It’s their homecoming game.
It’s a game against a team that beat them 42-8 last year.
They’ve lost three games in a row.
The Temple Wildcats (1-3) certainly aren’t lacking for motivation in tonight’s District 13-5A-opening battle with the Bryan Vikings (2-2) at Wildcat Stadium.
After pulling out a 21-17 victory against South Garland in its season opener, Temple has played well at times but not well enough to avoid three consecutive losses - 38-28 to Round Rock McNeil, 21-19 at Abilene Cooper and 27-17 last week at Round Rock Westwood.
Third-year coach Bryce Monsen says everything up to this point has been part of the maturation process for the Wildcats, who are seeking their first Class 5A state playoff berth since 2003.
“We’ve played some tough games, and every team we’ve played has beaten other teams,” he said. “We don’t make excuses, but a call here or there and our record might be better.
“We feel like we’re much-improved as a team. If we can lock down, rise up, play hard and eliminate a few mistakes on offense, defense and the kicking game, we’re definitely in a great position.”
Bryan jumped all over visiting Temple one year ago, as the Vikings scored on their first two possessions and held the Wildcats without a first-half first down en route a district-opening 42-8 win.
The Vikings went on to capture one of 13-5A’s four playoff spots; the Wildcats went on to finish 1-5 in the district for sixth place.
But after watching video of Temple’s games this season, Bryan second-year coach Bob Bellard says there’s no way his staff and players will take the Wildcats lightly.
“I’m very impressed with Temple, and I think they’re tremendously better than they were a year ago,” said Bellard, whose squad is coming off a 30-27 home win over then-No. 9-ranked DeSoto.
“Offensively, they’ve been very productive with what they’re doing (in the Wing-T formation), and some of their misdirection plays have given people some fits. A lot of teams have gone to the spread, but it’s tougher facing the Wing-T. I’d say it’s doubled or tripled our meeting time this week.”
No stranger to coaching’s mutual admiration society, Monsen has plenty of good things to say about Bellard and his Vikings program.
“Bryan is very talented - the most talented we’ve seen on film - and they got on us pretty good last year over there,” Monsen said. “I can’t imagine a team having more talent than Bryan.
“They just played very well against DeSoto last week,” he added. “They’re physical, they’re enormous on the offensive line, and they’re very well-coached.”
The Vikings put together a complete performance against DeSoto, getting big games from running backs Stan McGruder (162 yards) and Monterell Washington and clutch play from their defense, including a game-sealing interception near the goal line by Jaron Gentry.
“It was a very good win against a very good football team,” said Bellard, a Bryan graduate - his father, Emory, coached Texas A&M - who played against Temple in the mid-1970s. “We put together offense, defense and the kicking game, and we all jumped in and contributed.”
Temple likely will need a similar all-around game to knock off the Vikings.
Sophomore running back Lache Seastrunk (473 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and senior fullback Adrian Reaves-Brown (376 yards, two TDs) have shined, but the Wildcats’ passing offense hasn’t been as productive as Monsen had hoped.
Meanwhile, Temple’s defense has forced 13 turnovers, but the Wildcats didn’t have a takeaway at Westwood and they’ve allowed per-game averages of 26 points and 430 yards for the season.
“With the way we’ve played at times, we look like a legitimate 5A football team,” Monsen said. “Right now, there’s seven teams and four playoff spots, and we feel like we have a chance.”
NOTE: Former Temple coach David Beal, who went 8-22 as the Wildcats’ boss from 2000-02, is Bryan’s offensive coordinator.
gwille@temple-telegram.com
