SENIOR SUCCESS: Blake Bundy produced a strong all-around senior season for Academy, helping lead the 11-2 Bumblebees to the Class 3A Division I Region III semifinals. Bundy made 105 tackles and three interceptions as a safety, caught 13 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns at receiver and kicked nine field goals and 44 extra points to finish with 89 total points. He also averaged 40.2 yards on 24 punts for head coach Chris Lancaster's team as Academy played 13 games in a s

SENIOR SURGE: After playing his junior season at Wichita Falls City View, wide receiver Devan Williams returned to Temple for his senior year and led the Wildcats (9-3) with 37 catches for 777 yards and 11 touchdowns as they went undefeated in District 12-6A. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown in Temple's 28-14 bi-district playoff win over Waxahachie and caught a 7-yard TD pass from Mikal Harrison-Pilot in the Wildcats' 45-33 area-round loss to Rockwall-Heath last Friday i

OFF TO THE RACES: Temple junior wide receiver/quarterback Mikal Harrison-Pilot sprints for a long gain against Waxahachie as senior tight end KeAndre Smith (left) and other teammates block during the Wildcats' 28-14 home win over the Indians in a Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff game last Friday at Wildcat Stadium. Harrison-Pilot has scored 14 touchdowns (eight rushing, six receiving) this season for Temple (9-2), which battles fifth-ranked Rockwall-Heath (10-1) in an

RISE AND SHINE: Temple junior receiver Mikal Harrison-Pilot jumps above Copperas Cove defender Jaylen Donnell to make a 30-yard touchdown catch from sophomore quarterback Reese Rumfield during the Wildcats' 77-12 win last Friday at Wildcat Stadium. Harrison-Pilot scored three touchdowns against Cove and has 13 TDs overall this season for District 12-6A champion Temple (8-2), which hosts Waxahachie (6-4) in a Class 6A Division II bi-disteict playoff game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at

SURGING INTO THE PLAYOFFS: Junior wide receiver Scout Brazeal and coach Chris Lancaster's playoff-bound Academy Bumblebees (8-1, 4-1) can complete a 9-1 regular season by winning their District 11-3A Division I finale at Troy (2-7, 2-3) at 7:30 tonight. With 45 catches for 932 yards and 11 touchdowns, Brazeal has an opportunity to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the season. (File photo by Greg Wille, TempleBeltonSports.com) By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.r

BRINGING THE HEAT: Temple senior defensive tackle Tommy Torres puts pressure on Killeen sophomore quarterback Roderick Norman during the Wildcats' 44-6 victory last Friday at Leo Buckley Stadium. Torres recorded six tackles, one sack and a forced fumble as first-place Temple (7-2, 6-0) clinched at least a share of its third straight District 12-6A championship. Before they begin the Class 6A Division II playoffs at home next week, coach Scott Stewart's Wildcats seek to comple

ROOM TO ROAM: Temple senior Tr'Darius Taylor (18) sprints past Killeen Shoemaker players for a 62-yard punt return during the Wildcats' 60-15 win over the Grey Wolves in District 12-6A action last Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. Taylor and Temple (6-2, 5-0) seek to clinch at least a share of the 12-6A championship when they travel to battle the Killeen Kangaroos (2-6, 0-5) at 7:30 Friday night at Leo Buckley Stadium. (Photo by Mike Lefner, Temple ISD/Special to TempleBeltonS

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com SALADO – The Salado Eagles are the defending champions of District 9-4A Division II and have won eight straight league games dating to 2019. The China Spring Cougars are undefeated, have outscored opponents 345-73 and are ranked No. 5 in the state in 4A D-II. Something’s got to give when China Spring (7-0, 2-0) hosts Salado (5-2, 2-0) in a showdown of district co-leaders tonight at 7:30 at Cougar Stadium. It’s a rematch

HE CAN PICK IT: Temple senior linebacker Faylin Lee (12) intercepts a Belton pass as junior defensive end Jaylon Jackson (27) looks on during the Wildcats' 50-15 win over the host Tigers last Friday night. Lee also made nine tackles in the Bell County rivalry game and has 40 stops this season for District 12-6A leader Temple (5-2, 4-0), which hosts Killeen Shoemaker (3-3, 2-2) at 7:30 Friday night on homecoming at Wildcat Stadium. (Photo by Matt Corley, Temple ISD/Special to

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com SALADO – Next Friday, defending District 9-4A Division II champion Salado will travel to fifth-ranked China Spring for a highly anticipated league showdown. But for the Eagles (4-2, 1-0) to carry un unbeaten district record into that battle, first they must get past the Waco Connally Cadets (2-3, 1-0) at 7:30 tonight at Eagle Stadium. It’s a rematch of Salado’s 20-15 road win a year ago. Coach Alan Haire’s Salado team be

