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Photos by Lisa Gherman
August 13, 2023
Bulldogs' run game, defense shine in Natalia
By Brady Keane
BISD Assistant Football Coach
After two weeks of fall camp, Bandera traveled to Natalia Friday evening for the first tri-scrimmage of the 2023 football season and emerged with plenty of positives to build on heading into the final week of the pre-season.
The Bandera defense held Natalia and Ingram scoreless while the offense excelled in the run game, giving the Bulldogs some momentum as the as the team preps for its final pre-season tune up against Comfort.
“It was a great scrimmage,” Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “Natalia’s beautiful new turf field was a great venue, and our kids played extremely hard in front of a big crowd of supporters. We got to evaluate a lot of players this weekend and look forward to continuing to improve this week at home against Comfort.”
The first section of the scrimmage featured the Bandera defense against the Natalia offense. Through 15 plays, the Bulldogs’ defense gave up just 24 yards and forced a turnover on an interception by sophomore safety Damien Cadena. Senior safety Dylan Gherman had a big hit on a tackle for loss while senior linebacker Jorge Cabasos made a pair of plays behind the line of scrimmage as well.
Bandera then moved to the offensive side of the ball and competed against the Ingram defense. Senior quarterback Jesse Cardenas broke off a 35-yard touchdown run just five plays into the session, and sophomore wide receiver Jeffry Thomas had a 20-yard reception over the top of a Warriors’ defender. Sophomore running back Juan Cabrera also broke off a 27-yard run for the Bulldogs.
After a short break, Bandera returned to the field on offense – this time against the Natalia defense. While the Bulldogs had some miscues that led to turnovers in the passing game, Cardenas and Cabrera continued to shine in the run game as the offensive line established itself in the trenches.
Junior left tackle Gavin Spruell led the way up front for Bandera alongside senior Roger McCrobie, senior Noah Sizemore, senior Julian Torres and sophomore Logan Harman. Cardenas and Cabrera combined to run for 152 yards on just 14 carries, averaging almost 11 yards per carry.
“We were able to run the ball very effectively and that’s something we have struggled to do in past scrimmages,” Amedee said. “We’ll build on a solid night up front and are hopeful to have a better showing throwing the ball this week.”
Bandera had two more defensive sessions against Ingram and Natalia and continued to hold both offenses scoreless through a total of 37 plays. The Warriors and Mustangs combined to average just 2.8 yards per play against the Bulldogs’ defense. Defensive coordinator Jacob Campsey highlighted the play of Cabasos, Gherman, Spruell and senior inside linebacker Eric Straeter throughout the scrimmage.
“The effort was through the roof,” Campsey said. “Our run fits were solid all night and I thought our kids did a great job of setting the bar for physicality. We were the most physical defense out there.”
The Bulldogs will return to the practice field Monday and continue preparations for next week’s season opener against Poteet. Bandera will compete in the final pre-season scrimmage of the year at home against Comfort on Thursday. The JV portion will start at 5 p.m., and the varsity portion will start at 6:15 p.m.
Thursday will be an “Our Day to Shine” scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium, with all proceeds benefitting the Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation Benevolence Fund. The THSCEF Benevolence Fund was established by the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors to assist athletes and coaches experiencing hardships.
The THSCEF has paid over $641,000 to athletes and coaches in need.
JV Football
The Bandera JV football team also had a strong showing in the Ingram/Natalia scrimmage as the Bulldogs’ offense punched in a pair of touchdowns while making some noise on the defensive side as well.
Freshman quarterback Dalton Parks was efficient on the team’s first possession, marching the Bulldogs down the field with a pair of completions to junior Chazz Embry. Parks then punched in a short touchdown run before connecting with freshman Jaymin Klein on a 22-yard completion.
Sophomore running back Dane Barnett broke off a 36-yard run, and freshman quarterback Jackson Aragones added a 10-yard rushing touchdown of his own. Defensively, freshman Breydan Gherman, sophomore Caleb Tippit and Barnett excelled for the Bulldogs.
