Another week, another all-KISD matchup sits on the docket.
Week 7 of the high school football season still feels like August, but only because of the weather. The crunch-time call of fall has no doubt arrived as teams in District 12-6A and District 8-5A-I begin to feel the urgency while those in District 10-5A-II embark into league play.
It’s a packed home schedule this week, providing plenty of opportunity to check out all the action.
By the way, there’s only one month remaining in the regular season.
District 10-5A-II
Belton at Ellison
7 p.m. Thursday, Searles Stadium
The six-team district that also includes Waco, Waco University, Brenham and Bryan Rudder, had an idle date last Friday. Ellison head coach Danny Servance said the break allowed for players to rest and recuperate, which is ideal because it’s now a five-week race to the playoffs, and there are four spots up for grabs.
The Eagles (2-3) couldn’t have entered into 10-5A-II any better after soaring past Odessa High, 69-28, on Sept. 30. If they harnessed any of that momentum over the last 12 days, they could end up 1-0 in district –– a coveted head start to one of those postseason berths.
Ellison won three straight over the Tigers (0-5) from 2006-2008 but hasn’t defeated the longtime league foe since. This is the first meeting between the two since 2021 after they were sent into different 5A divisions during the 2022-23 cycle.
Led by quarterback Sidney Holland Jr. (EHS, 114-of-174, 1,715 yards, 23 TDs) and a bevy of playmaking receivers, the Eagles average 43 points per game this season and surrender 46. Belton scores at a 14-points per game clip and allows 35.
District 12-6A
Killeen at Shoemaker
7 p.m. Thursday, Buckley Stadium
Not only is this an enticing encounter because its two skilled KISD programs. It’s also meaningful based on their results during the first two weeks of 12-6A.
The Grey Wolves (3-3, 0-2) and Roos (0-6, 0-2) would like nothing more than to shake off 0-2 starts in league play and assert themselves right back into the mix.
Killeen coach Josh Sadler and Shoemaker coach Toby Foreman always insist they are focused on their own teams and never spend too much time fixated on the opponent. That remains true this week despite the familiarity.
Even after being limited to one touchdown last week, Killeen’s offense still boasts 12-6A’s top passing attack while Shoemaker’s defense ranks as the district’s top rushing defense.
The Grey Wolves have won five in a row over the Roos dating to 2019. Before that, though, Killeen topped Shoemaker in 11 of 13 showdowns.
Bryan at Harker Heights
7:30 p.m. Friday, Buckley Stadium
The pace at which district play flies by didn’t leave the Knights (4-2, 2-0) much time to bask in their victory over Killeen last week. Head coach Mark Humble gave his team 24 hours to savor its latest triumph before shifting gears to the Vikings and a rushing attack that churns out 349.2 yards per game.
Bryan (3-2, 1-0) running back Jevalen Wade is the first in 12-6A to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark, coming in with a tally of 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns on 117 carriers. The Vikings also employ Titus Runnels out of the backfield and he has 520 yards and three TDs on the ground.
Not to be left in the shadows, the Knights offense is the highest-scoring at 45 points and second with 525 yards a night and is coming off the 70-point showing against the Roos in which quarterback Hudson Humble tossed a single-game program record seven TDs. Three of those scores went to Kristian Nobles, Ryan Taylor caught a pair, and Tyler Johnson and Kaden Butler had one each.
This is Harker Heights’ sixth game in Killeen and fifth at Leo Buckley Stadium this season. They are 4-1 on home turf.
District 8-5A-I
Leander at Chaparral
7 p.m. Friday, Searles Stadium
Much like Killeen and Shoemaker, Chaparral (2-3, 0-2) is looking for a bit of traction in its district after back-to-back losses.
Next up for the Bobcats is Leander (3-2, 2-0), one of two programs unbeaten in the early stages of league play after victories over Georgetown, 38-35, and Leander Glenn, 44-35.
This is the first of two straight home games for Chaparral, which plays three of its final five at Searles. That could bode well for the Bobcats as they try to reroute their current path.
The Lions average 34 points per game and yield 35 to opponents.
KISD stat leaders
Through Week 6
Passing (yards)
1. D’Angelo Ingram, KHS, 121-of-207, 1,892 yards, 20 TDs
2. Hudson Humble, HHHS, 133-of-168, 1,774 yards, 21 TDs
3. Sidney Holland Jr., EHS, 114-of-174, 1,715 yards, 23 TDs
4. Tyrieke Wade, SHS, 76-of-130, 1,365 yards, seven TDs
5. Bryson Coleman, CHS, 31-of-74, 498 yards, five TDs
Rushing (yards)
1. Kaden Butler, HHHS, 110 carries, 779 yards, nine TDs
2. Zy’Riyan Evans, HHHS, 89 carries, 514 yards, five TDs
3.Tyrieke Wade, SHS, 71 carries, 466 yards, three TDs
4. Daryl Cannie Jr., EHS, 48 carries, 373 yards, three TD
5. Kardae Hicks, KHS, 65 carries, 372 yards, three TDs
Receiving (catches)
1. Tyler Johnson, HHHS, 44 catches, 592 yards, four TDs
2. Antwoine Warren, KHS, 38 catches, 534 yards, five TDs
3. Timothy Boatner, KHS, 37 catches, 617 yards, 10 TDs
4. Prince Hall, EHS, 31 catches, 370 yards, five TDs
5 (tie). Travaris Turner-Smith, EHS, 30 catches, 680 yards, 12 TDs
5. Maurice Starr, SHS, 30 catches, 550 yards, one TD
Tackles
1. Cooper Howard, HHHS, 72
2. Brian Hood, HHHS, 49
3 (tie). Rocky Crooks, HHHS, 45
3. Jammie Smart, SHS, 45
5. Juan Cavello, EHS, 42