CAN'T GET AWAY: Temple junior safety Zion Moore (9) makes one of his team-leading eight tackles during the Wildcats' 56-27 victory over Killeen Ellison last Thursday at Leo Buckley Stadium. Junior linebacker Taurean York also made eight stops and has a team-high 66 tackles this season for District 12-6A leader Temple (4-2, 3-0), which plays rival Belton (3-3, 2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tiger Field. (Photo by Matt Corley, Temple ISD/Special to TempleBeltonSports.com) CLASS 6A

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com BELTON – One week before their rivalry showdown with Temple, the Belton Tigers seek to make it a 3-0 start in District 12-6A when they battle Harker Heights at 7:30 tonight at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen. Belton (3-2, 2-0) remained unbeaten in 12-6A last Friday when they edged winless Bryan 21-14 in overtime at Tiger Field. Javier Luna gave the Tigers the lead with an 18-yard touchdown run in overtime, then Tanner Con

IN THE ZONE: Temple senior wide receiver Devan Williams cruises into the end zone after catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Reese Rumfield early in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats' 44-34 comeback win over Harker Heights last Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. With Temple trailing 21-0 in the second quarter, Williams caught a 25-yard TD pass from junior Mikal Harrison-Pilot. Williams, who also made a first-quarter interception while playing cornerback, had six re

Temple senior running back Samari Howard makes a reception against Bryan senior linebacker Nic Caraway during the visiting Wildcats' 49-7 win over the Vikings in last Friday's District 12-6A opener at Merrill Green Stadium. One day after he verbally committed to Air Force, Howard recorded touchdown runs of 28, 18 and 30 yards as Temple began defense of its district championship. The Wildcats (2-2) host Harker Heights (4-0, 1-0) in a key 12-6A showdown at 7:30 p.m. Friday at W

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com BELTON – The momentum Belton gained in its season-opening win at Georgetown was slowed by back-to-back home losses to Round Rock and Pflugerville Hendrickson. However, the Tigers have an opportunity to get back on the proverbial horse when they begin District 12-6A competition against winless Copperas Cove at 7:30 tonight at Bulldawg Stadium. Both Belton (1-2) and Cove (0-3) had their open dates last week. The Bulldawgs

IN THE ZONE: Temple senior running back Samari Howard beats Hutto linebacker Brody Bujnoch to the pylon for a 31-yard touchdown run during the Wildcats' 60-53 victory over the Hippos on Sept. 10 at Wildcat Stadium. Howard on Thursday verbally committed to attend and play for Air Force beginning next year. He has 371 rushing yards for defending District 12-6A champion Temple (1-2), which begins league play on the road against the Bryan Vikings (0-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (Photo

BUZZING AROUND: Academy junior wide receiver Scout Brazeal (5), shown making a catch during last year's bi-district playoff game against Hallettsville, has caught 16 passes for an area-leading 406 yards and has scored four touchdowns for the 3-0 Bumblebees, who play at 2-0 Lago Vista in a non-district duel at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (File photo by Dean Kibler/Special to TempleBeltonSports.com) By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com After scoring back-to-back wins o

BREAK ON THROUGH: Temple senior running back Tavaris Sullivan fights past a Hutto defender to score the first of his two touchdown runs during the Wildcats' 60-53 win over the Hippos last Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. After its open date this week, defending league champion Temple (1-2) will begin its seven-game District 12-6A schedule at Bryan (0-3) on Sept. 24. (Photo by Mike Lefner, Temple ISD/Special to TempleBeltonSports.com) CLASS 6A TEAM STATISTICS OFFENSE Total yar

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com BELTON – After absorbing a 35-0 loss to a surging Round Rock squad in their home opener last Friday, the Belton Tigers aim to bounce back and finish non-district play with a winning record when they host Pflugerville Hendrickson at 7:30 tonight at Tiger Field. Belton (1-1) produced plenty of offense in its season-opening 35-31 comeback win at Georgetown two weeks ago, but Round Rock’s sturdy defense limited the Tigers to

AROUND THE EDGE: Temple senior running back Samari Howard tries to get past a Magnolia West defender as junior lineman Jeremiah Mungia (58) blocks during the host Wildcats' 27-14 loss last Friday at Wildcat Stadium. Howard caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Reese Rumfield later in the game and has rushed for 233 yards this season for Temple (0-2), which hosts Hutto (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Mike Lefner, Temple ISD/Special to TempoleBeltonSports.com) CLA