By GREG WILLE
TempleBeltonSports.com
gwille2@hot.rr.com
No. 4 WIMBERLEY TEXANS (2-0) at No. 3 LAMPASAS BADGERS (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Badger Field
Last week: Class 4A Division II No. 4 Wimberley 33, Cuero 14; 4A Division I No. 3 Lampasas 41, Stephenville 0
Game notes: Lampasas plays host to one of the state's premier matchups this week as the Class 4A Division I Badgers battle 4A D-II Wimberley. . . . The Lampasas offense has been highly productive, putting up 48 points and 517 yards per game. The Badgers' rushing game has been overwhelming, racking up 762 yards as Jack Jerome, QB Ace Whitehead and Case Brister have scored a combined 10 touchdowns. Whitehead, who led the Badgers to the state semifinals last year and is a Texas baseball commitment, has mixed in 272 passing yards and three TDs. . . . Wimberley has allowed 18 points per game in wins over Fischer Canyon Lake and Cuero. . . . Matthew Tippie (470 passing yards, five TDs) and Christian Marshall (210 receiving yards, three TDs) pace the Texans offense.
STEPHENVILLE YELLOW JACKETS (1-1) at SALADO EAGLES (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium
Last week: Class 4A Division I No. 3 Lampasas 41, Stephenville 0; 3A Division I No. 2 Grandview 21, Salado 7
Game notes: Both Salado and Stephenville are seeking to bounce back from losses to highly ranked opponents last week. . . . Despite struggling on offense at home against two-time defending state champion Grandview, Salado had a legitimate shot to win if not for two strange plays. An Eagles fumble was returned for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, and it was a seven-point game in the fourth quarter when the Zebras recovered their own fumble in the end zone for another TD. . . . Salado's defense aims to tighten things up after allowing 274.5 rushing yards per game in its first two outings. . . . Seniors Reid Vincent and Noah Mescher power the Eagles' Slot-T rushing attack with 247 and 246 yards, respectively. . . . It was a wild swing from Week 1 to Week 2 for Stephenville, which beat Sweetwater 58-32 but then got shut out at Lampasas. . . . Kason Phillips paces the Yellow Jackets with 258 rushing yards and three TDs.
LORENA LEOPARDS (1-1) at GATESVILLE HORNETS (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, McKamie Stadium
Last week: China Spring 42, Lorena 13; Glen Rose 48, Gatesville 29
Game notes: Gatesville continues to search for its first win with head coach Luke Howard, who's 0-12 in two seasons with the Hornets. . . . Offense has not been a problem for Gatesville early this season, as it's averaged 347.5 yards per game. QB Luke Mullins has passed for 428 yards and four touchdowns – connecting with Carson Brizendine 12 times for 198 yards and three scores – and Jason Delong has rushed for 235 yards and two TDs. . . . The Hornets must improve a defense that's permitted 504 yards per game, including 333 yards per outing through the air. . . . Zach Bates leads Gatesville with 38 tackles and Hayden Mooney has 37. . . . After a season-opening 21-20 win at Franklin, Lorena – which has dropped from 4A Division II to 3A D-I – lost by 29 to China Spring. The Leopards of longtime coach Ray Biles will compete in District 11-3A D-I along with Academy, Cameron Yoe, Rockdale and Troy plus Caldwell and McGregor. . . . Lorena's offense is led by QB Ben Smedshammer (199 passing yards) and Cayden Madkins (170 rushing yards, two TDs).
JARRELL COUGARS (0-2) at McGREGOR BULLDOGS (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Bulldog Stadium
Last week: Fredericksburg 54, Jarrell 14; Class 2A Division II No. 1 Mart 43, McGregor 33
Game notes: After rising from Class 3A Division I to 4A D-II, Jarrell has gotten off to a rough start while losing to Burnet and Fredericksburg by a combined score of 100-20. However, the Cougars have an opportunity to get on track against a McGregor squad that's also winless. . . . Jarrell's offense has struggled but junior running back Derrick Warren has been a bright spot, rushing for 272 yards and a touchdown. . . . McGregor has been highly competitive in its two losses, falling to Lake Worth in a 47-43 shootout before last week's 43-33 loss to powerhouse and reigning three-time state champion Mart. . . . Dual-threat senior QB Veandre McDaniel fuels the Bulldogs offense, passing for 574 yards and seven TDs and leading the ground game along with Chad Lorenz.
