Lake Belton High School won its first football game in program history Thursday evening, and the Broncos did so in emphatic style.
Dominating both offensively and defensively, Lake Belton romped to a 42-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 48-0 victory over a Stephenville junior varsity team at Tarleton State's Memorial Stadium in Stephenville.
Brandon Bell's 6-yard touchdown run 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game was the inaugural score for head coach Brian Cope's Broncos, who begin their program with only sophomores and freshmen.
Micah Hudson scored a touchdown on a 45-yard punt return, then Selman Bridges caught a 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Connor Crews for a 21-0 game.
Hudson struck again with a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 28-0 late in the first quarter. Lake Belton's lead grew to 35-0 in the second quarter when Connor Bartz scored a TD on a Crews pass. Jaydon Leza broke off a 30-yard run before Daniel Hardin's 21-yard touchdown run made it 21-0 late in the second.
The Broncos' defense smothered the Yellow Jackets, limiting them to minus-55 yards on 20 first-half plays.
Cole Jackson made six extra points in the first half and added field goals of 28 and 30 yards in the second half, matching Hudson's 12 total points for the game.
Lake Belton's offense recorded 191 yards overall, including 116 rushing yards and sophomore Crews' 75 passing yards. The Broncos' relentless defense dominated Stephenville's JV to the tune of minus-95 yards on 30 plays.
Lake Belton hits the road again next Friday night to play at San Antonio Davenport, another first-year school. After an open date, the Broncos will play their home opener Thursday, Sept. 17 against the Cameron Yoe JV at Belton High School's Tiger Field.