Burges football team doesn’t see youth as an issue

The Burges Mustangs might be a young team this year, but their head coach says that could end up paying off in the end.

“I think our strengths and our weaknesses are the same,” said coach James Routledge. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys that don’t have a lot of experience. But that’s our strength as well because they’re hungry to play.”

The Mustangs are coming off a seven-win season a year ago that included a 5-2 district record.

Though many teams pride themselves on having a high number of savvy seniors, the Mustangs are excited about their younger players.

“Honestly, our young players, I really don’t see them as a weakness,” said senior quarterback Oscar Maldonado. “They’re up here for a reason. We have our very good [sophomore] running back Robert Hall. He’s going to do very well up here.”

Maldonado will have to get help from young, talented players such as Hall, especially in the opening game of the season.

The Mustangs will meet Parkland in week one in a rematch of last year’s bidistrict playoff game, which the Matadors won handily.

“Oh, we’re all excited, especially because they knocked us out and especially because the seniors from last year have been texting us and contacting us on social media,” said Maldonado.

That game will be broadcast live in portions on Fox Sports Southwest on Aug. 31. It is one of ten games that Fox Sports will be highlighting across the state that night.