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Varsity Bulldogs Versus Robstown
Photos by Lisa Gherman
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October 2, 2023
Cardenas racks up six touchdowns in thrilling win over Robstown
By Brady Keane
BISD Assistant Football Coach
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera varsity football team trailed at the half for just the second time this season, but the Bulldogs responded with a dominant third and fourth quarter effort to fuel a thrilling 42-35 comeback win over Robstown Friday night in the team’s final non-district game.
Bandera moved to 5-1 for the second straight year with the victory.
“I was very proud of how we came out and competed in the second half,” Head Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “Our offensive line stepped up and accepted the halftime challenge. We always believe that if we win the fourth quarter, we have a good chance to win the game. We did that on Friday and we won the game.”
The Bulldogs outscored Robstown 7-0 in the fourth thanks to a 2-yard touchdown pass from senior Jesse Cardenas to senior Corben Gonzales with 11:11 remaining, but it was a wild third quarter that put Bandera in position to take the lead for the first time.
After receiving the opening kickoff of the third, the Bulldogs scored in just three plays when Cardenas scampered into the end zone untouched from 14 yards out to tie the game at 21-21 with 10:46 remaining in the third. Bandera forced a quick three-and-out, and junior Gavin Spruell broke through the line and blocked the Robstown punt to give the Bulldogs the ball back in the red zone.
Cardenas scored again, this time on a 4-yard touchdown run, giving Bandera its first lead of the night at 28-21 with 8:15 left in the third. “Gavin Spruell – What a play!” Fontenot-Amedee said. “It was awesome to see him break through and block that punt. It changed the overall momentum of the game. He played a great game in all three phases.”
Robstown tied the game at 28-28 on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:54 left in the third, but the Bulldogs answered right back with a 71-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to Gonzales to make it 35-28 at the 6:01 mark of the third. Robstown evened things up with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 3:27 mark, but Bandera regained the lead after a 9-play drive and the 2-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to Gonzales at the 11:11 mark of the fourth.
The Bulldogs’ defense got the stop it needed on Robstown’s ensuing offensive possession, forcing a 33-yard field goal that missed wide right. After burning some time off the clock, Bandera was forced to punt, but the Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs and then kneeled the clock out to secure the victory.
Defensively, senior Dylan Gherman had a monster effort at outside linebacker while finishing with 15 tackles (3.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Senior Jorge Cabasos had 15 tackles, senior Daniel Freeman had 10 tackles, sophomores Caleb Tippit and Dane Barnett had eight tackles apiece, and Spruell finished with seven tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.
The Bandera offense totaled 423 yards, including 355 and six touchdowns from Cardenas (200 yards passing, four TDs; 155 yards rushing, two TDs). Gonzales had four catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, sophomore Jeffry Thomas had one catch for 44 yards and a touchdown, sophomore Benton Cloudt had two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Juan Cabrera had 17 carries for 68 yards.
“For the second week in a row, we threw the ball really well,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “They stacked the box to take away the run and our receivers made big plays to carry us to 42 points and a win. Honestly, I wouldn’t be doing my job well if I didn’t mention that Jesse Cardenas had 6 touchdowns on Friday! 6! That hasn’t happened in my time here or on any team I’ve coached. He has had a special season so far and people are taking notice.”
The Bulldogs (5-1) are now on their open week and will have two weeks to prep for Pearsall in the District 14-4A Division II opener on Friday Oct. 13. The Mavericks are 4-2 on the season with wins over South San Antonio West (42-6), San Antonio Memorial (30-8), Poteet (6-0) and Lytle (33-7). Pearsall has lost to San Antonio Cole (29-28) and Stockdale (21-14).
The Mavericks will open district play this Friday, Oct. 6, on the road against Carrizo Springs.
“We are just getting started,” Fontenot-Amedee said of the team’s 5-1 start. “Buckle up Bulldog fans, it is going to be a fun ride.”
JV Bulldogs
The Bandera JV football team (4-0-1) was off this past week but will travel to Southwest to take on the Dragons at 6:30 p.m., Thursday.
Bandera moved to 5-1 for the second straight year with the victory.
“I was very proud of how we came out and competed in the second half,” Head Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “Our offensive line stepped up and accepted the halftime challenge. We always believe that if we win the fourth quarter, we have a good chance to win the game. We did that on Friday and we won the game.”
The Bulldogs outscored Robstown 7-0 in the fourth thanks to a 2-yard touchdown pass from senior Jesse Cardenas to senior Corben Gonzales with 11:11 remaining, but it was a wild third quarter that put Bandera in position to take the lead for the first time.
After receiving the opening kickoff of the third, the Bulldogs scored in just three plays when Cardenas scampered into the end zone untouched from 14 yards out to tie the game at 21-21 with 10:46 remaining in the third. Bandera forced a quick three-and-out, and junior Gavin Spruell broke through the line and blocked the Robstown punt to give the Bulldogs the ball back in the red zone.
Cardenas scored again, this time on a 4-yard touchdown run, giving Bandera its first lead of the night at 28-21 with 8:15 left in the third. “Gavin Spruell – What a play!” Fontenot-Amedee said. “It was awesome to see him break through and block that punt. It changed the overall momentum of the game. He played a great game in all three phases.”
Robstown tied the game at 28-28 on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:54 left in the third, but the Bulldogs answered right back with a 71-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to Gonzales to make it 35-28 at the 6:01 mark of the third. Robstown evened things up with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 3:27 mark, but Bandera regained the lead after a 9-play drive and the 2-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to Gonzales at the 11:11 mark of the fourth.
The Bulldogs’ defense got the stop it needed on Robstown’s ensuing offensive possession, forcing a 33-yard field goal that missed wide right. After burning some time off the clock, Bandera was forced to punt, but the Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs and then kneeled the clock out to secure the victory.
Defensively, senior Dylan Gherman had a monster effort at outside linebacker while finishing with 15 tackles (3.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Senior Jorge Cabasos had 15 tackles, senior Daniel Freeman had 10 tackles, sophomores Caleb Tippit and Dane Barnett had eight tackles apiece, and Spruell finished with seven tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.
The Bandera offense totaled 423 yards, including 355 and six touchdowns from Cardenas (200 yards passing, four TDs; 155 yards rushing, two TDs). Gonzales had four catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, sophomore Jeffry Thomas had one catch for 44 yards and a touchdown, sophomore Benton Cloudt had two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Juan Cabrera had 17 carries for 68 yards.
“For the second week in a row, we threw the ball really well,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “They stacked the box to take away the run and our receivers made big plays to carry us to 42 points and a win. Honestly, I wouldn’t be doing my job well if I didn’t mention that Jesse Cardenas had 6 touchdowns on Friday! 6! That hasn’t happened in my time here or on any team I’ve coached. He has had a special season so far and people are taking notice.”
The Bulldogs (5-1) are now on their open week and will have two weeks to prep for Pearsall in the District 14-4A Division II opener on Friday Oct. 13. The Mavericks are 4-2 on the season with wins over South San Antonio West (42-6), San Antonio Memorial (30-8), Poteet (6-0) and Lytle (33-7). Pearsall has lost to San Antonio Cole (29-28) and Stockdale (21-14).
The Mavericks will open district play this Friday, Oct. 6, on the road against Carrizo Springs.
“We are just getting started,” Fontenot-Amedee said of the team’s 5-1 start. “Buckle up Bulldog fans, it is going to be a fun ride.”
JV Bulldogs
The Bandera JV football team (4-0-1) was off this past week but will travel to Southwest to take on the Dragons at 6:30 p.m., Thursday.