, making it 33-15 with 4:09 left in the third.
Davila scored before the end of the third and the score stays at 39-15 after Jesse Cardens blocks the PAT attempt to end the scoring for the game.
Davilla, one of the best RBs Bandera will face all season, would finish with 206 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns.
Bandera had chances to score on a short field on a few occasions, but didnt capitalize on them and that cost them some points. Too many turnovers, stalled drives and special teams breakdowns essentially cost Bandera a chance to win.
"We moved the ball well all night. We have a good defense this season and that will allow us to play the field position game much like two years ago. That, along with making first downs, and scoring when in the plus territory is all important. We will be working on special teams and taking care of the football this week in practice.
We had opportunities to make it a close game, but we didn't and along with some miscues cost us. Without the two special teams scores by Poteet and the two missed extra points by us, it was a one score game.
There was lots to be proud of. We did some things offensively we haven't been doing, we did have some long sustained drives and I believe we outgained the Aggies, both good things for us," coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said.
Bandera ended up with 308 yards of offense, 121 passing and 187 rushing and will need to improve on ball control and special teams, the two things that hurt them the most against Poteet as they get ready for Cotulla this Friday.
"Cotulla is a big, physical team with two big running backs and lots of guys that play both ways, a lot like we do, I think it will be pretty evenly matched game," Fontenot-Amedee said.
Kickoff for the Bulldogs home opener is set for Friday, Sept. 3, at 7:30, come and check out this year’s Bulldog and the new scoreboard.
Bandera at Poteet
Bandera stats:
Passing_ T. Moore, 10-18-121-1-0, J. Cardenas, 0-2-0-0-1
Rushing_T. Moore, 15-126, J. Cardenas, 17-41, L. Barnett, 2-7, Ethan Rutherford, 1-13
Receiving_ Brandon Miller, 5-62, Darian Dirck, 2-36, J. Cardenas, 2--7, L. Barnett, 1-30
Tackles_ Cardenas, 5, L. Barnett, 4, Liam DeMarchi 4, Matthew Stanton, 4, Jorge Cabasos, 3, Brice Clemens, 3, Issac Martinez, 3, E. Rutherford, 3
Assists_ Cardenas, 6, DeMarchi, 4, Barnett, 3, Cabasos, 3, Stanton, 2
Sacks _ DeMarchi, 2, Stanton, 1
JV
The Bulldogs were looking to open the season Thursday with a win, but came up on the short end of a 20-12 score.
Poteet's ball control game was evident from the opening kickoff as they scored on an extended drive with 4:42 left in the first quarter on a 16 yard rush. A failed two point conversion would keep it 6-0.
Bandera did stop the Aggies short on fourth down attempts numerous times, taking over on downs.
Late in the second quarter, Bandera started a drive with 1:56 left and was moving the ball well through the air, but an interception at the Poteet one yard line on a fourth and seven, killed the drive and keep the score 6-0 at the half.
Poteet stopped Bandera early in the third and after a short Bulldog punt and a good return, got good field position at the Bulldog 25. The Aggies would score on their first play and another stop by the Bulldog defense on the conversion try makes it 12-0.
The Bulldogs scored on a 59 yard catch and run from Dylan Gherman to Corben Gonzales. Bandera tries a two pointer but it falls short and the score is 12-6 with 7:58 left in the third.
The Bulldogs fail to score on a short field later, but get the ball back on a fumble recovery and start from the Poteet 34. On a third and long, Poteet takes over after a hard hit on Gherman to stop another Bulldog chance to tie the game.
Going into the fourth, the Bulldogs still had a chance to battle for a win, right where you want to be if you aren't in the lead.
After another Poteet interception, the Aggies had the ball on the Bulldog 32 and scored on a short rush and a good two point conversion, to go ahead, 20-6.
The Bulldogs other QB, Dylan Peace, found Tyler Bivens, who broke a few tackles on his way, to score a 56 yard touchdown to make it 20-12 with 7:48 left in the game.
Bandera was threatening to score and maybe tie the game late in the fourth, but a fumble ended their last chance to score.
Bandera moved the ball well with 176 yards through the air and almost 100 on the ground and looked good in their first contest of the season.
