Elks fall to Colleyville-Heritage on Senior Night
Burleson fails to run ball effectively and make up for turnovers
BURLESON – The Burleson Elks suffered a 35-14 loss to the Colleyville-Heritage Panthers Friday at Burleson ISD Stadium on Burleson’s Senior Night.
Heritage (6-1 in district, 7-2 overall)–second in District 2-5A–scored two touchdowns off four turnovers with sixth-place Burleson (2-5, 3-6) losing three fumbles and turning the ball over on downs once in the loss.
Burleson failed to run the ball effectively until late in the game, finishing with 35 total rushing yards.
After Burleson made it a one-score game with 24 seconds left in the first half, Heritage took over the game with three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter and shutting Burleson out through the first 22 minutes of the second half.
Vote for Burleson’s Offensive Player of The Game at the end of the game story
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Heritage struck first as junior quarterback Bodey Weaver scored on a two-yard touchdown run to complete an 18-play, 80-yard drive to give Heritage a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 11:55 left in the second quarter.
Weaver completed 13 of 21 passes for 73 yards and two touchdown passes with an interception and ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
After recovering Burleson’s fumble on Heritage’s 42-yard line, Heritage scored on an eight-play, 58-yard drive capped off by Weaver completing a three-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Blake Wendler to increase Heritage's lead to 14-0 with 5:15 left in the second quarter.
Wendler caught three passes for 16 yards and the touchdown.
Burleson got on the board and made it a one-score game as sophomore quarterback Andrew Sparks completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Landon Smith to cap off a five-play 34-yard drive, cutting Heritage's lead to 14-7 with 24 seconds left in the second.
Sparks completed 16 of 31 passes for 154 yards and the touchdown pass and scored a rushing touchdown. Smith caught three passes for 26 yards and the touchdown.
Setting up Burleson’s first scoring drive was sophomore linebacker Lawson Blanchard’s 69-yard fumble-recovery return from Burleson’s 12-yard line to Heritage’s 19. The ball was moved back 15 yards to the 34 due to an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.
Blanchard’s fumble recovery saved Burleson from Heritage scoring off another turnover as Burleson fumbled on its own nine-yard line before Heritage fumbled the next play.
Burleson lost another fumble on its own 46 on the same play it picked up its second first down in four plays to open the second half.
Heritage took advantage of the turnover and scored in five plays–including a 27-yard fake punt–as Weaver completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Sameer Johnson to bring the score to 21-7 with 8:28 left in the third quarter.
Johnson caught four passes for 40 yards and the touchdown.
After forcing a Burleson three-and-out, Heritage completed a five-play, 55-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown run from senior running back Bryce Abram to increase Heritage's lead to 28-7 with 4:48 left in the third.
Abram ran for 75 yards and the touchdown on 11 carries.
After another Burleson three-and-out, Heritage completed another 55-yard drive–nine plays this time–with a two-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Jerrod Wiley to bring the score to 35-7 with 47 seconds left in the third.
Wiley ran for a game-high 78 yards and the touchdown on 16 carries.
After punting again on offense, Burleson got the ball back as junior defensive back Jaden Flournoy intercepted Heritage’s pass at Burleson’s four-yard line with 8:19 left in the game.
Burleson was able to take advantage of the turnover and drive down the field in 11 plays–including a 19-yard and a 23-yard completion to junior receiver Jaden Hernandez–and scored on Sparks’s seven-yard touchdown run to cut Heritage’s lead to 35-14 with 4:28 left in the game.
Hernandez led Burleson with five catches and 63 receiving yards.
Heritage then recovered Burleson’s onside-kick attempt with 4:23 to go.
Burleson forced a Heritage three-and-out and took over with 2:53 to go before the game ended with Burleson on its 38-yard line.
Junior running back Nate Jackson led Burleson with 42 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Burleson will wrap up the 2024 season when it faces the eighth-place Everman Bulldogs (1-6 in district, 1-8 overall) Friday at 7 p.m. at J.E. Marr Stadium in Everman. Everman has lost its last six games.
Heritage finishes the season facing its crosstown rival the ninth-place Grapevine Mustangs (0-6, 0-8) Friday at 7 p.m. at Mustang Panther Stadium in Grapevine.
Burleson was officially eliminated from playoff contention when it lost 56-0 to the first-place Argyle Eagles (6-0 in district, 7-1 overall) and the Mansfield-Timberview Wolves (4-3, 5-4) beat Grapevine 55-10 and the Arlington-Seguin Cougars (4-3, 6-3) beat Everman 55-22 last week. Timberview and Seguin are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in District 2-5A.
Vote for Burleson’s Offensive Player of The Game against Colleyville-Heritage:
Andrew Sparks (154 yards on 16/31 passes, TD pass, TD run)
Jaden Hernandez (63 yards on 5 catches)
Landon Smith (26 yards and TD on 3 catches)
Nate Jackson (42 yards on 11 carries)
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