Bulldogs extend winning streak

Bandera’s varsity football team wasted no time taking control of Friday night’s Homecoming game against Manor New Tech, as the Bulldogs scored on their first three possessions before cruising to a 42-0 win at Bulldog Stadium in their fourth straight victory.

The win marks the second time in three seasons the Bulldogs have started 4-1 or better. Prior to 2019, Bandera had won four or more games just one time since 2010.

The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead on a well-placed 21-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tyler Moore to sophomore wide receiver Alex Dirck. Bandera made it 14-0 after Moore got into the end zone on a 13-yard TD run, and the lead grew to 21-0 on a 2-yard TD run by senior running back Brock Johnson midway through the first quarter.

With the Bulldogs’ defense preventing Manor New Tech from gaining any momentum, Bandera continued to pile it on with a 2-yard TD run by Johnson in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs’ fifth firsthalf touchdown came on a 1-yard TD run by senior running back Luke Barnett.

Bandera, which allowed Manor New Tech to gain just 151 total yards in the game, scored for the final time in the third quarter on a 33-yard TD run by Moore to make it 42-0.

The Bulldogs went on to work in several younger players into the lineup as the offense possessed the ball and wound time off the clock while the defense held strong to preserve the shutout.

Johnson, who now has 100 or more rushing yards in three straight games, finished with 19 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns to pace the offense on the ground while Moore accounted for 154 total yards and three touchdowns.

Barnett had four carries for 26 yards and a touchdown, sophomore Adan Ramos had two carries for 12 yards, senior Ethan Rutherford had one carry for 12 yards, sophomore Jesus Cardenas had one carry for four yards and sophomore Corben Gonzales had one carry for seven yards.

Defensively, senior Matthew Staton had nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Senior Brice Clemens had five tackles, one TFL and a fumble recovery.

Barnett had three tackles and an interception that was returned 29 yards. Senior Liam DeMarchi had seven tackles, one TFL and one sack. Sophomore Jesus Cardenas and sophomore Dylan Gherman had six tackles apiece.

The win concluded the non-district portion of the schedule for the Bulldogs, who won four straight after a season-opening loss to Poteet.

Bandera has a week off before they begin District 14-4A Division II play October 9 on the road against Crystal City.

“I’m excited for our kids, coaches and community,” athletic director and head football coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “To be 4-1 headed into district play is awesome. Our defense is playing lights out, only giving up six points total in the last three games. Our offense has come along too, scoring 40 or more points in two consecutive games.

“Our goals have not changed. We want to win a district championship. In order to do that we will need to play our best football over the next six weeks. To get there, we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. I hope to see everyone back packing those stands in 3 weeks when we take on Carrizo Springs in Bulldog Stadium,” Amedee said.

Brady Keane is Bandera ISD’s Head Boys Basketball Coach.