Football practice underway ahead of season kickoff

After a promising off-season workout program that featured strong attendance at summer strength and conditioning workouts, Bandera High School kicked off the 2021 football season with week-long practice.

Bandera will open the 2021 season with a home scrimmage against La Pryor on Friday, August 13, at 5:00 p.m. (JV) and 6:00 p.m. (varsity) before traveling to Natalia for a scrimmage on Thursday, August 19.

The season begins with a road game in Poteet at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 27.

The next four games will be at home against Cotulla (September 3), Cole (September 10), Comfort (September 17), and Manor New Tech (September 24). All these games are scheduled to start at 7:30.

After a bye week, the team will travel to Crstyal City on October 8 before heading back home for a game against Carrizo., then home games against Devine (October 15) and Hondo (October 29).

The season will wrap up at home against Pearsall on November 5.

“I’m excited to get started and to see all of our kids back high fiving, being around each other in the locker room, and at practice supporting each other,” athletic director and head football coach Joel Fontenot-Amedee said. “We’re really excited about the guys we have returning and the new guys we’re expecting to step up.”

The Bulldogs have significant varsity experience at key sides on both sides of the ball this year after beginning last season with just a handful of returning starters.

This August, Bandera takes the field with nine returning offensive starters and seven returning defensive starters.

Quarterback Tyler Moore returns after accounting for 952 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season as the starter.

Senior running back Brock Johnson is back after missing most of last season with an injury, while junior Luke Barnett and sophomore Jesus Cardenas return after combining for 512 yards and two touchdowns in their first varsity season last year.

On the perimeter, senior Brandon Miller is back to lead the way after posting 17 catches for 395 yards and five touchdowns last year in his first varsity season.

Liam DeMarchi, Brice Clemens, Isaac Martinez, Kaloeb Son and Ross Chavez all return on the offensive line as well.

On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Matthew Staton is back as the leader of the defense.

DeMarchi (defensive tackle), Son (defensive end), Cardenas (outside linebacker), Barnett (strong safety), and senior cornerback Kevin Rodriguez are also expected to make an impact defensively this season.

The Bulldogs’ coaching staff will also have a new look this season after adding five new position coaches in the off-season.

Bandera graduate Cody Fields, who played on the 2002 state championship team, returns as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator.

Joey Trevino joined the staff as an offensive line coach, Korey Zavala is stepping in to coach defensive line, and Bradley Nelson and Tyler Renfro are in as defensive backs coaches.

“We have a great coaching staff that’s excited to be here and is going to pour into our kids,” Amedee said. “We’re really excited to get things rolling the right way.”

Brady Keane is the BISD head boys basketball coach.