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September 29, 2022
Bulldogs stave off Owls in 25-24 Homecoming win
By Chris Darus
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera Bulldogs overcame a 10-0 first quarter deficit and held off a last-minute drive by the Hondo Owls to win Friday night at Bulldog Stadium, a perfect way to cap off Homecoming week.
Things were looking bleak early for an almost-capacity crowd at Bulldog Stadium as the rival Hondo Owls put up a field goal and a short rushing touchdown in the first eight minutes before the home team managed to score.
The Bulldogs Riley Haley found Solomon Alexander for a 22-yard pass and a good PAT by Beto Muzquiz to bring the score to 10-7 with 3:54 left in the first quarter.
The Owls scored again to make it 17-7, before the Bulldogs scored 12 unanswered points after a fake punt attempt by the Owls. On another Haley to Alexander connection, a safety by the Bulldog defense after an offensive pass interference call on the Owls put the ball on the Hondo five-yard line and a Muzquiz field goal of 34 yards with 40 seconds left in the half for Bandera’s first lead in the game at 19-17.
The Owls regained the lead in the third quarter on another short rush and a good PAT made it 24-19 with 6:55 left in the third.
Halftime adjustments by both teams were evident as offensive yardage was harder to come by on both sides of the ball, but the Bulldog defense came up big when Cardenas picked off an Owl pass and scored on a 33-yard pick six. Bandera went for a two-point conversion to make it a three point game, but an incomplete pass keeps it 25-24 with 9:06 remaining.
Nine minutes is a long time, and a lot can and did happen.
A defensive pass interference call helps Bandera move downfield late in the fourth, but on fourth down, Haley gets picked by the Hondo secondary and they apparently score.
After officials have a long deliberation after the play, the play is called back due to two penalties against the Owls, a personal foul and another sideline infraction, to erase the score.
The Owls gave it one last try and headed downfield from their 15-yard line. The Owls worked the ball methodically downfield and with 1:29 left on a third and three, got a first down.
Hondo crosses midfield and are setup at the Bulldog 30 with a fresh set of downs and with 26 seconds left, spike the ball to stop the clock.
After a Bulldog sack moves the ball back to the 34, on third and 14, with 17 seconds left, a Hondo pass gets tipped and flutters incomplete to bring up fourth down.
With 11 seconds left in the game, the Owls again tried a pass as an Owl receiver got behind the Bulldog defense and drops the ball to result in a turnover on downs and Bandera took a knee to run out the clock and get their first win over Hondo in 13 years.
Hondo held Bandera to just 205 yards of offense, holding Cardenas to under 100 yards for the first time this season and allowing just 108 yards passing, but big plays by the Bulldogs special teams and defense, contributing nine points, as well as some good offensive calls at the right time, helped get the much needed win.
The 4-1 Bulldogs will play their final non district contest this Friday in Jourdanton when they face the 3-2 Robstown Cottonpickers with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing R. Haley, 4-16-108-2-1
Rushing_ J. Cardenas, 26-94, C. Gonzalez, 1-3
Receiving_ S. Alexander, 3-72, A. Dirck 1-36
Tackles_ D. Gherman, 17, J. Cabasos,12, E. Straeter, 10, J. Cardenas, 10, D. Freeman, 9
Things were looking bleak early for an almost-capacity crowd at Bulldog Stadium as the rival Hondo Owls put up a field goal and a short rushing touchdown in the first eight minutes before the home team managed to score.
The Bulldogs Riley Haley found Solomon Alexander for a 22-yard pass and a good PAT by Beto Muzquiz to bring the score to 10-7 with 3:54 left in the first quarter.
The Owls scored again to make it 17-7, before the Bulldogs scored 12 unanswered points after a fake punt attempt by the Owls. On another Haley to Alexander connection, a safety by the Bulldog defense after an offensive pass interference call on the Owls put the ball on the Hondo five-yard line and a Muzquiz field goal of 34 yards with 40 seconds left in the half for Bandera’s first lead in the game at 19-17.
The Owls regained the lead in the third quarter on another short rush and a good PAT made it 24-19 with 6:55 left in the third.
Halftime adjustments by both teams were evident as offensive yardage was harder to come by on both sides of the ball, but the Bulldog defense came up big when Cardenas picked off an Owl pass and scored on a 33-yard pick six. Bandera went for a two-point conversion to make it a three point game, but an incomplete pass keeps it 25-24 with 9:06 remaining.
Nine minutes is a long time, and a lot can and did happen.
A defensive pass interference call helps Bandera move downfield late in the fourth, but on fourth down, Haley gets picked by the Hondo secondary and they apparently score.
After officials have a long deliberation after the play, the play is called back due to two penalties against the Owls, a personal foul and another sideline infraction, to erase the score.
The Owls gave it one last try and headed downfield from their 15-yard line. The Owls worked the ball methodically downfield and with 1:29 left on a third and three, got a first down.
Hondo crosses midfield and are setup at the Bulldog 30 with a fresh set of downs and with 26 seconds left, spike the ball to stop the clock.
After a Bulldog sack moves the ball back to the 34, on third and 14, with 17 seconds left, a Hondo pass gets tipped and flutters incomplete to bring up fourth down.
With 11 seconds left in the game, the Owls again tried a pass as an Owl receiver got behind the Bulldog defense and drops the ball to result in a turnover on downs and Bandera took a knee to run out the clock and get their first win over Hondo in 13 years.
Hondo held Bandera to just 205 yards of offense, holding Cardenas to under 100 yards for the first time this season and allowing just 108 yards passing, but big plays by the Bulldogs special teams and defense, contributing nine points, as well as some good offensive calls at the right time, helped get the much needed win.
The 4-1 Bulldogs will play their final non district contest this Friday in Jourdanton when they face the 3-2 Robstown Cottonpickers with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing R. Haley, 4-16-108-2-1
Rushing_ J. Cardenas, 26-94, C. Gonzalez, 1-3
Receiving_ S. Alexander, 3-72, A. Dirck 1-36
Tackles_ D. Gherman, 17, J. Cabasos,12, E. Straeter, 10, J. Cardenas, 10, D. Freeman, 9