Photos by Andrew Coloney and Nicole Flowers
November 6, 2023
Playoff Time: Bulldogs finish regular season 9-1, turn focus to Jarrell
By Brady Keane
BISD Assistant Football Coach
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera varsity football team exploded for 41 points in the first half of Friday’s Senior Night game against Carrizo Springs before coasting to a 41-29 victory that pushed the team to 9-1 and solidified an undefeated district championship with the Class 4A state playoffs on the horizon.
The nine-win season is the first for Bandera since the 2002 state championship season, and it’s the most winning regular season since 1994. The team’s District 14-4A Division II championship is the first since 2009.
“Our kids have poured into the program,” Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “In many cases, these guys bought into multiple off seasons and put years of work to get to this position. The challenge last week was for them to really buy into establishing a legacy with their 9th win. They did that, now it is time to try and do something else that hasn't happened since 2007 – Win a playoff game!”
The Bulldogs will match up in the first round of the 4A Division II playoffs against Jarrell, the No. 4 seed from the loaded District 13-4A DII. The Cougars finished behind Wimberley, Navarro and Lago Vista, posting a 3-7 record on the season and a 2-3 record in district play.
Friday night’s game against Jarrell will be at San Marcos ISD’s Rattler Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Throw the records out the window, it's playoff time,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “Everyone is 0-0. They are much better than their regular season record indicates. Like any other week, we have nothing but respect for our opponent.”
The Bulldogs will have plenty of momentum entering Friday night as they roll into the week having won five straight games. Bandera dominated Carrizo Springs on both sides of the ball with its first unit in the regular season finale Friday night, cruising to a 41-7 halftime lead before resting a majority of its starters on both sides with the playoffs in mind.
“The fast start was huge,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “Especially with how slow we had started the past few weeks. We wanted to come out and dominate, and that is what our first group did on Friday. It was one of the best halves of the season.”
Bandera forced a punt on Carrizo Springs’ first two offensive possessions and took advantage both times, scoring on a 26-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Jesse Cardenas and a 6-yard touchdown run from Cardenas.
Senior cornerback Corben Gonzales had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown on the next Wildcats’ possession, and another stop from the Bulldogs’ defense set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to sophomore Benton Cloudt.
Cardenas scored again on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 34-0, and after Carrizo Springs finally got on the board with less than a minute left before the half, Cardenas found Gonzales on a 54-yard touchdown pass to answer right back to make it 41-7.
Carrizo Springs managed a total of just 121 yards through the first two quarters, most of which came on a long run that set up the Wildcats’ only first half points.
“We knew our alignments, and assignments for every formation they lined up in and that was impressive,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “I love how physical we are right now in the box. It is fun to watch and to be a part of!”
Cardenas finished completing 5-of-7 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 117 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. He was named the San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Sophomore Juan Cabrera added 13 carries for 68 yards, Gonzales had three catches for 71 yards and a score, sophomore Jeffry Thomas had two catches for 50 yards, sophomore Benton Cloudt had one catch for 15 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore West Cloudt had three catches for 27 yards.
Defensively, Sam Snavely had a team high 8 tackles. Josh Goff had three tackles and 1.5 TFL and Gavin Spruell had four tackles and one TFL. Sophomore Dane Barnett was the Bulldogs’ defensive player of the game after providing leadership on the back end of the secondary and recording a total of four tackles.
The Wildcats found some second half success to trim into the deficit on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough to spoil the Senior Night celebration that honored the Bulldogs’ talented senior class before and after the game.
The Bandera football senior class includes Dylan Gherman, Daniel Freeman, Jorge Cabasos, Jesse Cardenas, Corben Gonzales, Carson Powers, Eric Straeter, Aydin De La Cruz, Brandon Sanderson, Rance Roden, Roger McCrobie, Julian Torres, Cade Carriger and Noah Sizemore.
The majority of the senior class competed together at the JV level as a freshman team four years ago, powering through the struggles to earn a district championship in their final year with the program.
“First, I want to say that we have talented kids,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “They could have probably just shown up every regular season and eventually we would have won some games. However, they chose to work their butts off, and they decided to work as hard as they could regardless of how many games they won in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade. They decided to work as hard as they could to become the best versions of themselves. I'm so proud of these seniors. I say it every week, but they truly care about each other and their teammates. That only happens when you invest in each other off the field. That's what they have done.”
The Bulldogs will now try to keep their special season alive as they turn their focus to Jarrell. The Cougars are coming off a 49-26 loss to Lago Vista, but defeated Manor New Tech 55-0 on Oct. 27 and beat Austin Achieve 64-7 on Oct. 19.
The winner of Friday night’s game will advance to the 4A Division II area round to play either Ingleside (9-1) or Rio Grande City Grulla (4-5), who play Thursday, at 7 p.m., at Hebbronville’s Gruy Stadium.
“They are very explosive offensively and have some playmakers on the defensive side,” Fontenot-Amedee said of Jarrell. “No matter what, it's going to be a great night to be a Bulldog! It's going to be a great game at Rattler Stadium!”
JV Football secures undefeated District Championship
The Bandera JV football team also put the finishing touches on an undefeated district championship as the Bulldogs defeated Carrizo Springs 43-16 to finish 8-0-1 on the season.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start after fumbling the ball away on their first offensive possession, but they recovered nicely to cruise to a big halftime lead. Dalton Parks scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and Riley Moran punched in a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 13-0. Parks connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Breydan Gherman before the half, and a defensive stop allowed Parks to find Ruffin Scartocci on a 25-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter as well.
In the second half, Parks found Aidan Law on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The final touchdown of the night came on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Parks to Samuel Arrellano.
