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.
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!”
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!”