The JV does have some work to do though, reducing the drops on catchable balls, protecting the QB, turnovers and scoring in the red zone. With work in these areas, the Bulldogs will win some games this season.
Varsity
Much like the JV, the Bulldog varsity were looking to avenge a loss from last season, but it would be a tall order as Poteet is one of the better teams Bandera will face this season.
Both teams showed a bit of opening day jitters, with both going three and out on their first set of downs, before settling down.
Bandera moved the ball well on their second possession and looking at a fourth and goal from the 7, score first on a 17 yard Tyler Moore field goal to take a 3-0 lead, the only time Bandera would have it.
The potent Aggie ground control running game, led by 2000 yard rusher, RB Ernest Davila, gave the Bulldog defense a hard time, but Poteet's inital score was on a fourth down on a 16 yard pass with 3:26 left in the first. A missed PAT keeps it 6-0.
Davila scored three minutes later on an 85 yard run with 29 seconds left in the first to make it 13-3 to end the quarter after a good PAT.
Bandera has a turnover due to a bad exchange on a handoff, giving the Aggies a short field at the Bulldog 32 and Davila scores on a six yard rush and another missed PAT makes it 19-3.
Poteet's blocks a Bulldog punt and advance it to score once again in the second, taking a 26-3 lead at halftime.
Bandera finally found the end zone in the second half as Bulldog QB, Tyler Moore found a wide open Luke Barnett for a 30 yard catch and run.
The following kickoff saw Davila run back 90 yards to score and negate the Bulldog score just seconds before and a good PAT made it 33-9.
After stopping the Aggies on a fourth and 3 deep in Bandera territory, the Bulldogs make an extended drive topped of with Moore making a nifty 45 yard run, actually more like 65 with the dodging and cutbacks, on his way to the end zone late in the third.
Moore's kick on the PAT would hit the left upright and fall back in the field of play, making it 33-15 with 4:09 left in the third.
Davila scored before the end of the third and the score stays at 39-15 after Jesse Cardens blocks the PAT attempt to end the scoring for the game.
Davilla, one of the best RBs Bandera will face all season, would finish with 206 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns.
Bandera had chances to score on a short field on a few occasions, but didnt capitalize on them and that cost them some points. Too many turnovers, stalled drives and special teams breakdowns essentially cost Bandera a chance to win.
"We moved the ball well all night. We have a good defense this season and that will allow us to play the field position game much like two years ago. That, along with making first downs, and scoring when in the plus territory is all important. We will be working on special teams and taking care of the football this week in practice.
We had opportunities to make it a close game, but we didn't and along with some miscues cost us. Without the two special teams scores by Poteet and the two missed extra points by us, it was a one score game.
There was lots to be proud of. We did some things offensively we haven't been doing, we did have some long sustained drives and I believe we outgained the Aggies, both good things for us," coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said.
Bandera ended up with 308 yards of offense, 121 passing and 187 rushing and will need to improve on ball control and special teams, the two things that hurt them the most against Poteet as they get ready for Cotulla this Friday.
"Cotulla is a big, physical team with two big running backs and lots of guys that play both ways, a lot like we do, I think it will be pretty evenly matched game," Fontenot-Amedee said.
Kickoff for the Bulldogs home opener is set for Friday, Sept. 3, at 7:30, come and check out this year’s Bulldog and the new scoreboard.
Bandera at Poteet
Bandera stats:
Passing_ T. Moore, 10-18-121-1-0, J. Cardenas, 0-2-0-0-1
Rushing_T. Moore, 15-126, J. Cardenas, 17-41, L. Barnett, 2-7, Ethan Rutherford, 1-13
Receiving_ Brandon Miller, 5-62, Darian Dirck, 2-36, J. Cardenas, 2--7, L. Barnett, 1-30
Tackles_ Cardenas, 5, L. Barnett, 4, Liam DeMarchi 4, Matthew Stanton, 4, Jorge Cabasos, 3, Brice Clemens, 3, Issac Martinez, 3, E. Rutherford, 3
Assists_ Cardenas, 6, DeMarchi, 4, Barnett, 3, Cabasos, 3, Stanton, 2
Sacks _ DeMarchi, 2, Stanton, 1