<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0tfOAG_1H1AfaHW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0tfOAG_1H1AfaHW00" width="1496" height="1385" ><figcaption>Burton freshman running back Hudson Frank (16) scored two touchdowns and ran for 151 yards in Burton’s regular season finale against Somerville on Friday. (File photo by Nicholas Hodell)</figcaption></figure>BURTON — The Burton Panthers are back in the playoffs for a 17th consecutive season.This week, they have a chance to reverse recent trends and earn an elusive playoff victory.Burton begins the Class 2A Division II playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday against Harper in Seguin.Burton coach Jason Hodde said his players did a great job of buying into the things needed to defeat Somerville to close the regular season and wants to see similar success this week.“We got a really good Harper team that is coming in 9-1, and so we are going to have to be ready to go,” he said.The Panthers (6-3, 5-2 district) clinched the third seed out of District 13-2A Division II last week following their 58-29 win over Somerville. Burton scored at least 55 points for a fifth time this season, encompassing all of its district wins.A dynamic rushing attack took center stage as Burton did not attempt a pass against the Yeguas. Senior Kayden Patterson gained 219 yards and scored three touchdowns on seven carries. Freshman Hudson Frank added 151 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, adding to what Hodde called an emergence this year. Senior Isaac Matthies also scored twice while gaining 27 yards on two carries.Lawrence Allen and Braydon Martin also ran the ball twice and gained 20 and 17 yards, respectively.Patterson and senior Yobani Brewer tallied interceptions on defense for the game’s only two turnovers. Burton’s defense allowed 318 yards, but only allowed five third-down conversions on 13 attempts. The Panthers also did not allow a fourth-down conversion in six attempts.Burton committed half as many penalties as Somerville. It also outgained the Yeguas 429-318 despite running only 37 plays compared to Somerville’s 72 plays.While Burton is enjoying consistent playoff appearances, Harper (9-1, 5-1 district) is making its first playoff appearance since 2023 after dropping down to Class 2A Division II football this year. The Longhorns are in the midst of their best season since 2007 and are seeking their first playoff win since 2009 and fifth playoff win all time.Harper is led by a senior class full of talent. Quarterback Braydon Lake and running back Jace Helfirch both earned first-team all-district honors at the Class 2A Division I level with Lake being a two-way first-team selection. Three linemen — Tayven Pickens, Blane Craig and Josh Fogle — entered this season as second-team all-district selections on offense. Pickens also was a first-team selection at linebacker alongside Lake. Two more defensive linemen and wide receiver Jaylon Wilson also were second-team all-district selections last year.This class has guided Harper’s turnaround. The Longhorns have five more wins than last year, have scored 139 more points and allowed 143 fewer points than 2025. Harper has scored at least 34 points in eight games this year, doubling last year’s mark.The Longhorns’ 34-point games include all six of their district games. Harper averaged 45.8 points per game in district play, including a season-best 55 points in a high-octane 63-55 loss against District 14-2A Division II champion Junction.Their defense also has been stellar over the last four weeks, allowing 10 points or fewer in each game. “They move guys around and like to stunt and blitz a little bit,” Hodde said. “We got to be ready for that.”He added that Harper has size in the secondary with solid height and length. Hodde also noted talent in the linebacker position, but believes his team has matchups to take advantage of.“We feel like we got some areas where we can exploit and we just got to execute,” he said.However, Burton’s task will have to be done without Patterson, who suffered an injury last week. The Panthers played without Patterson in some non-district games, though, giving Burton a blueprint from which to work from on offense. Hodde also believes his team has vastly improved, giving the offense more packages to run than they did in games such as its 17-14 win over Hearne on Sept. 4.“We run the ball a lot, but we also have multiple guys that can run the ball, get yards, move the sticks,” he said. “I have been really proud of our offensive line, our tight ends and some of our fullbacks that have done a really good job of creating some lanes and some holes for these running backs to get some of these big chucks of yards that they have gotten.”Hodde also said Burton’s short passing game may be on display in select plays with players such as Martin and Allen in line for more carries alongside Frank.“At the end of the day, we have to sit there and not panic and do what we do best and that is play power football and be patient and take what the defense gives us and go win games,” he said.Burton is seeking its first playoff win since 2022, which would give its senior class its first playoff win. Hodde said a playoff win would mean a lot to his senior class while giving younger players confidence to build off of for the next several seasons.To do so, he said it will have to reverse recent trends of not playing complete games in the playoffs.“The last two years, we have played good halves and could not get the games finished, so we got to go in and play four quarters,” Hodde said. “Be disciplined. Stick to what we do best. Do not panic and try to make plays and win the game.”Tickets for Thursday’s playoff game are available online at tinyurl.com/burtonharpertickets.</div></body>

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BURTON — The Burton Panthers are back in the playoffs for a 17th consecutive season. This week, they have a chance to reverse recent trends and earn an elusive playoff victory. Burton begins the Class 2A Division II playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday against Harper in Seguin. Burton coach...

Burton seeks first playoff win since 2022 against Harper

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BURTON — The Burton Panthers are back in the playoffs for a 17th consecutive season. This week, they have a chance to reverse recent trends and earn an elu

Burton seeks first playoff win since 2022 against Harper

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