Former NFL QB Jon Kitna picks up first win at Burleson as Elks beat Timber Creek in 2OT

After leading his team down the field to tie the game and send it into overtime, Burleson senior quarterback Jalen Kitna had a suggestion for his father and Elks’ head coach Jon Kitna in double overtime.

Facing a second-and-goal from the Keller Timber Creek 4, Jalen sent a message to his father to run a play called “Thunder.”

Jon Kitna agreed and Jalen found senior receiver Aswan Bonner open in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Elks a 26-20 non-district win over the Falcons Friday night at Burleson ISD Stadium.

It was Jon Kitna’s first win leading the Elks.

“What a fun football game to be a part of for this community and for these men after everything they have been through for these last eight months, to be able to come out with this win is huge,” Jon Kitna said.

After trading field goals in the first overtime, the Elks’ defense came up with a huge play on the first play of the second overtime forcing a fumble by Timber Creek quarterback Jacob Porter that Burleson defensive lineman Ryan Patino caught in the air.

With the game tied at 20, Kitna hit Bonner for a 15-yard gain to the Falcons 9. Two plays later, he ended the game with another toss to a leaping Bonner.

“The first win is always a hard one to come by,” Jon Kitna said.

Timber Creek (1-1) seemed to have the game in hand when running back Kaden Bess scored on a 3-yard run with 58 seconds to play that gave the Falcons a 20-17 lead.

But the Elks (1-1) had different plans.

Taking over at the Burleson 31 with 47 seconds remaining, Jalen Kitna guided the Elks on an 8-play drive that covered 57 yards. Kitna, who finished with 290 yards passing and three touchdowns, completed passes of 14, 11 and 22 yards to Colin Maher to reach the Falcons’ 20-yard line. Maher was the Elks’ leading receiver with nine catches for 162 yards and two scores.

As the clock ran out, Caleb Yauger booted a 37-yard field goal to the tie the game at 20.

“The offensive line really protected well and Jalen saw the defense and made a couple of big-time throws to Colin who made some great catches,” Jon Kitna said. “For our kicker to go out there and hammer that kick, it was a tremendous team effort to get it done.”

Up 7-3 at the halftime, the Elks saw their lead evaporate with 6:55 to play when Timber Creek’s Nolan Killday returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a 10-7 advantage.

The Elks responded with a quick 7-play, 72-yard drive to regain the lead at 14-10 thanks to a 24-yard strike from Kitna to Maher with 3:45 remaining.

Timber Creek also strung together a 9-play, 62-yard scoring drive that Bess capped with a 3-yard run.

Jon Kitna was hired by Burleson ISD in March after spending the 2019 season as the QBs coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Kitna played QB in the NFL, including on the Cowboys from 2009-11 and 2013.