GROESBECK GOATS (2-0) at ACADEMY BUMBLEBEES (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, John Glover Stadium, Little River-Academy
Last week: Groesbeck 39, Rice 14; Academy 17, Clifton 10
Game notes: After strong defense propelled Academy to close wins on the road against rival Rogers and Clifton, the Bumblebees of first-year head coach Chris Lancaster finally get an opportunity to play at home when Groesbeck comes to town for a battle of unbeatens. . . . QB Jerry Cephus has led Academy's offense, passing for 414 yards and four touchdowns (two to Jaylin McWilliams) and rushing for 71 yards. . . . Defensive end Tyler Lambert leads the Bees with 17 tackles, linebacker Darion Franklin has 16 and LB Lane Ward has 15. . . . Like Academy, Groesbeck went 2-8 last year but is off to a 2-0 start this season. . . . Longtime Texas high school head coach Jerry Bomar is in the second year of his second stint in Groesbeck. He guided the Goats to the Class 3A state championship in 1991 before coaching Killeen to a 30-14-1 record from 1992-95. . . . Groesbeck has outscored Mildred and Rice by a combined 92-20. Two sophomores are key weapons for the Goats offense: QB Allen Lewis and Ma'Quay Smith.
CAMERON YOE YOEMEN (1-1) at FRANKLIN LIONS (0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Hedrick Field
Last week: Bellville 54, Yoe 41; Franklin, idle
Game notes: Yoe aims to bounce back from its first loss, in which Class 4A Division II foe Bellville rushed for more than 400 yards and exceeded 500 overall. . . . Junior Zane Zeinert has played well in his first season as the Yoemen's quarterback, passing for 486 yards and five touchdowns for an offense that averages 374 yards per game. Phaibian Bynaum has rushed for 124 yards and two TDs. . . . Sophomore linebacker Colton Barbo paces coach Tommy Brashear's Yoemen with 31 tackles. . . . Franklin's game at Hearne last Friday was canceled after several Franklin players tested positive for COVID-19. . . . The Lions lost their season opener 21-20 to Lorena. . . . Franklin promoted Mark Fannin from offensive coordinator to head coach during the offseason to succeed the retired Mike Hedrick. Hedrick won 307 games in 44 years as a head coach and guided Franklin from 2006-19, highlighted by seven seasons of 10-plus wins.
No. 6 ROCKDALE TIGERS (2-0) at No. 7 LEXINGTON EAGLES (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium
Last week: Class 3A Division I No. 6 Rockdale 55, Taylor 21; 3A Division II No. 8 Lexington 35, Thrall 6
Game notes: Rockdale has been sharp in its first two games with first-year head coach Jacob Campsey, who was promoted after longtime head coach Jeff Miller departed to coach at Houston Cy-Fair. The Tigers have outscored La Grange and Taylor by a combined 95-35. . . . Taking over at quarterback after senior standout Jace Robinson suffered a broken leg against La Grange, Kobe Mitchell has passed for 341 yards and five touchdowns and has top targets in KeSean Raven and Anthony Dansby. Highly recruited senior back Cam'ron Valdez paces Rockdale's rushing attack with 220 yards and four TDs. . . . Speedy junior running back Jarred Kerr is Lexington's star performer. He's rushed for 375 yards and five touchdowns and has made 14 tackles on defense. Kerr has college scholarship offers from programs such as Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma, Florida and Notre Dame.
TROY TROJANS (1-1) at ROBINSON ROCKETS (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Rocket Field
Last week: Troy 55, Mexia 37; Whitney 41, Robinson 0
Game notes: After a frustrating loss to area rival Salado in the season opener, Troy broke through in its home opener by pulling away in the second half to beat Mexia. Coach Ronnie Porter's Trojans trailed 31-22 at halftime but then outscored the Blackcats 33-6 in the final two quarters. . . . Senior Zach Hrbacek had another huge performance, rushing 42 times for 296 yards and six touchdowns and adding another TD on a 100-yard kickoff return. For the season, the Sam Houston State commitment has run for 577 yards and 10 touchdowns. . . . Troy has passed for 37 yards in two games. . . . After edging Taylor 26-21 on the road in its opener, Robinson got hammered by Whitney, the program that handed eventual state champion Grandview its only regular-season loss last year. . . . Robert Rubel was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after Tommy Allison left Robinson for Hallsville.
WHITNEY WILDCATS (1-1) at ROGERS EAGLES (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Merk Field
Last week: Whitney 41, Robinson 0; Class 2A Division I No. 7 San Saba 24, Rogers 21
Game notes: After Rogers compiled an 11-2 record last season, coach Charlie Roten's Eagles already have absorbed two defeats this year in close, low-scoring fashion against rival Academy (20-15 in the opener) and last week at Class 2A Division I state-ranked San Saba. . . . The Rogers offense has produced 246 yards per game, with no touchdown passes. . . . John Hill leads Rogers with 16 tackles and Julian Lashbrook has 14. . . . A 3A D-I Region III semifinalist last season before losing 9-7 to Troy, Whitney opened its season with 45-34 loss to Quinlan Ford but rebounded by pummeling Robinson. . . . Junior QB Garrett Peacock powers the Wildcats' offense, having passed for 350 yards and three TDs and rushed for 111 yards and four TDs.
JOHNSON CITY LBJ EAGLES (1-1) at HOLLAND HORNETS (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Mike Roasa Athletic Complex
Last week: Ingram Moore 34, Johnson City LBJ 12; Holland 62, Bosqueville 33
Game notes: Holland has won 20 consecutive regular-season games since losing to Mart in the second game of 2018. Overall, coach Brad Talbert's Hornets are 25-3 in their last 28 games. . . . Holland's new-look, rushing-heavy offense averages 44.5 points and has compiled 787 rushing yards, with seven Hornets running for at least one touchdown. Josh Evans is the leading rusher with 237 yards. . . . After beating Florence 34-20 in its opener, LBJ couldn't keep up with Ingram Moore a week ago. . . . Eagles junior quarterback Cade Boyer has passed for 209 yards and one touchdown.
FLORENCE BUFFALOES (0-2) at BRUCEVILLE-EDDY EAGLES (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium
Last week: Bangs 55, Florence 0; Crawford 39, Bruceville-Eddy 25
Game notes: After battling Crawford but falling short, Bruceville-Eddy has a prime opportunity to notch its first win this season against a winless Florence team coming off a lopsided loss. . . . QB Trapper Ensor paces the Eagles' offense with 235 rushing yards and four touchdowns plus 314 passing yards. Ensor's top target is Levi LaFavers (10 catches, 130 yards). Chris Martinez (18 tackles) keys Bruceville-Eddy's defense.
ROSEBUD-LOTT COUGARS (1-1) at WACO TEXAS WIND (1-1)
7:30 p.m. today, Paul Tyson Field, Waco
Last week: Rosebud-Lott 32, Wortham 13; Texas Wind 39, Malakoff Cross Roads 0
Game notes: With a decisive win over Wortham last week in Mexia (where the game was moved because of poor conditions at Rosebud-Lott's field in Travis), Rosebud-Lott not only gave first-year head coach Brandon Hicks his first victory but also snapped a 15-game losing streak since the Cougars beat Marlin on Oct. 5, 2018. . . . Rosebud-Lott's offense is getting major contributions from freshman quarterback Jamarquis Johnson (315 passing yards, two touchdowns; 238 rushing yards, two TDs) and sophomore Breon Lewis (113 rushing yards, three TDs; 142 receiving yards, two TDs). . . . Rosebud-Lott sophomore Jordan Landrum was a big-time ball hawk against Wortham, grabbing four interceptions and returning one of them for a TD. . . . Waco-based Texas Wind, whose team consists of students who are home-schooled or attend schools that don't play football, grabbed its first win by shutting out Cross Roads.
HUBBARD JAGUARS (1-0) at MOODY BEARCATS (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Bearcat Stadium
Last week: Hubbard, idle; Moody 7, Hico 6
Game notes: After last Friday's Hico at Moody game was postponed to Saturday at Waco Midway's Panther Stadium because of inclement weather, the Bearcats gave first-year head coach Lonnie Judd his first victory by winning a defensive slugfest. . . . Sophomore quarterback Cooper Staton's third-quarter rushing touchdown provided Moody's touchdown. . . . Trent Curry is the Bearcats' leading rusher. . . . Hubbard dominated Bartlett 54-6 two weeks ago before its game against Itasca last week was canceled.
BARTLETT BULLDOGS (1-1) at MERIDIAN YELLOW JACKETS (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Yellow Jacket Stadium
Last week: Bartlett 48, Ranger 12; Meridian 27, Frost 0
Game notes: Bartlett finally broke through last Thursday, dominating Ranger on the road to stop the Bulldogs' 26-game losing streak and give second-year head coach Brian Kozma his first win in 12 games with Bartlett. The Bulldogs hadn't won a game since a 34-31 victory at Kenedy on Oct. 6, 2017, their lone win that season. . . . Senior Levonta Davis has been Bartlett's go-to running back. . . . Meridian bounced back from a season-opening 19-7 loss to Kerens to record a thorough shutout win over Frost.
FROST POLAR BEARS (0-1) at GRANGER LIONS (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Lions Stadium
Last week: Meridian 27, Frost 0; Rio Vista 35, Granger 14
Game notes: After hammering Axtell 32-0 to win Granger graduate Stephen Brosch's debut as head coach, the Lions came back down to earth in last week's three-touchdown loss at Rio Vista. . . . Senior dual-threat quarterback Thomas Rhoades has accounted for six TDs and spearheads Granger's offense, which also features junior receivers Johnny Ryder and Donnie Cantwell. . . . After getting shut out by Meridian in its season opener, Frost – a 4-7 playoff team last year – will seek to get its offense going against Granger.