FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BURTON VS. BRACKET
After having an extra bye week, the Burton Panther Football Team is ready to get back on to the field this Friday night. The Panthers will be opening the Bi-District Round of the playoffs against the Bracket Tigers.
The game is scheduled for a 6:30pm at Veterans Memorial High School in San Antonio. Stephen Draehn and Darrell Kieke will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 6pm on the KWHI.com Sports Alternate Feed.
Burton comes into the game with an 8-2 overall record. They finished district play with a 5-2 record, which was good for third place. The Panthers lost the final two games of the season to Iola and Granger by a combined three points.
Kayden Patterson leads the team in both passing and rushing.
Through the air, Patterson has completed 47 of 74 passes (64%) for 882 yards, 11 touchdowns, and only one interception. On the ground, he has 137 carries for 1,104 yards and 24 touchdowns.
On the ground, Burton also has Maleek Bibby, who has 69 carries for 442 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Rueben Rodriguez has 53 carries for 338 yards and a touchdown.
The top receivers for the Panthers are Braydon Martin with 19 catches for 343 yards, and five touchdowns, and Eli Simank with 10 catches for 251 yards, and three touchdowns.
On the other side, the Bracket Tigers are led by QB Jack Lewis, who has completed 99 out of 178 passes (56%) for 1,249 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Their featured RB is Abel Aguirre, who has 168 carries for 1,272 yards, and 21 touchdowns.
Bracket's top receiver is Troy Sandoval with 33 receptions for 316 yards, and two touchdowns.
Bracket is 5-4 overall, and finished district with a 4-1 district.
The Tigers lost three of their first four games, but since then have won four out of their last five games.
Bracket has scored at least 41 points or more in each of their five wins.
Burton Head Coach Jason Hodde gave his assessment of the Tigers.
The winner will move on to the Area Round of the playoffs to take on the Shiner Comanches, who picked up a victory over Ben Bolt last (Thursday) night.