Birdville, Burleson scrimmage in final tune-up before 6A/5A high school football opener
John Lennon of the Beatles once observed, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
Such seems to be the case with Jon Kitna, who is Burleson’s new football coach and athletic director. His team appeared to get the better of Birdville Friday night in a non-scoring scrimmage match.
His son, Jalen, is the senior starting quarterback and a 3-star Florida commit.
As quarterback at Central Washington University, Kitna set a NAIA record for career total offense with 12,907 yards while leading his team in his senior year to a national championship. Despite such impressive credentials, the NFL passed him up on draft day.
Kitna, who turns 48 on Monday, was not surprised. “They’re anti-NAIA. Nobody goes to the pros from that level. It was a dream, but realistically, it was a very, very small chance.”
However, Kitna got a shot at the big leagues and played 17 years: Seattle (1996-2000), Cincinnati (2001-2005), Detroit (2006-2008), and Dallas (2009-2011 and 2013). He was Cowboys QB coach in 2019 before landing the Burleson job in March.
He brings seven years of experience to the Elks. Kitna says he has seven starters returning on offense and four on defense. He is impressed with his offensive line and senior running back Jarrett Austin.
Defensively, he says they “have a lot of experience and high football IQ.”
The team’s main weakness is psychological. “They haven’t won a lot of meaningful games. There’s self-doubt. That’s our job as coaches, to get them through that.”
Meanwhile, Birdville is beginning life anew without the services of Stone Earle and adopted brother, Ladderious Mixon, star quarterback and running back, respectively, from last year’s regional team. Earle, the son of former NFL quarterback John Earle, earned a scholarship to Abilene Christian University.
Coach Lon Holbrook acknowledged his current crop of young players have some “pretty big shoes to fill. But the kids are stepping up.” Aiden Dollar and Anthony Rockmore are his starting quarterback and leading running back. Both are juniors.
“We’re a really, really young team,” said Holbrook. “We have a lot of sophomores. They got a little taste of it tonight. Not having spring training hurt. But then everybody else is in the same boat. It was good to see them get some experience. It was nice to see them hit somebody else for a change.”
The Hawks return only three offensive linemen and tight end Connor Welsh. On defense, only two return, safety Bryson Lightfoot and inside linebacker John Nguyen. All three players are seniors.
“We’re figuring out as we go,” Holbrook said “We’re a work in progress. We’ve got a good chance, a big chance to get better. That’s a big positive. It’s also a big negative. We have to grow up fast. I believe we can. I believe in them.”
Burleson will play Burleson Centennial Thursday at AT&T Stadium to kick-off the Class 6A/5A high school football season. Birdville travels to Everman Friday Sept. 25.