“This is a schedule for the books, and you could be 0-5 after five games just as easily as you could be 5-0,” Monsen said in mid-August. “The first five games will tell us a lot about our football team.”

Well, Temple’s fifth game is tonight, and the Wildcats still seek their first victory of 2008.

After losses to Cedar Park, Leander, second-ranked Plano and then College Station A&M Consolidated in the District 12-5A opener last week, Temple faces another stern challenge in the form of old foe Copperas Cove, whose No. 10 Bulldawgs (4-0 overall, 1-0 in 12-5A) invade Wildcat Stadium for tonight’s homecoming game.

“We’ve still got a lot of season, and we can have a great season in front of us,” said Monsen, whose 2007 team was 1-3 in non-district before it won all six of its 13-5A games. “We’re focusing extremely hard and we’re excited to play Cove in our backyard. It’s our homecoming game and we’re playing a ranked team, so it’s an important game for us.”

On the other side will be Cove 15th-year coach Jack Welch, whose Bulldawgs have followed consecutive trips to the Class 4A Division I state title game by cruising to a 4-0 start in their return to 5A.

“Well, it’s been better than a kick in the eye,” Welch said of his team’s start, during which Cove has outscored San Angelo Central, Waco, McKinney Boyd and Killeen Ellison by a combined 184-34. “But we have to keep striving to keep getting better. We’re very inexperienced.

“We’re just playing together and hustling and showing great desire. It’s a great group of kids to be around.”

While Cove has thoroughly dominated opponents, Temple has struggled to put together four effective quarters. And aside from their 49-29 loss to Plano, the Wildcats have been very competitive - losing the other three games by a combined 14 points.

After controlling the second half in a season-opening 28-20 loss at Cedar Park, Temple didn’t allow a point in the first three quarters of its 13-10, double-overtime home loss to Leander. And a week ago, the Wildcats rallied from a poor first half that created a 21-7 deficit but were stopped just short by A&M Consol, 24-21.

“They understand very well that we’ve got to play 48 minutes,” Monsen said of his players. “They know it, we know it. We can’t play one good half and expect to win. Once we put it all together, we’ll be tough to beat.

“It’s no secret. You have to prepare hard, which we do, and you’ve got to work hard, which we do. The kids are trying. Our battle cry this week is, ‘48 minutes.’”

Despite Cove’s perfect start and Temple’s winless start, Welch says he and his team aren’t expecting anything less than a closely contested duel with the Wildcats.

“They’re 0-4, but we don’t focus on the 0-4 because right now everyone in our district is either 1-0 or 0-1 and the key is to get to the playoffs,” said Welch, who’s 124-43-1 at Cove and tonight seeks his 29th win in the last three years.

“I’ve always had great respect for Temple. I think Coach Monsen has things going back in the right direction, and having Bob McQueen back (as a consultant to the coaches) gives them security and strength. He’s an icon.”

Of particular concern to Welch is the Wildcats’ Wing-T offense, which ran for more than 3,000 yards last year and has 857 this season. But Temple also has shown an increased ability to pass the ball effectively, with senior Kevin Lock throwing for 225 yards last week.

Junior running back Lache Seastrunk caught touchdown passes of 64 and 38 yards (though he was limited to a season-low 63 rushing yards and zero TDs), and senior receiver Tevin Reese had three grabs for 94 yards.

“The Temple offense is dynamic,” said Welch, whose defense is paced by senior linebacker and Texas Christian commitment Tanner Brock, a two-time all-state selection. “You can’t just key on Lache, because their other backs are powerful. Reese has great hands, and after he catches it he’s very explosive.”

Even after the graduation of quarterback Robert Griffin (Baylor) and running back Troy Vital (Idaho), the Bulldawgs certainly have no shortage of weapons on the offensive side.

Junior running backs Brandin Byrd (603 yards, seven touchdowns) and Will Wright (284 yards, area-best nine TDs) provide a potent ground attack, and junior quarterback Cody Vaughn has effectively managed games while throwing to big-play senior receiver Josh Boyce.

“Cove is a lot like Plano in talent and execution,” Monsen said. “They’ve played 10 extra games in the last two years (because of the playoffs) - that’s a full season. Their program’s been in place for a long time, and there’s nothing like getting extra practice time for your kids.”

As for Welch, he says he hasn’t talked about the goal of winning a state championship to his players this year - even after the Bulldawgs’ close title-game losses in 2006 and ’07.

“Making the playoffs is our No. 1 team goal right now,” said Welch, whose son Josh, a Mary Hardin-Baylor player from 2004-07, is Cove’s quarterbacks coach. “The ultimate goal is a state title, but I haven’t mentioned it.”

gwille@temple-telegram.com