In Friday night's District 14-4A Division II district opener, the Bandera varsity football team found themselves playing catch-up against Pearsall after taking an early lead. Despite outgaining the Mavericks 332 to 209, the Bulldogs struggled with turnovers, which allowed Pearsall to control the game for most of the night.

However, in a thrilling turn of events, the Bandera team rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 13-0 to secure a 26-22 victory and improve their district record to 1-0.

Head football coach and athletic director Joel Fontenot-Amedee praised the team's unwavering belief in each other, even in the face of adversity, highlighting the trust between coaches and players. This faith in their abilities helped the Bulldogs to succeed in the crucial fourth quarter.

Pearsall had taken a 22-13 lead during the third quarter after scoring a 28-yard touchdown pass and a successful two-point conversion. The Bulldogs' defense stepped up, holding the Mavericks to just 49 yards for the remainder of the game.

The Bandera defense's resilience played a pivotal role in keeping the team within striking distance. They capitalized on a turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter, leading to a 5-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Juan Cabrera, closing the gap to 22-20 with 9:31 remaining. The defense once again rose to the occasion, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position at the Pearsall 49-yard line, which they capitalized on with an 18-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Jesse Cardenas, taking a 26-22 lead.

The defensive efforts of Cardenas, Dylan Gherman, Jorge Cabasos, Dane Barnett, and Daniel Freeman in the final minutes helped secure the win by stopping Pearsall one last time, allowing Bandera to run out the clock.

Fontenot-Amedee commended the team's strong defensive performance in the second half, shutting down Pearsall's offense during the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs overcame early setbacks, including turnovers, to level the score after taking an initial 7-0 lead with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas to Jeffry Thomas. Pearsall responded with a 13-yard touchdown run, taking the game to 7-7. They later took a 14-7 lead just before the half. However, Cardenas and Thomas combined for game-changing plays, including a 4-yard TD run by Cardenas, narrowing the gap to 14-13 at halftime.

Cardenas finished with 84 passing yards and a touchdown, connecting with Thomas four times. He also contributed to the running game with 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Cabrera added 90 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the occasional mishaps, the team remains focused on eliminating turnovers and improving their offensive game.

On the defensive front, Gherman recorded 17 tackles, Cabasos contributed 14 tackles, and other players like Gavin Spruell, Rigelsky, and Josh Goff played essential roles in the strong defensive effort.

With the win, Bandera improved to 6-1 on the season and 1-0 in district play. Their next challenge is against Devine, a game that could determine the District 14-4A Division II championship. Both teams are undefeated in district play, with Devine securing wins against YMLA and Carrizo Springs. The Bulldogs will host the Warhorses at Bulldog Stadium on Friday night.

JV Bulldogs cruise past Pearsall to stay unbeaten

The Bandera JV football team recorded its fifth straight win and improved to 6-0-1 on the season with a 36-18 win over Pearsall Thursday night at Bulldog Stadium.

The Mavericks took an early lead on a 49-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, but the Bulldogs answered right back with an efficient three-play scoring drive capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Dalton Parks to Breydan Gherman.

Bandera made it 14-7 on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Parks to Jaymin Klein and extended the lead to 22-7 on a 25-yard touchdown run by Parks late in the second quarter.

Riley Moran added to the lead with a 28-yard touchdown run in the third, and Parks got into the end zone on a 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth.

Parks finished 7-of-9 passing for 100 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with four different receivers (Jaymin Klein – 3 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD; Jonah Klein – 1 catch, 15 yards; Breydan Gherman – 2 catches, 41 yards, 1 TD; Ruffin Scartocci – 1 catch, 7 yards). In the run game, Parks added nine carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns while Gherman had seven carries for 75 yards and Moran added five carries for 45 yards and a score. Linebacker Daylon Lee led the way defensively as the Bulldogs held Pearsall in check for most of the night.

The Bandera JV team will return to action Thursday night on the road in Devine against the Warhorses. Kickoff is set for 5:00 pm.