This Bandera Bulldogs Photo Gallery Is Brought To You By:
Photos by Chris Darus
Download & Print
November 9, 2022
Bulldogs tame the Wildcats to finish season 8-2
First round playoff game Thursday
By Chris Darus
The Bandera Prophet
Friday night’s contest between the Bandera Bulldogs and the Carrizo Spring Wildcats was seemingly two games, one in the first half and another in the second half.
The first half was an offensive struggle with both teams unable to score, but Bandera gave it a try first on a 42-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter that almost cost them.
The kick was short, and Carrizo had sent a safety into the endzone. He ran the missed attempt out 85 yards, all the way to the Bandera 22 before he was caught.
The Bulldog defense held Carrizo on a fourth and nine to force a turnover on downs at the 12, but a Bulldog fumble on the ensuing drive allowed Carrizo to score an apparent touchdown on a pass.
Thankfully, an illegal procedure call wiped the score off the board and later, they get their only lead of the night, thanks to a safety with 1:07 left in the second quarter. The Wildcats missed a 20-yard field goal wide left before time expired to keep it 2-0.
The second half was a better showing offensively for both teams as they combined for 36 points.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the night on a Jesse Cardenas six yard rush with 4:22 left in the third. A good PAT by Beto Muzquiz made it 7-2 as the scoring streak started.
The score moved to 14-2 early in the fourth after Bulldog QB Riley Haley found Scott Perry on a 25 yard strike followed by a Muzquiz kick with 10:40 left in the game.
The Bulldog defense stepped up again and sacked the Wildcats quarterback on a fourth and eight to force a turnover on downs and Cardenas scored on a 32 yard rush with 7:46 showing on the clock. Muzquiz split the uprights to move the score to 21-2.
The Wildcats score just a little over two minutes later on a 22 yard catch and run and convert a two-point play to make it 21-10.
For reasons unknown, Carrizo Springs decides to try an onside kick and that proved to be a mistake as Cardenas outran the coverage and scored from near midfield to make it 27-10 and another good PAT made it a 28-10 final.
With the win, Bandera finishes with an 8-2 record for the second time in four years. It wasn’t too long ago those numbers were reversed or worse and that shows the program is going in the right direction thanks to the coaching staff, players and trainers from the middle school level up to the seniors that played their last regular season game Friday night.
Finishing as the second seed for District 14-4AD2 places Bandera to face the third seeded Lago Vista Vikings from District 13-4AD2.
The 7-3 Vikings season losses were against fifth ranked 3A powerhouse, Cameron Yoe in non-district play, Navarro and tenth ranked Wimberley in district.
The winner of Thursday night’s game will advance to the area round of the playoffs against the winner of the Sinton (7-3) vs. Rio Grande Grulla (1-8) game. Sinton was the team that eliminated Bandera in the first round last season.
The game against Lago Vista will take place on Thursday night at Comal Pieper High School with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing: R. Haley, 4-9-66-1-2
Rushing: Cardenas, 29-194, J. Cabrera, 15-62, C. Gonzalez, 1-8
Receiving: S. Perry, 1-25, Cardenas, 1-20, A. Dirck, 1-13, Segura, 1-8
Tackles: G. Cabasos, 10, C. Powers, 8, Cardenas, 7, K. Rodriguez, 5, E. Straeter, 5, T. Bivens, 4,
The first half was an offensive struggle with both teams unable to score, but Bandera gave it a try first on a 42-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter that almost cost them.
The kick was short, and Carrizo had sent a safety into the endzone. He ran the missed attempt out 85 yards, all the way to the Bandera 22 before he was caught.
The Bulldog defense held Carrizo on a fourth and nine to force a turnover on downs at the 12, but a Bulldog fumble on the ensuing drive allowed Carrizo to score an apparent touchdown on a pass.
Thankfully, an illegal procedure call wiped the score off the board and later, they get their only lead of the night, thanks to a safety with 1:07 left in the second quarter. The Wildcats missed a 20-yard field goal wide left before time expired to keep it 2-0.
The second half was a better showing offensively for both teams as they combined for 36 points.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the night on a Jesse Cardenas six yard rush with 4:22 left in the third. A good PAT by Beto Muzquiz made it 7-2 as the scoring streak started.
The score moved to 14-2 early in the fourth after Bulldog QB Riley Haley found Scott Perry on a 25 yard strike followed by a Muzquiz kick with 10:40 left in the game.
The Bulldog defense stepped up again and sacked the Wildcats quarterback on a fourth and eight to force a turnover on downs and Cardenas scored on a 32 yard rush with 7:46 showing on the clock. Muzquiz split the uprights to move the score to 21-2.
The Wildcats score just a little over two minutes later on a 22 yard catch and run and convert a two-point play to make it 21-10.
For reasons unknown, Carrizo Springs decides to try an onside kick and that proved to be a mistake as Cardenas outran the coverage and scored from near midfield to make it 27-10 and another good PAT made it a 28-10 final.
With the win, Bandera finishes with an 8-2 record for the second time in four years. It wasn’t too long ago those numbers were reversed or worse and that shows the program is going in the right direction thanks to the coaching staff, players and trainers from the middle school level up to the seniors that played their last regular season game Friday night.
Finishing as the second seed for District 14-4AD2 places Bandera to face the third seeded Lago Vista Vikings from District 13-4AD2.
The 7-3 Vikings season losses were against fifth ranked 3A powerhouse, Cameron Yoe in non-district play, Navarro and tenth ranked Wimberley in district.
The winner of Thursday night’s game will advance to the area round of the playoffs against the winner of the Sinton (7-3) vs. Rio Grande Grulla (1-8) game. Sinton was the team that eliminated Bandera in the first round last season.
The game against Lago Vista will take place on Thursday night at Comal Pieper High School with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Bandera stats:
Passing: R. Haley, 4-9-66-1-2
Rushing: Cardenas, 29-194, J. Cabrera, 15-62, C. Gonzalez, 1-8
Receiving: S. Perry, 1-25, Cardenas, 1-20, A. Dirck, 1-13, Segura, 1-8
Tackles: G. Cabasos, 10, C. Powers, 8, Cardenas, 7, K. Rodriguez, 5, E. Straeter, 5, T. Bivens, 4,