Burnet football’s defense has experience, speed to stay stingy
CAPTION: Trevin Park is one of several Burnet defensive backs who has talent and experience. Photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Burnet High School’s 7-on-7 defense performed at a high level throughout play in May and June.
While key receivers are emerging as Charles Edwards and Cohen Jorpeland battle for starting quarterback, the Bulldogs have shown a commitment to being stingy on the other side of the ball in getting stops and creating turnovers.
The chemistry in the secondary is apparent, said assistant coach Russell Houston, who coaches inside linebackers and was a Bulldogs secondary coach.
“I think the back end of the defense is probably our most experienced group,” he said. “We have probably three to five starters returning. We have one who played both ways and three of the four are backend guys. Our cornerbacks and safeties are returners. That’s a bonus for us.”
Senior Cason O’Hair is a two-year letterman, while Jordyn Jones and Trevin Park are returning starters.
“Trevin always seems to be at the right place at the right time,” Houston said. “Jordyn Jones plays technique extremely well. He made plays because he has great technique. Cason is solid. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and runs real well and tackles well.”
The other trait they bring? The ability to not let one bad play turn into multiple plays.
“You’re going to get beat every now and then,” Houston said. “Can you move on to the next play?”
Last season the most of the defensive backs were new starters on the varsity after the team graduated several seniors off the 2023 squad “who played a long time,” the coach said.
“There were growing pains of not knowing the speed and knowing how things work,” he said. “I think they learned how to communicate better and trust each other. Now they know what to do. Any time you have young ones who don’t know and are trying, they tend to make a mistake. Any time (the opponent) scored on any play, either somebody missed a tackle or or they got beat. You have to learn how to play with a short memory.”
After a year of learning, the secondary is poised to have a terrific season. Houston called the starters at inside linebacker “wide open.”
“It’s not an ability thing – good kids will be there,” he said. “We have four or five quality options for three or four spots. Health will always play a role and injuries. If we’re still putting pads on and continue to do so, I like our chances to be pretty good.”
He pointed out the Bulldogs have an intrasquad scrimmage plus scrimmages against Fischer Canyon Lake Aug. 15 and Waco Robinson Aug. 21 plus the “five non-district games” to get them ready for what looks to be another challenging District 4-4A Division I campaign.
Overall, Houston likes what he has witnessed during the summer and believes the Bulldogs are on track to accomplish their goals.
“We’re pretty quick in the spots we need to be quick in,” Houston said. “I do think it has the potential to be one of our fastest groups. We’ll have a lot of kids trying to get 11 hats on the football. I think the big thing to our success will be the communication – being able to get there quick and play fast.”
CAPTION: Ethan Sanchez is another Bulldog who displays a core trait of the defensive unit – not giving up on the play. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
