Week 4 Offers Chance at Bounce Back

Much like a rubber ball, the key element to success in Week 4 of the high school football season for Killeen ISD teams is the bounce back.

 

Killeen, Ellison and Harker Heights aim to regroup after tough losses last week, while Chaparral will have an extra seven days to steady the ship. Shoemaker, meanwhile, takes a two-game winning streak into its next test, hoping results aren’t steered the opposite direction with district on the horizon.

 

Shoemaker vs. Waco University

The Grey Wolves (2-1) put together their most convincing performance of the young season last week, topping rival Ellison, 67-46, at Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Crusader Stadium. They return for homecoming night to more familiar turf for a 7 p.m. Thursday game against Waco University at Joseph L. Searles Stadium.

 

Week 4 football schedule“That’s the progress I expected on offense,” Shoemaker coach Toby Foreman said of his team’s win over the Eagles that followed a narrow four-overtime triumph the week before. “We are 2-1 but it doesn’t feel that way because we are not satisfied. We’re not consistent yet and we have to figure out how to be in a hurry.

 

“The kids know what the expectation is. Week to week you earn it, and these guys are definitely doing that.”

 

The 5A-II Trojans (3-0), a playoff team each of the last two seasons after going 0-10 in 2021, are off to a strong start in 2024 by notching victories over Keller Central (41-26), Granbury (34-14) and China Spring (31-21), the 2021 (Division II) and 2022 (Division I) Class 4A state champion.

 

“Their coaches do a great job. I hadn’t heard much about them because they weren’t on our schedule, but they look good to me they are undefeated for a reason,” Foreman said. “So we’re going to have to get after them. It’s a short week but we are excited to play against yet another quality opponent.”

 

Killeen at Brenham

The Kangaroos overcame an early 21-point deficit last week against Lake Belton and nearly did the same late in the contest yet endured a third consecutive defeat by 10 points or less to open the season.

 

Up next for Killeen, which got 5½ sacks from its defense a week ago, is a 7 p.m. Thursday encounter with Brenham (3-0).

 

The Cubs have victories over Huntsville (39-35), Sterling (42-6) and Bryan (43-22) to their credit, and cracked the top 10 in the Class 5A Division II state rankings this week on the dot at No. 10.

 

Brenham averages a tick more than 41 points per game and allows 21.

 

Roos receiver Timothy Boatner tops the list of yards receiving (434) and touchdowns receiving (six) among District 12-6A teams (Temple, Bryan, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights and Shoemaker). Quarterback D’Angelo Ingram leads the way with 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns.

 

Ellison vs. Red Oak

The Eagles offense has taken flight during the first three games to the tune of 46 points and 544 yards per outing. Canceling out some of that production, however, is the 56 points Ellison (1-2) allows per game.

 

A balance between the two facets is sought after at 7 p.m. Friday when Red Oak visits Leo Buckley Stadium.

 

The Hawks (1-2), who were district opponents in 2022 and 2023, picked up their first win of the year last week, 41-14, over Cedar Hill. They opened their campaign with losses to Colleyville Heritage (32-29) and Arlington Seguin (50-14).

 

Anchoring Ellison’s aerial attack is quarterback Sidney Holland, who passed for 341 yards and six scores –– a single-game program record –– last week against Shoemaker to up his season totals to 68-of-110, 1,113 yards and 13 TDs.

 

Travaris Turner-Smith (17), Juan Ramirez (15) and Prince Hall (14) all have at least 14 receptions, but Turner-Smith is the big-play threat. The senior averages 28.3 yards per catch.

 

Passing the ball

Harker Heights at Midlothian

After being held to seven points in a season-opening loss to Cedar Hill, the Panthers (2-1) scored a combined 95 points over the course of two wins

 over Ennis and Dallas Kimball.

 

This is Harker Heights first road trip of the year after playing the first three games in Killeen. It’s also the first instance in which the Knights have a chance to respond after a loss.

 

Dripping Springs narrowly kept the Knights at bay last week, picking up a key first down that helped deplete what remained of the final 2 minutes after the Knights pulled within three points in an eventual 41-38 setback.

 

Quarterback Hudson Humble is completing 79 percent of his passes. Against the Tigers a week ago, the sophomore connected on 34 of 38 pass attempts for 361 yards. His favorite targets, Tyler Johnson and Kai McMillan combined for 20 receptions. Running back Kaden Butler leads 12-6A with 382 yards rushing.

 

Chaparral, idle

After Lampasas sent Chaparral to its first loss of the season Sept. 13, the Bobcats get a week respite before starting District 8-5A-I on Friday, Sept. 27 against Cedar Park.

 

Soon

District 12-6A action for Killeen, Harker Heights and Shoemaker begins next week. Ellison has one more non-district contest next Saturday before an idle week and the start of 10-5A-II on Oct. 10.

 

Stats

Stat graphicPassing: Hudson Humble, HHHS, 34-of-38, 392 yards, three TDs; Sidney Holland, EHS, 27-of-44 341 yards, six TDs; Tyrieke Wade, SHS, 12-of-19, 289 yards, one TD; D’Angelo Ingram, KHS, 19-of-29, 244 yards, two TDs

 

Rushing: Jayvion Carter, SHS, 14 carries, 141 yards; Wade, nine carries, 119 yards; Kenneth Johnson, CHS, three carries, 76 yards, one TD; Zy’Riyan Evans, HHHS, 15 carries, 85 yards; Trevon Jones-Lockhart, EHS, 12 carries, 82 yards

 

Receiving: Tyler Johnson, HHHS, 14 catches, 196 yards, one TD; Brandon Brown Jr., SHS, four catches, 112 yards, one TD; Maurice Starr, SHS, four catches, 108 yards; Kai McMillan, HHHS, eight catches, 102 yards, one TD; Travaris Turner-Smith, EHS, five catches, 90 yards, three TDs; T’Antrae Thomas, KHS, four catches, 102 yards, two TDs; Timothy Boatner, KHS, 10 catches, 93 yards, two TDs; Davian Arthur, CHS, three catches, 78 yards.

 

Tackles: Anthony Beverly, KHS, 11 tackles; Za’Quaveon Roberson, EHS, 11 tackles; Brian Hood, HHHS, nine tackles; Corey McMillan, HHHS, nine tackles; Cooper Howard, HHHS, nine tackles; William Thomas, SHS, nine tackles

 

Interceptions: Corey McMillan, HHHS; Brenden Logan, SHS; Jaden Jackson, EHS

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