Neither has Bryan, which scored the most significant victory of the young season when it defeated Leander 31-24 to end the District 13-5A/12-5A’s 20-game losing streak against teams from 14-5A/16-5A.
Even Killeen Ellison, under first-year coach Buddy McBryde, is off to a 2-1 start.
On the other hand, defending champion Temple failed to produce a winning non-district record for the fifth consecutive season, while traditional contender College Station A&M Consolidated dropped its first two games before beating 0-3 Austin Westlake last week.
Predicted to finish in the bottom tier of the district, Belton, Harker Heights and Killeen Shoemaker are a combined 1-9.
What does all of this mean?
“It’s district play, and it’s really a deal where everybody’s 0-0 and four will get into the playoffs and four will stay home,” Temple coach Bryce Monsen said.
Belton and Heights kick off the district slate when they meet at 7 tonight at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen. All other district openers will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
When Monsen was asked who should be favored, he responded: “All of them, because I’ve always believed that when you get into district, anybody in the district can beat anyone else. Every team has enough talent and good enough coaching. It’ll be a heck of a race.”
Temple (0-3, at A&M Consolidated)
The Wildcats have started 0-3 for the first time since 2005, partly because they played a stout non-district schedule. Cedar Park, Leander and No. 2 Plano are a combined 8-2, with Leander’s loss coming to Bryan and Cedar Park falling to Class 4A No. 1 and defending Division II state champion Austin Lake Travis.
Temple started 1-3 last season before sweeping through the 13-5A schedule to claim its first outright district title since 1995 and first perfect district record since 1985. With junior running back Lache Seastrunk (488 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and receiver Tevin Reese (16 catches, 220 yards, one touchdown), other teams still consider the explosive Wildcats the front-runners.
“To me, the three top teams are Temple, because of their athletes and they won it last year, and then Bryan and Copperas Cove,” Consol coach Jim Slaughter said.
Added Cove coach Jack Welch, who watched Temple lose to Plano last week: “I knew that Temple had an extremely tough non-district schedule. My goodness, they’re explosive. They don’t surprise me.”
Belton (0-3, at Harker Heights)
The Tigers didn’t fare well in losses to unbeatens Ennis and Round Rock McNeil, but they regrouped and nearly pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback at Mansfield Timberview last week.
Seeking its first playoff appearance since 2003, Belton almost certainly must beat Heights and Shoemaker in its first two district games to have a chance. Tigers coach Rodney Southern said that even though Belton is winless, his team is close to where he hoped it would be heading into district play.
“Everywhere but our record,” he said. “Obviously you’d like to win a game, but there are steps you need to take and we’ve taken several of them. As far as preparation, as far as handling adversity, handling travel and playing some good football teams, I think we’re on track. We have to get through that mindset of, ‘We need to win a football game.’”
Copperas Cove (3-0, home vs. Killeen Ellison)
The Bulldawgs, 4A Division I state finalists the last two years, started the season by beating San Angelo Central 56-0, Waco 41-20 and McKinney Boyd 42-14, and they lie just outside of 5A’s top 10 in the state rankings. That perfect start has Welch feeling content about his Cove squad heading into district play.
“You always like to be farther along, but up to this point, I’m fairly pleased,” Welch said. “So many new faces had to gel together. We’re doing that but we’re not there totally yet, so we’re still in the process of putting it all together.”
The Bulldawgs, who won the 13-5A title in 2005, should have an immediate say in the district race with games against Ellison, Temple and Bryan in the first three weeks.
Harker Heights (0-3, home vs. Belton)
The Knights have been outscored 120-67 by Austin, Round Rock Westwood and Killeen. Not expected to be a factor in the district race, Heights has lost 14 of its last 15 games dating to 2006.
Killeen Ellison (2-1, at Copperas Cove)
McBryde’s Wing-T offense produced stellar results in victories against Killeen and Del Valle but committed nine turnovers in a 51-14 defeat at Round Rock. The Eagles, Bryan and Consol are predicted to battle for the final two playoff spots.
Killeen Shoemaker (1-2, home vs. Bryan)
The Grey Wolves lost 21-13 to Killeen in the opener, routed Bastrop 36-15, then were edged by Austin LBJ 23-20.
Shoemaker has the offensive firepower to keep up with any team in the district. The Grey Wolves’ improved but still vulnerable defense will determine whether they can contend for the final playoff spot, which would be their first in nine seasons of football. Beating Bryan in the opener would make a major statement.
A&M Consolidated (1-2, home vs. Temple)
The Tigers struggled in losses to McNeil and Houston Cypress Woods, but their offense came alive against Westlake, piling up 477 yards and never punting. Tonight’s matchup against Temple will indicate whether Consol can challenge Cove and Temple for the title or will be in a dogfight for a playoff berth.
Bryan (2-0, at Shoemaker)
Hurricane Ike forced the Vikings’ matchup with McNeil to be canceled, giving Bryan just two games - a 28-20 win over Houston Cypress Falls and the victory at Leander - to prepare for district play. The Vikings meet Shoemaker before facing Consol, Cove, Ellison and Temple in a row.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
