The non-league portion of the schedule continues this week as the lead up to district action ramps up with more intriguing football games across Killeen ISD.
Week 3’s slate includes an all-KISD matchup between Shoemaker and Ellison, and home games for Killeen, Harker Heights and Chaparral.
So many options. So little time.
Ellison vs. Shoemaker
Though no longer district foes after the UIL shifted the Eagles (1-1) into Class 5A Division II and the Grey Wolves (1-1) back into 6A, this still remains an enticing matchup between two schools located about 4 miles apart. The anticipation for this neighborly block party couldn’t be contained in town either, thus the game will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday inside University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Crusader Stadium.
Both are coming off their first wins of the season last week, when the Eagles outdueled the Kangaroos, 58-52, in the crosstown showdown and Shoemaker outlasted Nuevo Leon (Mexico), 35-33, in four overtimes.
“It’s the same thing that we’ve been preaching. We’ve got to get better each week. I thought we were better last week than we were in Week 1, and we have to be better this week than we were in Week 2,” said Ellison coach Danny Servance, whose team piled up 662 yards against Killeen but benefited from key defensive stops in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
“I just kept telling them on the sideline that we needed one stop. If the game had continued the way it was going, the team who had the ball last was going to win,” Servance said. “So, we knew we had to get a stop, and our kids came up with more than one at the appropriate times.”
Dating to the 2004 season, Shoemaker owns a 13-7 edge over Ellison in the previous 20 head-to-head encounters. The Grey Wolves won the last two encounters. The Eagles last defeated Shoemaker in 2021.
“I know Coach Servance will have them prepared,” Shoemaker coach Toby Foreman said. “It’s a rivalry game. A lot of these kids played little league ball together, played middle school ball together. Some of them are neighbors. So, it’s going to be an exciting game.”
Killeen vs. Lake Belton
This week’s lone Thursday matchup features two former district opponents kicking off at 7 p.m. in Leo Buckley Stadium.
Killeen (0-2) and Lake Belton (1-1) spent the previous two years colliding in 4-5A-I but went separate ways after the latest UIL realignment, with the Roos getting bumped up to 6A.
The Broncos lost their opener to state-ranked College Station A&M Consolidated then rebounded with a come-from-behind victory in overtime last Thursday over Round Rock McNeil.
“They are going to be a well-coached football team. They do things the right way. They are very disciplined. So, what we’ve got to do is go execute the gameplan, and do it to a high level” Killeen coach Josh Sadler said. “We have to make sure that we take care of business in all three facets of the game. We have to make sure that we play sound on offense, defense and special teams.”
This game will be a featured KWTX Thursday night broadcast on the CW.
Chaparral vs. Lampasas
The Bobcats cruised by Manor New Tech last week, putting up a program-high 54 points, recording the school’s first shutout, and scoring on offense, defense and special teams.
Chaparral (2-0), though, will face a stout challenge Friday when it hosts Lampasas (2-0) at 7 p.m. inside Joseph L. Searles III Stadium.
The Class 4A-I Badgers (2-0) have put up 40-plus points in their opening two games, defeating Fredericksburg 40-21 and Salado 49-30.
“This is going to be the biggest test of the season so far just because of their tradition and their culture. They play hard all four quarters. They are fundamentally sound. They are big up front, and I feel like this will show us where we truly are right now,” Chaparral head coach Tyrell McCrea said.
This is the second of three consecutive home games for the Bobcats, who are idle next week before beginning District 8-5A-I on Sept. 27 against Cedar Park.
Harker Heights vs. Dripping Springs
The Knights (2-0) are set for their third straight home game to open the season, and it’s been so far, so good on their turf.
This week, Harker Heights welcomes Dripping Springs (1-1) into Leo Buckley Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.
The Tigers, who were a combined 33-6 the previous three seasons, opened 2024 with a 31-14 setback against Leander Vandegrift then rebounded a week ago, 35-6, against San Antonio Wagner.
“You’re taking about a regional finalist team from the last two years. A quality program. Well coached. Our whole mindset is treating this like a playoff game,” said Harker Heights coach Mark Humble, who’s non-district schedule features three playoff teams from 2023.
“We set it up this way to prepare us for district and playoff time. As the season goes on, the opponents get tougher. So, hopefully it gets us battle-tested and the experience we need to be successful,” Humble said.
Yards and more
There were some monster numbers put up by KISD players last week, especially through the air. Some stat standouts from Week 2 are below.
Passing: D’Angelo Ingram, KHS, 32-of-53, 571 yards (school record), seven TDs; Sidney Holland, EHS, 16-of-25, 416 yards, four TDs; Hudson Humble, HHHS, 22-of-27, 302 yards, three TDs; Tyrieke Wade, SHS, 14-of-24, 186 yards, two TDs
Rushing: Daryl Cannie Jr., EHS, 17 carries, 198 yards, two TDs; Kaden Butler, HHHS, 12-125-1; Kardae Hicks, KHS, 23-130
Receiving: Antwoine Warren, KHS, eight catches, 134 yards, two TDs; Timothy Boatner, KHS, 8-189-2; T’Antrae Thomas, KHS, 4-121-2; Kai McMillan, HHHS, 6-157-1; Juan Ramirez, EHS, 7-113; Travaris Turner-Smith, EHS, 5-271-4; Brandon Brown, SHS, 5-122-3; Maurice Starr, SHS, 10-123; Kenneth Johnson, CHS, 3-47-2
Tackles: Joseph Fowlkes, EHS, 16 tackles; Juan Cavello, EHS, 15 tackles; Ja’Kiree Teal, EHS, 10 tackles; Elijah Gray, SHS, 14 tackles; Brian Hood, HHHS, 16 tackles
Interceptions: Imer Bolton-Smith, CHS; Maurice Lawson, CHS; Aaden McCallum, CHS; Jaden Jackson, EHS; Myles Holland, EHS; Jordan Loney, HHHS; Taneel Nelson, HHHS
Week 3 Middle School Scores
8A: Live Oak Ridge 30, Audie Murphy 20; Smith 20, Nolan 0; Patterson 27, Waco Carver 0; Eastern Hills 37, Liberty Hill 19; JDA 39, Manor 0; Palo Alto 28, Rancier 0; Waco Tennyson 34, Union Grove 0
8B: Nolan 19, Smith 7
7A: Live Oak Ridge 0, Audie Murphy 0; Liberty Hill 41, Eastern Hills 14; Smith 54, Nolan 0; Patterson 32, Waco Carver 0; Rancier 35, Palo Alto 7; Union Grove 32, Waco Tennyson 21
7B: Smith 14, Nolan 0
