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Photo by Lisa Gherman
August 6, 2023
Bandera Bulldogs shine during Popsicle Bowl Scrimmage
Bulldogs travel to Natalia this Friday for scrimmage, season opener set for Friday, Aug. 25, in Poteet
By Brady Keane
Bandera ISD Assistant Football Coach
After a solid first week of practice, the Bandera football team took the field early Saturday morning for the first full contact practice of the 2023 season and treated a host of fans in attendance to a number of exciting plays on both sides of the ball during the annual Popsicle Bowl Scrimmage.
“We had really good effort on both sides,” Bandera Athletic Director and Head Football coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “There’s a lot to clean up as far as execution goes, but I think we are right where we want to be. I think that was probably the best and most competitive intrasquad scrimmage we’ve had. That’s the sign of a good offense and a good defense, and I’m pleased with where we are.”
The Bulldogs, who enter the year looking to build on a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, return seven starters on offense and eight on defense. But the team will have a drastically new look both offensively and defensively this year, as four-year letterman Jesse Cardenas (259 carries, 1,455 yards, 14 TDs) makes the move from running back to quarterback.
On the defensive side, Jacob Campsey (Defensive Coordinator) joined the staff in March and will look to revamp the Bandera defense after a stint as the AD/Head Football Coach at Rockdale.
Cardenas’ move to QB opens up a bigger backfield role for sophomore running back Juan Cabrera, who had a strong showing as a freshman (45 carries, 187 yards, 1 TD) at the varsity level. The Bulldogs also expect a big year out of senior wide receiver Corben Gonzales (9 catches for 263 yards, 3 TDs) and sophomore wide receiver Jeffry Thomas, both of whom demonstrated big play ability throughout the Bulldogs’ summer 7-on-7 circuit.
Senior Solomon Alexander, who posted 425 yards and six touchdowns in five games last year before a season-ending injury, is also back as a big play threat at wide receiver. In the trenches, senior center Noah Sizemore leads the way and senior Roger McCrobie returns to help anchor the offensive line.
Bulldog fans got a glimpse of the firepower Bandera will have in the backfield on Saturday, as both Cardenas and Cabrera proved difficult to bring down for the majority of the controlled session. Cardenas broke off a pair of touchdown runs, including one from 14 yards out on the final play of the day. At the JV level, freshman running back Breydan Gherman broke off a long touchdown run while freshman quarterback Dalton Parks had a number of big plays both through the air and on the ground.
“It’s been different moving to quarterback,” Cardenas said. “But I’m really liking it. We have a lot of weapons on offense, and I think it’s going to be a fun year.”
Defensively, Gonzales and Thomas will help anchor the secondary alongside returning safety Dylan Gherman (114 tackles, 5 PBU). Linebackers Jorge Cabasos (100 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks), Eric Straeter (91 tackles, 3 TFL) and Danny Freeman (61 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 FF, 2 INTs) also return, as do defensive linemen Gavin Spruell (30 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 sacks) and Carson Powers 57 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 sacks).
Freeman and Spruell were among those Campsey mentioned as standing out at the varsity level Saturday. West and Benton Cloudt, Dane Barnett and Breydan Gherman also shined defensively, and Jonah Klein came up with an interception in the red zone as well.
“Our run fits and effort to the football are ahead of schedule,” Campsey said. “The kids really played their tail off. Our focus next week will be on a few pre-snap alignment and leverage details we have to get fixed.”
The Bulldogs will open the season on the road against Poteet on Friday, Aug. 25. But first, Bandera will travel to Natalia for a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 11 and will then host Comfort in a scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Bandera’s first home game, Little Bulldog Night, is set for Friday, Sept. 1, against Cotulla. The Bulldogs will host SA Kennedy for homecoming on Friday, Sept. 8, before hitting the road for games against Cole, Hondo, Robstown and Pearsall. Bandera returns home against Devine on Oct. 20, travels to SA YMLA on Oct. 26, and hosts Carrizo Springs on Senior Night on Nov. 3.