The Bulldogs defense held Carrizo Springs in check from start to finish, and kicker Miguel Avalos was consistent in the special team’s game as well. The future is bright for the Bulldogs, as the JV district championship marked the first for Bandera at the JV level in 13-plus years.
The nine-win season is the first for Bandera since the 2002 state championship season, and it’s the most winning regular season since 1994. The team’s District 14-4A Division II championship is the first since 2009.
“Our kids have poured into the program,” Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “In many cases, these guys bought into multiple off seasons and put years of work to get to this position. The challenge last week was for them to really buy into establishing a legacy with their 9th win. They did that, now it is time to try and do something else that hasn't happened since 2007 – Win a playoff game!”
The Bulldogs will match up in the first round of the 4A Division II playoffs against Jarrell, the No. 4 seed from the loaded District 13-4A DII. The Cougars finished behind Wimberley, Navarro and Lago Vista, posting a 3-7 record on the season and a 2-3 record in district play.
Friday night’s game against Jarrell will be at San Marcos ISD’s Rattler Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Throw the records out the window, it's playoff time,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “Everyone is 0-0. They are much better than their regular season record indicates. Like any other week, we have nothing but respect for our opponent.”
The Bulldogs will have plenty of momentum entering Friday night as they roll into the week having won five straight games. Bandera dominated Carrizo Springs on both sides of the ball with its first unit in the regular season finale Friday night, cruising to a 41-7 halftime lead before resting a majority of its starters on both sides with the playoffs in mind.
“The fast start was huge,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “Especially with how slow we had started the past few weeks. We wanted to come out and dominate, and that is what our first group did on Friday. It was one of the best halves of the season.”
Bandera forced a punt on Carrizo Springs’ first two offensive possessions and took advantage both times, scoring on a 26-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Jesse Cardenas and a 6-yard touchdown run from Cardenas.
Senior cornerback Corben Gonzales had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown on the next Wildcats’ possession, and another stop from the Bulldogs’ defense set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to sophomore Benton Cloudt.
Cardenas scored again on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 34-0, and after Carrizo Springs finally got on the board with less than a minute left before the half, Cardenas found Gonzales on a 54-yard touchdown pass to answer right back to make it 41-7.
Carrizo Springs managed a total of just 121 yards through the first two quarters, most of which came on a long run that set up the Wildcats’ only first half points.
“We knew our alignments, and assignments for every formation they lined up in and that was impressive,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “I love how physical we are right now in the box. It is fun to watch and to be a part of!”
Cardenas finished completing 5-of-7 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 117 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. He was named the San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Sophomore Juan Cabrera added 13 carries for 68 yards, Gonzales had three catches for 71 yards and a score, sophomore Jeffry Thomas had two catches for 50 yards, sophomore Benton Cloudt had one catch for 15 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore West Cloudt had three catches for 27 yards.
Defensively, Sam Snavely had a team high 8 tackles. Josh Goff had three tackles and 1.5 TFL and Gavin Spruell had four tackles and one TFL. Sophomore Dane Barnett was the Bulldogs’ defensive player of the game after providing leadership on the back end of the secondary and recording a total of four tackles.
The Wildcats found some second half success to trim into the deficit on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough to spoil the Senior Night celebration that honored the Bulldogs’ talented senior class before and after the game.
The Bandera football senior class includes Dylan Gherman, Daniel Freeman, Jorge Cabasos, Jesse Cardenas, Corben Gonzales, Carson Powers, Eric Straeter, Aydin De La Cruz, Brandon Sanderson, Rance Roden, Roger McCrobie, Julian Torres, Cade Carriger and Noah Sizemore.
The majority of the senior class competed together at the JV level as a freshman team four years ago, powering through the struggles to earn a district championship in their final year with the program.
“First, I want to say that we have talented kids,” Fontenot-Amedee said. “They could have probably just shown up every regular season and eventually we would have won some games. However, they chose to work their butts off, and they decided to work as hard as they could regardless of how many games they won in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade. They decided to work as hard as they could to become the best versions of themselves. I'm so proud of these seniors. I say it every week, but they truly care about each other and their teammates. That only happens when you invest in each other off the field. That's what they have done.”
The Bulldogs will now try to keep their special season alive as they turn their focus to Jarrell. The Cougars are coming off a 49-26 loss to Lago Vista, but defeated Manor New Tech 55-0 on Oct. 27 and beat Austin Achieve 64-7 on Oct. 19.
The winner of Friday night’s game will advance to the 4A Division II area round to play either Ingleside (9-1) or Rio Grande City Grulla (4-5), who play Thursday, at 7 p.m., at Hebbronville’s Gruy Stadium.
“They are very explosive offensively and have some playmakers on the defensive side,” Fontenot-Amedee said of Jarrell. “No matter what, it's going to be a great night to be a Bulldog! It's going to be a great game at Rattler Stadium!”
JV Football secures undefeated District Championship
The Bandera JV football team also put the finishing touches on an undefeated district championship as the Bulldogs defeated Carrizo Springs 43-16 to finish 8-0-1 on the season.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start after fumbling the ball away on their first offensive possession, but they recovered nicely to cruise to a big halftime lead. Dalton Parks scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and Riley Moran punched in a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 13-0. Parks connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Breydan Gherman before the half, and a defensive stop allowed Parks to find Ruffin Scartocci on a 25-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter as well.
In the second half, Parks found Aidan Law on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The final touchdown of the night came on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Parks to Samuel Arrellano.
The Bulldogs defense held Carrizo Springs in check from start to finish, and kicker Miguel Avalos was consistent in the special team’s game as well. The future is bright for the Bulldogs, as the JV district championship marked the first for Bandera at the JV level in 13-plus years.