The Abilene Wylie Bulldogs left Gordon Wood Stadium with a 30-24 opening week football win against the Brownwood Lions.

The Lions had a chance to emerge victorious in spite of the ball not bouncing in their favor at times.  On KOXE Radio after the game, Coach Burnett had these comments.

“They gave themselves a chance to win it until the very end, we just didn’t get it done,” Burnett said. “I saw some fight in them and what a fighter’s heart. They never one time laid down and thought they were going to lose. This is a great group of kids that want to win and will win, we just fell short today.”

“Early in the game we have a snap go over our head for a safety, that’s two points,” Burnett said. “Then we couldn’t have called a better play, they stunted off the edge and we were trying to throw a screen and just didn’t get it off,. Their kid batted the ball, caught it for a easy touchdown and walked in. And then we have a chance to go win the game late and got down to the 5-yard-line and turned the ball over.”

“We just have to find a way when the field reduces to keep pounding it and put it in,” Burnett said. “We have to grow as a family and get better and we will. We’ll go back and watch film and fix those things that hurt us so next week it won’t happen again. We just made too many mistakes to win the ball game tonight.”

The Lions outgained Wylie 375-349 in total yards and generated 22 first downs while allowing 16, but Brownwood did turn the ball over twice.

Next week, the Lions hit the road for the first of six regular-season games away from Gordon Wood Stadium as they visit the Class 4A Division I No. 20 Marble Falls Mustangs (1-0), who are coming off 52-7 win over 5A Division II Pflugerville Connally Thursday night.

For complete stats and photos of the game, see Derrick Stuckly’s story on BROWNWOODNEWS.COM.