This Bandera Bulldog news is brought to you by:
|
|
|
Download & Print
Photo by Andrew Coloney
November 18, 2025
A season for the ages: Bulldogs Fall to Apaches in Bi-District Championship
By Nick Salas
Bandera ISD Athletics
The Bandera Bulldogs’ dream season, which saw them march through the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record, came to a close last Friday night at Harlandale Memorial Stadium. In a hard-fought Bi-District Championship against the Gonzales Apaches, Bandera suffered its first and only loss of the year, falling 24-14.
The Bulldogs opened the high-stakes environment with the confidence and play style that defined their 10-0 run. It took the offense only five plays to put points on the board, when Dalton Parks connected with Breydan Gherman for a spectacular 46-yard touchdown pass to kick off the scoring. The defense, which has been stellar all year, picked up right where it left off, successfully keeping the Apache offense at bay for the entire first half. Late in the first quarter, with some momentum, the Bulldogs went for it on fourth down needing only four yards, Quarterback Jake Cesta launched a 31-yard go-ball to Jeffry Thomas, who hauled in the touchdown catch—not only converting the fourth down but extending the lead to 14-0. The Bulldogs carried that dominant 14-0 lead into the halftime break.
Unfortunately, the momentum did not hold in the second half.
"Friday was a tale of two halves. In the first half, our team performed at their highest level of the season. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to beat a very good football team. We were inches short in the second half. Hats off to Gonzales,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
While the final score wasn't the desired outcome, the true measure of this team lies in its growth and integrity. When asked to describe the character of the 10-1 squad, Fontenot-Amedee was clear about the impact of his players.
He said the growth he saw "from a character and accountability standpoint has been as great as any team I’ve ever coached. I had the pleasure of coaching some really good football players who are going to be great members of our community and society. I am so proud of these guys. I can’t put it into words."
This proud legacy now transitions into acknowledging a great group of seniors who leave a massive mark, including five straight trips to the playoffs and three straight district championships. Their efforts set a powerful new standard for the program.
"These seniors have set the bar extremely high for the groups to come. As important as any win, our guys play the game the right way. They played the game with integrity and class. We never lowered our standard, and the expectations and standards will remain high because this group of seniors gave us the blueprint,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
In closing, Fontenot-Amedee extended profound thanks to the community for their unwavering support throughout the special 10-0 run.
”I’m so grateful for all of the people who supported us this year. A singular football win doesn’t happen without a community of support around it, much less 10-0. Thank you to everyone who packed the stadium last Friday for the game. It was a special season. Thank you,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
The Bandera Bulldogs thank the seniors, their families, the fans, and the entire community for their endless support. While this wasn't the outcome we wanted, we are proud of this team and the long-lasting mark they have left on this community, and the football program.
In Bandera We Are One.
The Bulldogs opened the high-stakes environment with the confidence and play style that defined their 10-0 run. It took the offense only five plays to put points on the board, when Dalton Parks connected with Breydan Gherman for a spectacular 46-yard touchdown pass to kick off the scoring. The defense, which has been stellar all year, picked up right where it left off, successfully keeping the Apache offense at bay for the entire first half. Late in the first quarter, with some momentum, the Bulldogs went for it on fourth down needing only four yards, Quarterback Jake Cesta launched a 31-yard go-ball to Jeffry Thomas, who hauled in the touchdown catch—not only converting the fourth down but extending the lead to 14-0. The Bulldogs carried that dominant 14-0 lead into the halftime break.
Unfortunately, the momentum did not hold in the second half.
"Friday was a tale of two halves. In the first half, our team performed at their highest level of the season. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to beat a very good football team. We were inches short in the second half. Hats off to Gonzales,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
While the final score wasn't the desired outcome, the true measure of this team lies in its growth and integrity. When asked to describe the character of the 10-1 squad, Fontenot-Amedee was clear about the impact of his players.
He said the growth he saw "from a character and accountability standpoint has been as great as any team I’ve ever coached. I had the pleasure of coaching some really good football players who are going to be great members of our community and society. I am so proud of these guys. I can’t put it into words."
This proud legacy now transitions into acknowledging a great group of seniors who leave a massive mark, including five straight trips to the playoffs and three straight district championships. Their efforts set a powerful new standard for the program.
"These seniors have set the bar extremely high for the groups to come. As important as any win, our guys play the game the right way. They played the game with integrity and class. We never lowered our standard, and the expectations and standards will remain high because this group of seniors gave us the blueprint,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
In closing, Fontenot-Amedee extended profound thanks to the community for their unwavering support throughout the special 10-0 run.
”I’m so grateful for all of the people who supported us this year. A singular football win doesn’t happen without a community of support around it, much less 10-0. Thank you to everyone who packed the stadium last Friday for the game. It was a special season. Thank you,” Coach Fontenot-Amedee said.
The Bandera Bulldogs thank the seniors, their families, the fans, and the entire community for their endless support. While this wasn't the outcome we wanted, we are proud of this team and the long-lasting mark they have left on this community, and the football program.
In Bandera We Are One.