4A Team of the Week: Burnet Bulldogs
It was a humbling non-district slate for Burnet. The Bulldogs lost their season opener to Llano 28-21 and then lost each of their next four games by 19 points or more.
With an 0-5 record, Burnet was regarded as a 20-point underdog to China Spring in its district opener this past Friday, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
By halftime, the game was playing out exactly as expected. China Spring led 24-10, and Burnet was staring down an 0-6 record, but the Bulldogs didn’t panic.
“At some point, the team realized we had been in this situation before,” Burnet head coach Ben Speer said. “Although it didn’t go our way the first time, our kids knew what we were capable of, and they believed in themselves.”
In the fourth quarter, Burnet quarterback Bryan Johnson connected with Ethan Sanchez for touchdowns on back-to-back drives. But a failed two-point conversion still left the Bulldogs behind on the scoreboard 31-30.
It ended up coming down to the final play. Burnet had the ball at the China Spring 28-yard line. Speer didn’t even hesitate. He sent out his kicker Marcos Campos, who booted through a 45-yard field goal for a dramatic 33-31 victory.
“It’s really hard to put into words. So many emotions come over you: joy, elation, relief, disbelief, and ultimately, a sense of validation,” Speer said. “To see our kids and coaches, who never wavered even when we weren’t getting the results we wanted, come out on top is incredibly rewarding. It’s a true testament to their character and belief in one another.”
BULLDOGS WIN‼️ BULLDOGS WIN‼️ https://t.co/bPcr3hw7vp
— Bulldog Football (@Burnet_FOOTBALL) October 10, 2026
Johnson threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns, while adding another 107 yards on the ground.
Sanchez had six catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Colt McGraw had nine catches for 108 yards and a score.
Burnet may be 1-5 on the year, but most importantly, the Bulldogs are 1-0 in district play. They’ll look to keep the momentum going this Friday when they hit the road to face Marble Falls.
Previous 4A Teams of the Week
Week One: Corpus Christi Miller
Week Two: Canyon Randall
Week Three: Lindale
Week Four: Snyder
Week Five: Krum
Week Six: Kerrville Tivy
