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October 21, 2022
Bulldogs in come from behind in 29-22 victory
Another fourth quarter win for Bandera
By Chris Darus
The Bandera Prophet
After a season opening loss to Poteet, Bandera had reeled off a five straight win streak and extended the streak with a district opening win over a tough Pearsall Mavericks team Friday night.
Bandera scored late in the first on a second and goal to go Riley Haley pass to Issac Segura all alone in the middle of the end zone and a Beto Muzquiz PAT was good for a 7-0 lead with 3:00 remaining in the quarter.
Pearsall fought back and scored less than 30 seconds later on a 75 yard rush up the left sideline. Issac Martinez blocked the PAT and picked up the ball and rumbled out to the Pearsall 40 line before he was caught to keep the score at 7-6.
The Bulldogs scored again before the half when Haley found Alex Dirck on a 44 yard catch and run with just under 4:00 left and the PAT was good to make it 14-6.
Pearsall fumbled the ball deep in their end and Bandera recovered. Looking to capitalize, Haley hits Segura near the goal line and after taking a few steps, Segura fumbles into the end zone and Corben Gonzales recovers for an apparent touchdown.
Let's not get started on the officiating, there were questionable calls both ways and on this one, a difference of opinion on the play negates the score as the near official signals a touchdown and the official across the way said it was an incomplete pass.
The same thing happens again two plays later with conflicting views leaving Bandera with a fourth and goal to go from the nine. An attempted field goal goes wide right to give the ball to the Mavericks on their 20 and its halftime.
After a pass interference call on Pearsall helps the Bulldogs opening drive in the second half, the Bulldogs extended their lead on a one yard run by Jesse Cardenas, just one of his 129 yards on the night. The PAT was good and the Bulldogs were up, 21-6 with 9:31 left in the third.
The Mavericks were down but not out, and they rallied with a 12 yard rush to score and a good conversion made it 21-14 with 6:59 left in the third.
The Maverick secondary got a pick on a Haley pass early in the fourth and converted the turnover into another six points on a short rush with 10:19 left in the game. Another good two pointer moved Pearsall into the lead at 22-21.
After Pearsall shot itself in the foot with two pass interference calls against Dirck on the Bulldogs final scoring drive, the Bulldog offensive line opened a hole for Cardenas and he shot through the opening for a six yard score with 8:20 left. The Bulldogs went for two and Haley found Segura to make it 29-22 with 8:13 left in the game.
Bandera’s defense “dogged” the Mavericks into a punting situation and an offsides call against Pearsall on a fourth and one with 2:30 left in the game near midfield, gifts the Bulldogs with a fresh set of downs and the offense runs out the clock to secure the hard earned win and go 1-0 in district play.
This week's contest will be tough as the 173 S. road trip will see Bandera head to Devine Friday night.
Devine is 7-1 (2-0) with their only loss to 4AD1 Davenport and whoever wins this game will have the advantage come playoff time, so it is the most important game of the season for both teams.
The Warhorses high powered offense is averaging 55 points a game in district play and their defense is stingy, giving up only six points in the two contests.
For the season, the Warhorses numbers are almost as strong at 44.875 ppg offensively and defensively, allowing just 12.25 ppg.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing: R. Haley, 7-22-152-2-1
Rushing: J. Cardenas, 23-129, K. Rodriguez, 5-19, J. Cabrera, 1-1
Receiving: A. Dirck, 3-93, C. Gonzales, 2-46, Cardenas, 1-11, I. Segura, 1-2
Tackles: D. Gherman, 15, J. Cabasos, 12, C. Powers, 10, D. Freeman, 8, S. Perry, 8
Editor's note: Something to think about, with the win against Pearsall, the varsity Bulldogs will have a winning record (over .500), for only the fifth time since the state championship team of 2002 with three of those coming in the past four seasons.
I started covering the Bulldogs in 2009 and from 2010 until 2018, they had an 18-71 record.
From the time coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee came to Bandera ISD in 2019 and including Friday night's win, they are now 20-18.
Bandera has only won a single playoff game in those 20 years, but things are looking up as the Bulldogs push for another playoff spot.
