How Burnet football creates the gadget Bulldog

CAPTION: Burnet receiver Matthew Williams uses his body to protect the ball and make the touchdown catch. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Burnet High School football rivals were shocked when word spread that the Bulldogs were searching for a new quarterback.

It was the summer of 2022 and one player — Grant Jones — was the foregone starter. After all, he had played the position throughout youth football and at Burnet Middle School. His teams rarely lost. So why would coaches not want Jones to have his hands on the ball to start every offensive play?

“Grant was exceptionally athletic,” said Colton Brewer, who served as the quarterbacks coach in 2022, Jones’ junior year. “With any touch of the ball, he could go score. The more ways we could allow him to touch the ball, let’s do it. He could make us look a little smarter with some simple moves.”

That season, Jones showed all of that when he scored a touchdown on a kick return to begin the contest against the Marble Falls Mustangs. Then when it looked like the Mustangs had snatched momentum thanks to scoring a touchdown and a two-point pass on the opening possession of the third quarter to tie the contest at 14-14, Jones took over.

He scored on a 20-yard touchdown when he reversed field after the Mustangs were ready to tackle him. That touchdown put the Bulldogs up 21-14, and the Mustangs weren’t much of a threat after that.

Since Jones graduated in 2024, Burnet coaches followed the same formula by creating packages for Marcus Pimentel. Like Jones, Pimentel played quarterback, receiver, running back, on the defense and special teams.

Brewer said Pimentel’s offensive talents fit more like wildcat packages.

“He has the ability to see the defense like a quarterback,” Brewer said. “He had a lot of athleticism. Marcus was able to create and stretch the defense. He was a player who acquired multiple skills.”

But with both Jones and Pimentel gone, Brewer and the offensive staff have been on the lookout for another player of their caliber, someone who has the athleticism and escapability to frustrate defenses.

“It allows us to essentially not worry about interior defensive linemen or defensive end or outside linebacker,” Brewer said. “Our guy is going to be better than that particular guy. We don’t have to worry about blocking those guys. They’re not good enough to tackle our guy, our scheme guy you snap the ball to.”

The flip side is that the gadget Bulldog has multiple skills that make him dangerous because he can run well, throw on the run and be used as a decoy to free teammates.

“It can create some super easy throws,” Brewer said. “Grant Jones created easy throws for the team. It’s also getting the ball to your best player.”

Brewer credited former head coach Bryan Wood for emphasizing to his staff the importance of finding and developing the gadget Bulldog. And he was quick to point out that while the gadget Bulldog is another weapon, the other 10 offensive players on the field must do their parts, too, to ensure a successful Burnet outcome.

“It’s the guys who aren’t getting the credit,” he said, specifically the blocking of the offensive line and the receivers. “They do a great job communicating with our players. Our coaches do a phenomenal job of teaching.”

So who is the next gadget Bulldog? Brewer laughed when asked, but one player looks like he has the skills to handle the role. During 7 on 7, Matthew Williams has been difficult to defend because he can catch short passes and turn them into long gains thanks to his speed, can outleap defenders for touchdowns, and doesn’t mind bending low to catch the ball and keep the drive alive.

“He’s catching fire,” Brewer said. “Matthew got into football late. He’s still growing and learning. He has a skill set that I would say is close to a Grant Jones. I would say his versatility in the near future will increase. How can we let Matthew touch the ball easily? Let’s call the play that gets the ball in his hands.”

And Brewer added that offensive coaches talk about knowing their Bulldogs so well that they can call plays that allow them all to shine.

“Let’s find a way to get the dudes the rock,” he said. “Let’s get our guys touches.”

CAPTION: Burnet receiver Matthew Williams’ strong vertical jump allows him to make catches that seem like they’re going to fall incomplete. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro