By GREG WILLE
TempleBeltonSports.com
– NON-DISTRICT GAMES –
TEMPLE WILDCATS vs. No. 3 LONGVIEW LOBOS
8:08 p.m. Friday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Last year's meeting: Longview 41, Temple 10 in Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff game in Longview
2019 records: Temple 8-3; Longview 11-1
Game notes: Temple and Longview meet for the second straight game spanning two seasons, with coach Scott Stewart's Wildcats aiming to avenge their 31-point loss to coach John King's Lobos in a first-round playoff game last November at Lobo Stadium. . . . Longview, 27-1 in its last 28 games, dropped in classification during the offseason and begins this season ranked No. 3 in Class 5A Division I by Texas Football magazine. . . . Temple, which has made seven consecutive playoff trips, plans to use two quarterbacks tonight: senior Humberto Arizmendi and sophomore Mikal Harrison-Pilot. Stewart said this week that Arizmendi, who was sharp in Temple's scrimmage vs. College Station, will start and likely play two series before Harrison-Pilot, who started at free safety in the playoff game at Longview, gets his turn. . . . Temple running back Samari Howard rushed for 966 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2019, while linebacker Taurean York led the Wildcats with 80 tackles as a freshman. . . . Longview also plans to use two quarterbacks tonight in sophomores Landyn Grant and Jordan Allen. . . . Senior running back Kaden Meredith (248 rushing yards vs. Temple last year) and sophomore wide receiver Jalen Hale are a dangerous threats for the Lobos' offense. . . . Longview allowed 10.2 points per game in 2019. . . . This is Temple's first game at AT&T Stadium since its 16-7 loss to Dallas Highland Park in the 5A D-I state championship game in 2016. Longview's last game at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium was its 35-34 victory over Beaumont West Brook in the 6A-II state title game in 2018.
GEORGETOWN EAGLES at BELTON TIGERS
7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Field
2019 records: Georgetown 8-4; Belton 3-7
Game notes: Belton seeks to get its season off to a winning start at home in its first game with head coach Brett Sniffin, who came in after leading Fort Bend Ridge Point to a 75-22 record and eight playoff berths in its first varsity eight seasons. . . . After tonight, the Tigers will play their next three games on the road against Round Rock, Midland Lee and District 12-6A opponent Killeen. . . . Belton had made five straight playoff appearances before going 3-7 in 2019. . . . Dual-threat senior quarterback Ruben Jimenez leads the Tigers' offense along with multi-season stalwart lineman Thomas Bowman. . . . Sniffin said junior tight end Bryan “Itty” Henry has the potential to have a breakout season for Belton. . . . The Tigers aim to improve a defense that allowed 37.8 points per game last season. Senior end Malik Jackson, senior linebacker Joe Sniffin and junior safety Trent West are among Belton's best defenders. . . . Georgetown was an 8-4 playoff squad last year and returns a stellar QB in 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior Darson Herman, who accounted for 2,333 yards total offense and 19 touchdowns last year. . . . Saul DeLaRosa led the Eagles' defense with eight interceptions.
LAKE BELTON BRONCOS (2-1) vs. KATY JORDAN WARRIORS
7:30 p.m. Friday, A&M Consolidated's Tigerland Stadium, College Station
Last week: Lake Belton 47, Cameron Yoe junior varsity 10
Game notes: Coach Brian Cope's first-year Lake Belton program rolled to a dominant win over Yoe's JV in the Broncos' weather-delayed inaugural home game at Tiger Field last Thursday. . . . Lake Belton's defense has allowed only 154.3 yards per game and 10 total points in the Broncos' pair of victories. Connor Brennan leads Lake Belton with 28 tackles. . . . Sophomore QB Connor Crews has passed for 359 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 205 yards and three TDs, and kicker Cole Jackson (six field goals) is Lake Belton's leading scorer with 34 points. . . . Tristan Robin rushed for two TDs last week. . . . Like Lake Belton, Jordan – whose campus is in Fulshear – is a first-year school consisting of sophomores and freshmen.
