The Bandera Freshman football team ended its season with a win against the Canyon Lake Hawks 27-6.   Having outscored their final three opponents 126-6, the Bulldogs came together as a team after early season back-to-back heart breaking losses to two really tough teams. In a loss to Fredericksburg 22-21 on a last second two-point conversion, the team banded together and never looked back.

“We were all sick of losing,” quarterback Noah Nelson said. “The pace picked up a lot during practice, and it showed in the results of our play.”

In the Hawks game, the team dominated from the opening kickoff, though their first score didn’t come until early in the second quarter.  Coming off of a 150+ yard game against Navarro two weeks ago, and a 200+ yard game against Boerne last week, running back Landon Ventura continued to hit holes opened up by his full-back Averie Mansfield and the outstanding blocks of the offensive line.

On their opening possession, after long runs from Ventura and Nelson, three dropped passes in the red-zone killed the Dogs attempt to draw first blood early, and they turned the ball over on downs.

After just two plays, lock-down defensive line play from the Bulldogs resulted in a Hawk turnover and Bandera got the ball back with almost four minutes left in the first quarter. Following the blocks of Mansfield and the offensive line, but watching two more dropped passes, the Dogs were unable to capitalize and once again turned over on downs. After averaging 27 points per game this season, the Bulldog offense was getting off to an uncharacteristically slow start.

On defense, Corey Jennings, Ty Fernandez, and Shane Reynolds dominated the Hawk offense in the trenches, and multiple tackles from Nick Andreas, Mansfield, and Ventura halted the Hawks attempt to score first. A big time sack by Turner Warren brought the Hawks back seven yards, and a fourth down tackle for loss by Ventura forced another Hawk turnover.

Taking the ball back with only eight minutes left in the half, the Bulldogs were looking to break the defensive battle and draw first blood. On the opening play of this possession, Nelson broke for a 30 yard run opened up by good outside blocking from Josh Kinsey. Outstanding blocking from the Bulldog offensive line eventually brought Alex Willoughby-Gonzales down to the 5 yard line, and from there Ventura was able to punch the ball into the end-zone. The extra point was added by Willoughby-Gonzales, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

After a few Hawk first downs, the Bandera defense successfully kept the Hawk offense in check. Multiple tackles from Willoughby-Gonzales kept the Hawks out of the end zone as the half ended, and the Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead into the break.

Playing tight defense all year, the freshmen allowed an average of just 11.8 points per game, with two shutouts and five games where their opponents scored only eight points or less.

Continuing to hold the Hawks in the second half, Jennings, Fernandez, Chase Haddad, Reynolds, Sterling Gardner, and Jared Fuller dominated the Hawk offensive line, and didn't allow a score until a last second scamble into the end-zone as time expired.

The Bulldogs secondary pulled in three interceptions with Brady Keane, Calvin Bankston, and Luke Williams each picking off a Hawk pass.    

An interception by Canyon Lake did slow the team down a bit in the second half, but with the defense held and the ball was returned to the hands of Nelson and the offense after just four plays.

With this possession, Nelson drove the ball down the throats of the Hawks defense and reached the 100 yard rushing mark with a 35 yard touchdown run. Though the PAT was no good, but the Bulldogs still had a 13-0 lead mid-way through the third quarter.

On the ensuing Hawks drive, the Bulldog defense was lead by John Derry and Willoughby-Gonzales who each registered multiple tackles on the drive. Incomplete passes and penalties killed the Hawks drive, and the ball returned to the Bulldog offense.

The offensive line opened up holes for Ventura to push him over the 100 yard mark, as he hit his third straight 100+ yard rushing game. A 48-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Ty Neff extended the Bulldogs lead and Nelson’s two point conversion made the score 21-0 Bulldogs at the end of the third quarter.

On their next possession, Bandera quarterback Joe Rodriguez took over the offense and after a 55 yard run by Ventura, Rodriquez was able to complete a 13 yard touchdown pass to Kyle Bauml. The extra point was no good, but the Bulldogs held a 27-0 lead with little time left in the final game of the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Charlie Ackerman was in on three different tackles to prevent long Hawk runs. As time expired, the Hawks were able to score on a three-yard sweep play as time expired.

Ending their season with a 7-3 record, the Bulldogs finished third in the district and hope to build on that record next year.  All of the players expressed thanks to Coach Brett Morris and his coaching staff who they believe provided them with a chance to win every game and made them all better football players.