By GREG WILLE
TempleBeltonSports.com
LAKE BELTON BRONCOS (1-0) at SAN ANTONIO DAVENPORT WOLVES (1-0)
7 p.m., Davenport Stadium
Last week: Lake Belton 48, Stephenville junior varsity 0; Davenport 35, Fredericksburg JV 0
Game notes: Both first-year schools produced shutout wins in their program debuts, as coach Brian Cope's top “Bronco” team overwhelmed a Stephenville junior varsity squad at Tarleton State and Davenport's “maroon” group controlled the Fredericksburg JV. . . . Micah Hudson returned two punts for touchdowns to aid a balanced output for Lake Belton, which got one TD apiece from Connor Bartz, Brandon Bell, Selman Bridges and Daniel Hardin. Cole Jackson kicked two field goals and six extra points. . . . The Broncos defense battered Stephenville into minus-97 rushing yards and minus-81 yards overall. . . . Davenport is in the Comal ISD. Its campus has a San Antonio address but is approximately 10 minutes closer to New Braunfels.
GLEN ROSE TIGERS (1-0) at GATESVILLE HORNETS (0-1)
7:30 p.m., McKamie Stadium
Last week: Glen Rose 27, Springtown 13; Llano 45, Gatesville 16
Game notes: Gatesville goes for its first win under second-year head coach Luke Howard in the Hornets' home opener. . . . Luke Mullins passed for 199 yards with touchdowns to Parker Allman and Carson Brizendine last week, but Gatesville's defense couldn't withstand Llano. The Hornets allowed 412 passing yards and 514 overall. . . . Gatesville defenders Zach Bates and Hayden Mooney recorded 21 and 17 tackles, respectively. . . . Prior to the game, the Hornets' venue will unveil its new official name: Tommy Davidson Field at McKamie Stadium. Dr. Tommy Davidson was a 1974 Gatesville graduate and standout athlete who played football at Baylor before becoming a longtime chiropractor and team trainer. He died in an automobile accident last Oct. 15. . . . Glen Rose was a 7-6 regional semifinalist in 2019.
JARRELL COUGARS (0-1) at FREDERICKSBURG BATTLIN' BILLIES (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Battlin' Billie Stadium
Last week: Burnet 46, Jarrell 6; Fredericksburg 55, Monahans 20
Game notes: Jarrell shoots to bounce back from its one-sided season-opening loss at Burnet. Coach Amos Davidson's Cougars face another difficult task with a road game against Fredericksburg, whose Battlin' Billies exploded for 55 points in their opener.
No. 2 GRANDVIEW ZEBRAS (1-0) at SALADO EAGLES (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Eagle Stadium
Last week: No. 2 Grandview 31, No. 4 Malakoff 24 (OT); Salado 46, No. 9 Troy 27
Game notes: Salado put together a thorough performance in its first season-opening win over area rival Troy since 2017. Paced by Noah Mescher's 173 yards and Reid Vincent's 156, coach Alan Haire's Eagles rushed for 429 yards and got touchdowns from five players, including two from multi-purpose standout Wrook Brown. Salado allowed Troy star Zach Hrbacek to rush for 284 yards and four TDs but performed well in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles pull away. Class 4A Division II Salado will get a huge test – and opportunity – tonight as two-time defending 3A Division I state champion Grandview comes to town. Senior quarterback/safety Dane Jentsch was the offensive and defensive MVP of both state title game triumphs for the Zebras. He threw for two TDs, rushed for one, caught one and forced a fumble as Grandview got past Malakoff in overtime last week. At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, Zebras tight end/defensive end Dametrious Crownover is an imposing force. His scholarship offers include Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana State, Ohio State and Oregon.
ACADEMY BUMBLEBEES (1-0) at CLIFTON CUBS (0-1)
7:30 p.m., Cub Stadium
Last week: Academy 20, Rogers 15; Sanger 25, Clifton 14
Game notes: Academy got off to a great start in head coach Chris Lancaster's debut, using strong defense to earn a close road win over rival Rogers and break the Bumblebees' two-game losing streak against the Eagles. Junior Darion Franklin produced a touchdown reception, a TD run and an interception for the Bees, and senior QB Jerry Cephus passed for 238 yards and two TDs. Senior end Tyler Lambert led Academy with nine tackles. . . . Clifton shared last season's District 8-3A Division II championship with Rogers and Lexington. The Cubs reached the area round of the playoffs before losing 27-14 to eventual state champion Gunter, which eliminated Rogers in the regional semifinals.
BELLVILLE BRAHMAS (1-0) at No. 9 CAMERON YOE YOEMEN (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Yoe Field
Last week: Bellville 34, Giddings 31; Yoe 21, Mexia 16
Game notes: New starting quarterback Zane Zeinert passed for 206 yards – 104 to speedster Za'Korien Spikes – and two touchdowns and rushed for a TD to help coach Tommy Brashear's Yoemen open the season by grabbing a close win at Mexia. . . . Yoe defenders Colton Barbo, Fabian Salomon and Eduardo Gil had big games with 14, 13 and 10 tackles, respectively. . . . The Class 3A Division I Yoemen expect a firm test in their home opener from 4A Division II Bellville, whose Brahmas have made nine consecutive playoff appearances with coach Grady Rowe, including five seasons of 10-plus wins and last year's 11-1 mark. Rowe, now 136-59 in his 17th season as a head coach, went 51-29 with five playoff trips in seven seasons at Troy from 2004-10. . . . Jake Lischka passed for 204 yards and three TDs and Richard Reese rushed for 121 yards and a TD as Bellville clipped Giddings in the opener.