SALADO EAGLES (3-1) at TAYLOR DUCKS (0-4)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Taylor Stadium
Last week: Salado 40, Mexia 21; La Grange 48, Taylor 20
Last year's meeting: Salado 24, Taylor 21
Game notes: Coach Alan Haire's surging Salado squad strives to finish its five-game non-district schedule with a flourish at winless Taylor before the Eagles begin District 9-4A Division II action next friday at home vs. Gatesville. . . . With the exception of a rain-soaked loss to two-time defending state champion Grandview, Salado's customary Slot-T rushing attack has been relentless. Paced by Noah Mescher's 723 yards and 10 touchdowns plus Reid Vincent's 481 yards, the Eagles average 400 rushing yards per game. . . . Salado has averaged 49 points per game in its three wins. . . . Kofi Stoglin has 42 tackles and Lucas Morvant has 35 stops for the Eagles' defense, which allows 351.5 yards per game. . . . Taylor has been outscored 175-74 this season, and the Ducks have lost 15 consecutive games since they closed the 2018 regular season with a 42-28 win at Burnet.
JARRELL COUGARS (0-4) at GONZALES APACHES (0-4)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Apache Field
Last week: Smithville 63, Jarrell 6; La Vernia 47, Gonzales 16
Game notes: It's been a difficult season thus far both for Jarrell and Gonzales, as the Cougars have been outscored 219-61 and the Apaches have been outscored 157-43. However, tonight's matchup is a prime opportunity for each team to seize its first win of the season and build positive momentum entering district competition. . . . Jarrell begins its five-game District 9-4A Division II schedule next Friday at home against China Spring.
– DISTRICT 11-3A DIVISION I –
ACADEMY BUMBLEBEES (4-0) at LORENA LEOPARDS (2-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Leopard Field
Last week: Academy 13, Lago Vista 0; Lorena 56, Madisonville 25
Game notes: Academy has been a revelation in its first four games with first-year head coach Chris Lancaster, including back-to-back home shutouts of Groesbeck and Lago Vista in the Bumblebees' last two games to cap their unbeaten non-district slate after Academy struggled to a 2-8 record in 2019. The Bees will try to keep their positive momentum rolling when they play their District 11-3A Division I opener tonight at Lorena, which dropped from Class 4A Division II to 3A D-I during the offseason. . . . Academy senior quarterback Jerry Cephus has passed for an area-leading 661 yards and seven touchdowns, and senior receiver/cornerback Jaylin McWilliams leads the Bees with seven total TDs scored and shares the area lead with five interceptions, returning two for scores. . . . Academy's defense has permitted 6.25 points and 204.5 yards per game, led by sophomore linebacker Lane Ward's 27 tackles and 26 stops each from senior end Tyler Lambert and sophomore safety Scout Brazeal. . . . Longtime coach Ray Biles' Lorena team exploded for 56 points last week in its non-district finale. . . . The Leopards' game against Gatesville was canceled because of COVID-19 reasons. . . . Senior QB Ben Smedshammer, a Waco Midway transfer, has passed for 377 yards and is one of three Leopards to have rushed for at least 160 yards, joining junior Reed Michna and sophomore Cayden Madkins. Freshman Jadon Porter (240 yards) is Lorena's top receiver. . . . The Leopards' defense has allowed at least 20 points in all three games.
CALDWELL HORNETS (2-2) at CAMERON YOE YOEMEN (2-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Yoe Field
Last week: Giddings 50, Caldwell 14; Yoe, idle (game vs. Lexington canceled because of COVID-19 factors)
Game notes: COVID-19 factors at Cameron Yoe prevented coach Tommy Brashear's Yoemen from building on the momentum of their 37-8 win at Franklin on Sept. 11, so they move into their six-game District 11-3A Division I schedule with only three games under their belt instead of four. . . . Junior Zane Zeinert has performed well in his first season as Yoe's quarterback, passing for 607 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Za'Korien Spikes has been his top target with 15 receptions for 315 yards and three TDs. . . . Junior Phaibian Bynaum leads the Yoemen rushing game with 198 yards and four TDs. . . . Colton Barbo and Fabian Salomon pace Yoe's defense with 47 and 36 tackles, respectively. . . . Caldwell recorded close wins over Snook and Hempstead to begin its season, but since then the Hornets lost 20-0 to Lago Vista and then 50-14 at Giddings a week ago. . . . Caldwell went 3-7 last year in 4A Division II before the Hornets dropped to 3A D-I during the offseason.