Come out for the last home game on Oct. 28 that will feature Football Senior Night and the 20th anniversary celebration of the 2002 State Championship team
Bandera scored late in the first on a second and goal to go Riley Haley pass to Issac Segura all alone in the middle of the end zone and a Beto Muzquiz PAT was good for a 7-0 lead with 3:00 remaining in the quarter.
Pearsall fought back and scored less than 30 seconds later on a 75 yard rush up the left sideline. Issac Martinez blocked the PAT and picked up the ball and rumbled out to the Pearsall 40 line before he was caught to keep the score at 7-6.
The Bulldogs scored again before the half when Haley found Alex Dirck on a 44 yard catch and run with just under 4:00 left and the PAT was good to make it 14-6.
Pearsall fumbled the ball deep in their end and Bandera recovered. Looking to capitalize, Haley hits Segura near the goal line and after taking a few steps, Segura fumbles into the end zone and Corben Gonzales recovers for an apparent touchdown.
Let's not get started on the officiating, there were questionable calls both ways and on this one, a difference of opinion on the play negates the score as the near official signals a touchdown and the official across the way said it was an incomplete pass.
The same thing happens again two plays later with conflicting views leaving Bandera with a fourth and goal to go from the nine. An attempted field goal goes wide right to give the ball to the Mavericks on their 20 and its halftime.
After a pass interference call on Pearsall helps the Bulldogs opening drive in the second half, the Bulldogs extended their lead on a one yard run by Jesse Cardenas, just one of his 129 yards on the night. The PAT was good and the Bulldogs were up, 21-6 with 9:31 left in the third.
The Mavericks were down but not out, and they rallied with a 12 yard rush to score and a good conversion made it 21-14 with 6:59 left in the third.
The Maverick secondary got a pick on a Haley pass early in the fourth and converted the turnover into another six points on a short rush with 10:19 left in the game. Another good two pointer moved Pearsall into the lead at 22-21.
After Pearsall shot itself in the foot with two pass interference calls against Dirck on the Bulldogs final scoring drive, the Bulldog offensive line opened a hole for Cardenas and he shot through the opening for a six yard score with 8:20 left. The Bulldogs went for two and Haley found Segura to make it 29-22 with 8:13 left in the game.
Bandera’s defense “dogged” the Mavericks into a punting situation and an offsides call against Pearsall on a fourth and one with 2:30 left in the game near midfield, gifts the Bulldogs with a fresh set of downs and the offense runs out the clock to secure the hard earned win and go 1-0 in district play.
This week's contest will be tough as the 173 S. road trip will see Bandera head to Devine Friday night.
Devine is 7-1 (2-0) with their only loss to 4AD1 Davenport and whoever wins this game will have the advantage come playoff time, so it is the most important game of the season for both teams.
The Warhorses high powered offense is averaging 55 points a game in district play and their defense is stingy, giving up only six points in the two contests.
For the season, the Warhorses numbers are almost as strong at 44.875 ppg offensively and defensively, allowing just 12.25 ppg.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing: R. Haley, 7-22-152-2-1
Rushing: J. Cardenas, 23-129, K. Rodriguez, 5-19, J. Cabrera, 1-1
Receiving: A. Dirck, 3-93, C. Gonzales, 2-46, Cardenas, 1-11, I. Segura, 1-2
Tackles: D. Gherman, 15, J. Cabasos, 12, C. Powers, 10, D. Freeman, 8, S. Perry, 8
Editor's note: Something to think about, with the win against Pearsall, the varsity Bulldogs will have a winning record (over .500), for only the fifth time since the state championship team of 2002 with three of those coming in the past four seasons.
I started covering the Bulldogs in 2009 and from 2010 until 2018, they had an 18-71 record.
From the time coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee came to Bandera ISD in 2019 and including Friday night's win, they are now 20-18.
Bandera has only won a single playoff game in those 20 years, but things are looking up as the Bulldogs push for another playoff spot.
Come out for the last home game on Oct. 28 that will feature Football Senior Night and the 20th anniversary celebration of the 2002 State Championship team