Bandera will return to the field at 5 p.m. Thursday against Comfort.
The Bandera defense held Natalia and Ingram scoreless while the offense excelled in the run game, giving the Bulldogs some momentum as the as the team preps for its final pre-season tune up against Comfort.
“It was a great scrimmage,” Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “Natalia’s beautiful new turf field was a great venue, and our kids played extremely hard in front of a big crowd of supporters. We got to evaluate a lot of players this weekend and look forward to continuing to improve this week at home against Comfort.”
The first section of the scrimmage featured the Bandera defense against the Natalia offense. Through 15 plays, the Bulldogs’ defense gave up just 24 yards and forced a turnover on an interception by sophomore safety Damien Cadena. Senior safety Dylan Gherman had a big hit on a tackle for loss while senior linebacker Jorge Cabasos made a pair of plays behind the line of scrimmage as well.
Bandera then moved to the offensive side of the ball and competed against the Ingram defense. Senior quarterback Jesse Cardenas broke off a 35-yard touchdown run just five plays into the session, and sophomore wide receiver Jeffry Thomas had a 20-yard reception over the top of a Warriors’ defender. Sophomore running back Juan Cabrera also broke off a 27-yard run for the Bulldogs.
After a short break, Bandera returned to the field on offense – this time against the Natalia defense. While the Bulldogs had some miscues that led to turnovers in the passing game, Cardenas and Cabrera continued to shine in the run game as the offensive line established itself in the trenches.
Junior left tackle Gavin Spruell led the way up front for Bandera alongside senior Roger McCrobie, senior Noah Sizemore, senior Julian Torres and sophomore Logan Harman. Cardenas and Cabrera combined to run for 152 yards on just 14 carries, averaging almost 11 yards per carry.
“We were able to run the ball very effectively and that’s something we have struggled to do in past scrimmages,” Amedee said. “We’ll build on a solid night up front and are hopeful to have a better showing throwing the ball this week.”
Bandera had two more defensive sessions against Ingram and Natalia and continued to hold both offenses scoreless through a total of 37 plays. The Warriors and Mustangs combined to average just 2.8 yards per play against the Bulldogs’ defense. Defensive coordinator Jacob Campsey highlighted the play of Cabasos, Gherman, Spruell and senior inside linebacker Eric Straeter throughout the scrimmage.
“The effort was through the roof,” Campsey said. “Our run fits were solid all night and I thought our kids did a great job of setting the bar for physicality. We were the most physical defense out there.”
The Bulldogs will return to the practice field Monday and continue preparations for next week’s season opener against Poteet. Bandera will compete in the final pre-season scrimmage of the year at home against Comfort on Thursday. The JV portion will start at 5 p.m., and the varsity portion will start at 6:15 p.m.
Thursday will be an “Our Day to Shine” scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium, with all proceeds benefitting the Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation Benevolence Fund. The THSCEF Benevolence Fund was established by the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors to assist athletes and coaches experiencing hardships.
The THSCEF has paid over $641,000 to athletes and coaches in need.
JV Football
The Bandera JV football team also had a strong showing in the Ingram/Natalia scrimmage as the Bulldogs’ offense punched in a pair of touchdowns while making some noise on the defensive side as well.
Freshman quarterback Dalton Parks was efficient on the team’s first possession, marching the Bulldogs down the field with a pair of completions to junior Chazz Embry. Parks then punched in a short touchdown run before connecting with freshman Jaymin Klein on a 22-yard completion.
Sophomore running back Dane Barnett broke off a 36-yard run, and freshman quarterback Jackson Aragones added a 10-yard rushing touchdown of his own. Defensively, freshman Breydan Gherman, sophomore Caleb Tippit and Barnett excelled for the Bulldogs.
Bandera will return to the field at 5 p.m. Thursday against Comfort.