ROCKDALE TIGERS (2-2) at McGREGOR BULLDOGS (2-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Bulldog Stadium
Last week: Class 4A Division II No. 7-ranked Bellville 42, 3A Division I No. 8 Rockdale 14; McGregor 41, Arlington Oakridge 23
Game notes: Rockdale's momentum from a 2-0 start with first-year head coach Jacob Campsey was slowed during the last two weeks. After a failed 2-point conversion late in the game lead to a 35-34 loss at state-ranked Lexington, the Tigers couldn't generate enough offense and contain the potent rushing attack of state-ranked Bellville a week ago. The Brahmas of former Troy head coach Grady Rowe rushed for 316 yards in their 28-point win as they completed a two-game sweep of Cameron Yoe and Rockdale. . . . The Tigers' offense shoots to get back on track in the District 11-3A Division I opener, led by senior running back Cam'ron Valdez (431 yards, seven touchdowns) and senior receiver KeSean Raven (248 yards, four TDs). . . . McGregor has responded well since losing its first two games by a combined 13 points against Lake Worth and Class 2A Division II state powerhouse Mart. The Bulldogs scored a combined 97 points in victories over Jarrell and Oakridge. . . . Dual-threat QB Veandre McDaniel keys the McGregor offense with 809 passing yards and 12 touchdowns against only one interception, while Chad Lorenz has run for 466 yards and five TDs.
– DISTRICT 13-3A DIVISION II –
ROGERS EAGLES (1-3) at BUFFALO BISON (4-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Brewer Field
Last week: West 35, Rogers 29; Buffalo 45, Teague 9
Last year's meeting: Rogers 36, Buffalo 33 in Class 3A Division II bi-district playoff game
Game notes: Rogers aims to regroup for its District 13-3A Division II opener at Buffalo after the Eagles' bid for a comeback win at West was spoiled by star Trey Janek's 33-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run that won it for the Trojans. Janek was a problem for Rogers all night, rushing for 309 yards and four TDs. . . . Coach Charlie Roten's Eagles recorded a memorable first-round playoff win over Buffalo last November, as injured senior QB Heath Schiller entered late and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Minor with 31 seconds left for the game-winning score. . . . Eagles freshman RJ Cook has rushed for 198 yards and four TDs. . . . Unbeaten Buffalo has run roughshod this season, outscoring opponents 136-45. . . . Senior QB Brett Hoffman leads the Bison's charge with 920 passing yards and 12 touchdowns plus 281 rushing yards. Kyle Harrison and Jordan Rogers have made four TD receptions apiece.
– DISTRICT 12-2A DIVISION I –
HOLLAND HORNETS (3-1) at HEARNE EAGLES (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Wood Field
Last week: Crawford 13, Class 2A Division I No. 10-ranked Holland 8; Hearne 14, Hardin 13
Last year's meeting: Holland 34, Hearne 19
Game notes: Coach Brad Talbert's Holland team finally saw its regular-season winning streak end at 20 games – dating to early in the 2018 season – with the Hornets' five-point setback at Crawford last week. Nonetheless, Holland is 26-4 in its last 30 games overall entering tonight's District 12-2A Division I opener at Hearne. . . . The Hornets' defense allows 14.5 points and 205 yards per game. . . . Senior QB Ayden Tomasek lead Holland's spread-it-around rushing attack with 357 yards and three touchdowns. . . . Hearne's games against Franklin and New Waverly were canceled because of COVID-19 factors. . . . The Eagles allowed a combined 27 points in wins over Trinity and Hardin.