TAYLOR DUCKS (0-1) at No. 6 ROCKDALE TIGERS (1-0)
7:30 p.m.. Tiger Stadium
Last week: Robinson 26, Taylor 21; No. 7 Rockdale 40, La Grange 14
Game notes: Rockdale put together a strong road victory in head coach Jacob Campsey's first game, although the win came at a high cost. The Tigers lost senior standout quarterback Jace Robinson, who suffered a broken leg late in the first half after passing for 81 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 66 yards on only four carries. Receiver Kobe Mitchell replaced Robinson in the lineup and rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown and passed for 46 yards to help Rockdale rack up 440 total yards. . . . Tigers senior running back Cam'Ron Valdez rushed for 132 yards and three TDs. . . . Longtime Rockdale opponent Taylor made eight straight playoff trips from 2011-18, but the Class 4A Division I Ducks haven't won a game since 2018.
MEXIA BLACKCATS (0-1) at TROY TROJANS (0-1)
7:30 p.m., Trojan Stadium
Last week: Cameron Yoe 21, Mexia 16; Salado 46, No. 9 Troy 27
Game notes: Troy aims to bounce back after its defense struggled – allowing 429 rushing yards – in the season-opening 19-point loss to area rival Salado at Mary Hardin-Baylor. . . . Trojans all-state senior running back Zach Hrbacek was highly productive, rushing for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Troy will seek to get another big game from Hrbacek and also establish its passing game and shore up its defense in its home opener against Mexia, whose Blackcats were edged at home by Cameron Yoe a week ago. . . . Hunter Martin made a team-high 12 tackles against Salado.
ROGERS EAGLES (0-1) at No. 7 SAN SABA ARMADILLOS (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Rogan Field
Last week: Academy 20, Rogers 15; No. 10 San Saba 56, Eldorado 14
Game notes: After opening the season with a frustrating home loss to rival Academy, Class 3A Division II Rogers hits the road to battle a strong 2A Division I program in San Saba. The Armadillos were 13-1 regional finalists last season. . . . Rogers freshman running back RJ Cook rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown in his high school debut, but the Eagles' offense produced only 231 total yards. . . . Stone Sears rushed for 185 yards and four TDs and Risien Shahan passed for 165 yards and a score as San Saba compiled 540 yards in its opening rout.
BRUCEVILLE-EDDY EAGLES (0-1) at CRAWFORD PIRATES (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Pirate Stadium
Last week: Millsap 54, Bruceville-Eddy 14; Crawford 14, Goldthwaite 0
Game notes: After its opening 40-point loss to Millsap, Bruceville-Eddy faces a difficult task against a Crawford squad that began its season with a shutout win. . . . The Eagles got 99 rushing yards from sophomore Chad Pate and 148 passing yards and a touchdown from senior QB Trapper Ensor. Senior receiver Pablo Rubio made four catches for 98 yards and a TD. . . . Crawford went 9-4 last year, reaching the third round of the Class 2A Division I playoffs.
BOSQUEVILLE BULLDOGS (0-0) at HOLLAND HORNETS (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Mike Roasa Athletic Complex
Last week: Holland 27, Burton 12
Game notes: After Holland recorded a season-opening win on its home field, coach Brad Talbert's Hornets picked up another home game when their matchup with Bosqueville was moved to Holland this week. . . . Holland unveiled its new-look offensive attack against Burton and rushed for 259 yards, paced by first-year quarterback Ayden Tomasek's 89 yards and a touchdown. Three other Hornets scored TDs: Ethan Mann on a pass from Ethan Botts, Josh Whisenhunt and Josh Evans. . . . Holland had the area's top-ranked defense during its 13-1 season in 2019 and posted a strong effort to begin this season, limiting Burton to 122 rushing yards and 0-for-6 passing. . . . Bosqueville was a 5-6 playoff qualifier last year and has a returning 2,000-yard passer in QB Luke Bradshaw.
HICO TIGERS (1-0) at MOODY BEARCATS (0-1)
7:30 p.m., Bearcat Stadium
Last week: Hico 33, Texas Wind 6; Hamilton 54, Moody 0
Game notes: Moody got off to a rough start in its first game with head coach Lonnie Judd, getting shut out by Hamilton. The Bearcats aim to respond against Hico, which easily handled Texas Wind a week ago. The Tigers broke their 12-game losing streak that dated to the final two games in 2018.
ROSEBUD-LOTT COUGARS (0-1) vs. WORTHAM BULLDOGS (1-0)
7:30 p.m., Blackcat Field, Mexia
Last week: Jewett Leon 49, Rosebud-Lott 34; Wortham 34, Itasca 6
Game notes: After falling short in a high-scoring opener at Jewett Leon, first-year head coach Brandon Hicks and Rosebud-Lott had to move their home opener to the artificial turf of Mexia's Blackcat Field because of poor field conditions at the Cougars' home venue in Travis. . . . Rosebud-Lott saw some encouraging signs last week, as freshman quarterback Jamarquis Johnson passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 161 yards and a TD. Sophomore receiver Breon Lewis caught five passes for 122 yards and two scores. . . . The Cougars must improve on defense against a Wortham squad that pummeled Itasca last week behind sophomore Tanner Bean's 256 rushing yards and three TDs. The Bulldogs were 7-4 playoff qualifiers in 2019.
GRANGER LIONS (1-0) at RIO VISTA EAGLES (1-0)
7:30 p.m. today, Eagle Field
Last week: Granger 32, Axtell 0; Rio Vista 14, Santo 7
Game notes: Granger produced an excellent all-around performance in 2008 graduate Stephen Brosch's first game as head coach at his alma mater, shutting out Axtell on the Lions' home field. . . . The competition gets tougher tonight as Granger travels to take on a Rio Vista team that used strong defense to get past Santo last week. Sophomore quarterback Taylor Pritchett led the Eagles' win, passing for 140 yards and rushing for 86 yards and a touchdown.