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Grey Wolves, Knights, Roos, Bobcats Begin District Play
When Shoemaker and Killeen were moved up during the latest UIL reclassification and realignment to Class 6A after a pair of seasons in 5A, they rejoined a district of familiar foes.
The reacquainting picks up the pace this week.
The Grey Wolves, Roos and Harker Heights Knights –– the two-time defending league champions –– kick off District 12-6A action Thursday and Friday as the six-game grind toward a potential playoff spot gets underway.
Also, pressing the gas on its league journey is Chaparral, back on the field following an idle date to host Cedar Park in the District 8-5A-I opener for both.
Rounding out the Week 5 slate is Ellison’s neutral-site meetup with Odessa High on Saturday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.
Shoemaker vs. Temple
7 p.m. Thursday, Leo Buckley Stadium
The Grey Wolves carry a three-game winning streak into their clash with the visiting Wildcats (3-1). In order to make it four in a row, Shoemaker must pick up its first victory over Temple during the tenure of head coach Toby Foreman, who is 0-4 versus the Wildcats.
Temple, which has the district’s second-stingiest defense in terms of yards allowed (325), is coming off a 52-13 nod over Austin High in its non-district finale.
Allowing 350 yards per game, Shoemaker’s defense ranks right behind the Wildcats in that category.
“We really do want to open up 1-0 because that’s our goal –– to be 1-0 every week,” Foreman said.
Shoemaker averaged 449 yards per game during non-district, employing a balanced attack on the ground and through the air.
Quarterback Tyrieke Wade is 40-of-69 for 806 yards and five TDs. Maurice Starr has team highs of 20 receptions and 412 yards, while receiver Brandon Brown Jr. already visited the end zone 11 times (five rushing, five receiving, one kickoff return). Travonne Woodley’s 31 tackles pace the Grey Wolves defense.
Harker Heights vs. Waco Midway
7:30 p.m. Friday, Leo Buckley Stadium
Harker Heights’ title defense opens against visiting Waco Midway (3-1), which pocketed consecutive non-district wins over Round Rock Westwood, Round Rock Cedar Ridge and Leander Rouse before losing its finale to Mansfield last week.
The Knights, meanwhile, cruised to a 2-0 start then dropped the next two contests by a combined five points –– the latter in heartbreaking fashion on a Hail Mary.
“There are some great lessons in those losses,” Knights coach Mark Humble said.
Sophomore signal caller Hudson Humble has been accurate in the pocket, completing 76 of 96 passes (79 percent) for 974 yards and 10 TDs. Kaden Butler is tied for fourth with Killeen’s Kardae Hicks in yards rushing with 372, and receivers Tyler Johnson (27 catches, 365 yards, two TDs) and Kai McMillan (20-377-4) rank in the top 10 in receptions and yards.
Heights’ top tackler through four games is defensive back Brian Hood (31).
“Our mantra that we started last year and carried over to this year is how much better can we be each week,” Mark Humble said. “Our focus is always on us. We really don’t focus on an opponent. We try to be the best that we can and control what we can. Our district is tough as it is, so if we can improve and play at a high level, will be in great shape.”
Killeen at Copperas Cove
7:30 p.m. Friday, Bulldawg Stadium
Closing out KISD’s opening night of 12-6A are the Kangaroos in Copperas Cove.
Killeen’s offense ranks at the top of the seven-team league heading into district play with a whopping 559.3 yards per game. The Roos (0-4), though, are eager to notch their first win.
Sophomore QB D’Angelo Ingram has 1,457 yards passing and 14 TDs, Antwoine Warren’s 30 receptions and Timothy Boatner’s 531 yards receiving are best in 12-6A, and fellow receiver T’Antrae Thomas is tied for second with five scoring grabs.
The Bulldawgs (2-2) beat Ellison and Del Valle and lost to Leander Glenn and Georgetown in non-district. They accumulate an average of 411.3 yards and allow 353.3.
Chaparral vs. Cedar Park
7 p.m. Friday, Searles Stadium
It’s been two weeks since Chaparral (2-1) took the field, and the Bobcats’ return marks the start of 8-5A-I.
Every team in the district had Week 4 off, and for Chaparral, it was an extra week to prepare for the visiting Timberwolves (1-2) while also going back to basics in some respects.
“The bye week fell at a great time. We were able to assess some things and kind of slow things down,” coach Tyrell McCrea said.
While the non-district portion didn’t end the way the Bobcats wanted –– a loss to Lampasas on homecoming –– Chaparral started to hit its stride with their first-year coach guiding the way.
Kenneth Johnson and Davian Arthur are the spark plugs for an offense that averages 28.6 points per game. The defense was stingy in two of three non-district games and enters league allowing 23 points.
“We want to be 1-0 every week, and handle things on and off the field. But we don’t want to make it bigger than what it is,” McCrea added. “Everyone knows these games count towards the playoffs, but we just want to go out there every week and try to go 1-0.”
Ellison vs. Odessa High
1 p.m. Saturday, Shotwell Stadium, Abilene
The lone non-district game on the KISD slate belongs to Ellison, which will make a 3-hour trip north to Abilene to meet the OHS Bronchos.
The Eagles (1-3) have sights on ending a two-game slide and harnessing some momentum with the start of District 10-5A-II on the horizon Oct. 10.
To accomplish that, Ellison will lean on a high-powered offense that included quarterback Sidney Holland (88-of-141, 1,346 yards, 15 TDs), running back Daryl Cannie Jr. (41 carries, 341 yards, three TDs), and a receiving corps featuring Travaris Turner-Smith (23-582-nine), Prince Hall (22-287-two), Juan Ramirez (17-242-four) and Joseph Fowlkes IV (13-105).
A complementary performance on defense will help the Eagles against the Bronchos (2-1), who’ve bookended wins over LD Bell and Lubbock Monterey around a loss to El Paso Eastwood and averaged 52 points per game.