“When we clean up the technique mistakes and some of those small things it’s really going to take off,” Amedee said. “We are really excited about what this year is going to be at the JV and Varsity level. It’s going to be fun and we’re ready to get back to work.”
“We had really good effort on both sides,” Bandera Athletic Director and Head Football coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “There’s a lot to clean up as far as execution goes, but I think we are right where we want to be. I think that was probably the best and most competitive intrasquad scrimmage we’ve had. That’s the sign of a good offense and a good defense, and I’m pleased with where we are.”
The Bulldogs, who enter the year looking to build on a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, return seven starters on offense and eight on defense. But the team will have a drastically new look both offensively and defensively this year, as four-year letterman Jesse Cardenas (259 carries, 1,455 yards, 14 TDs) makes the move from running back to quarterback.
On the defensive side, Jacob Campsey (Defensive Coordinator) joined the staff in March and will look to revamp the Bandera defense after a stint as the AD/Head Football Coach at Rockdale.
Cardenas’ move to QB opens up a bigger backfield role for sophomore running back Juan Cabrera, who had a strong showing as a freshman (45 carries, 187 yards, 1 TD) at the varsity level. The Bulldogs also expect a big year out of senior wide receiver Corben Gonzales (9 catches for 263 yards, 3 TDs) and sophomore wide receiver Jeffry Thomas, both of whom demonstrated big play ability throughout the Bulldogs’ summer 7-on-7 circuit.
Senior Solomon Alexander, who posted 425 yards and six touchdowns in five games last year before a season-ending injury, is also back as a big play threat at wide receiver. In the trenches, senior center Noah Sizemore leads the way and senior Roger McCrobie returns to help anchor the offensive line.
Bulldog fans got a glimpse of the firepower Bandera will have in the backfield on Saturday, as both Cardenas and Cabrera proved difficult to bring down for the majority of the controlled session. Cardenas broke off a pair of touchdown runs, including one from 14 yards out on the final play of the day. At the JV level, freshman running back Breydan Gherman broke off a long touchdown run while freshman quarterback Dalton Parks had a number of big plays both through the air and on the ground.
“It’s been different moving to quarterback,” Cardenas said. “But I’m really liking it. We have a lot of weapons on offense, and I think it’s going to be a fun year.”
Defensively, Gonzales and Thomas will help anchor the secondary alongside returning safety Dylan Gherman (114 tackles, 5 PBU). Linebackers Jorge Cabasos (100 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks), Eric Straeter (91 tackles, 3 TFL) and Danny Freeman (61 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 FF, 2 INTs) also return, as do defensive linemen Gavin Spruell (30 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 sacks) and Carson Powers 57 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 sacks).
Freeman and Spruell were among those Campsey mentioned as standing out at the varsity level Saturday. West and Benton Cloudt, Dane Barnett and Breydan Gherman also shined defensively, and Jonah Klein came up with an interception in the red zone as well.
“Our run fits and effort to the football are ahead of schedule,” Campsey said. “The kids really played their tail off. Our focus next week will be on a few pre-snap alignment and leverage details we have to get fixed.”
The Bulldogs will open the season on the road against Poteet on Friday, Aug. 25. But first, Bandera will travel to Natalia for a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 11 and will then host Comfort in a scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Bandera’s first home game, Little Bulldog Night, is set for Friday, Sept. 1, against Cotulla. The Bulldogs will host SA Kennedy for homecoming on Friday, Sept. 8, before hitting the road for games against Cole, Hondo, Robstown and Pearsall. Bandera returns home against Devine on Oct. 20, travels to SA YMLA on Oct. 26, and hosts Carrizo Springs on Senior Night on Nov. 3.
“When we clean up the technique mistakes and some of those small things it’s really going to take off,” Amedee said. “We are really excited about what this year is going to be at the JV and Varsity level. It’s going to be fun and we’re ready to get back to work.”
