Among the top choices were the Wildcats’ opener at Cedar Park, the home duel with second-ranked Plano, the District 12-5A opener at College Station A&M Consolidated, the league home opener against stout Copperas Cove and the Halloween matchup at rival Belton.
Temple’s Thursday night game in Killeen against a Harker Heights team that was 1-8 in 2007 likely didn’t get much bright ink or many stars put by it.
But now it’s Week 7, and the Wildcats (1-5 overall, 1-2 in 12-5A) consider their game against Heights’ Knights (1-5, 1-2) at 7 tonight at Leo Buckley Stadium the most important date of the season as they pursue one of the district’s four playoff berths with four games remaining.
“This will be a big game to get us going, and it’s the same deal for both teams - the loser’s not out of it, but the winner’s in great shape,” said Temple coach Bryce Monsen, whose Wildcats edged Killeen Ellison 49-42 last Thursday at Buckley for their first win. “Obviously we’re very focused on Harker Heights and we’re excited about playing.”
It’s the same sentiment for Heights second-year coach Todd McVey, whose Knights are having another difficult season but can break out of a six-way tie for third place if they prevail tonight.
“The way we’re approaching it is that it’s very important, because there’s six teams tied for third and we’re still in the (playoff) mix,” said McVey, whose club lost 46-20 to Killeen Shoemaker last Friday. “That’s what everyone is thinking right now, that everyone has an opportunity if you play your best each week.
“We know we have a formidable opponent in front of us in Temple. Obviously we’ll be the underdog.”
Heights got its first win out of the way when it rallied from a 19-0 deficit to beat Belton 30-19 on Sept. 25 at Buckley.
Temple, however, had to wait until a week ago to score its first victory - this after the Wildcats went 6-0 in capturing the 13-5A crown last season.
Even though Temple allowed Ellison to erase deficits of 28-6 and 42-21 to forge a 42-42 tie early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats used Lache Seastrunk’s 81-yard touchdown dash with four minutes left and Toravion Belcher’s final-minute interception to get past the Eagles for the elusive first win.
“The most important thing is that it’s a district win, and when you’re on the road you don’t care how it happens,” Monsen said. “It was great for our kids’ confidence.
“The positive part is that we were able to score early. They came back and made it a tight game in the fourth quarter, but any time you pull out a game you’ll take it. We had to make a couple of plays to win, and we made a couple.”
With the offensive line opening large holes and playing what Monsen thought was its best game of the season, Temple rushed for 427 yards - junior Seastrunk had a career-high 291 yards and four scores - and gained 479 total.
A huge bright spot for the Wildcats was the emergence on offense by 240-pound junior Derrick Davis, the hard-hitting linebacker who stepped in at fullback and battered Ellison for 71 yards on 10 carries, including first-half touchdowns of 11 and 16 yards.
“Since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, Derrick’s always been a tremendous fullback,” said Monsen, who also got 68 rushing yards from Marcus Jones and a 34-yard TD pass from Kevin Lock to Daniel Carr. “Derrick’s a great young man and a great competitor, and we appreciate Derrick handling that load on offense. It sure helps take some pressure off of Lache.”
As for Seastrunk, who in his 17-game career has run for exactly 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns, McVey knows that his defense - which has allowed an area-worst 422 yards per game - must keep him in check tonight for the Knights to have a shot to win.
“We’ll try to do what everyone tries to do - we’ve got to try to contain him,” said McVey, whose saw Seastrunk run for 222 yards and three touchdowns in Temple’s 45-42, double-overtime victory at Heights one year ago. “He’s good and he’s going to make plays. Our kids just have to take care of their job and do what they’re coached to do.”
Meanwhile, Heights will try to ride junior running back Kerry Sloan - with 798 yards, he trails only Seastrunk among area rushers - and avoid costly turnovers after four giveaways damaged the Knights against Shoemaker.
“He’s doing a great job and he’s one of those complete running backs - he blocks, too,” McVey said of Sloan, who is complemented by the passing of Tommy Seigman (741 yards, 10 touchdowns). “I keep telling him to thank his offensive linemen.”
Although Heights has beaten only Belton in McVey’s two seasons, Monsen certainly is aware of the Knights’ speed and athleticism, especially on the offensive side.
He also has a clear memory of last year. Temple had already defeated Bryan and A&M Consolidated and blasted Belton before the Wildcats had to scratch and claw to clip Heights 45-42 on Chris Winkler’s 37-yard field goal in the second overtime.
“Heights is very explosive on offense and has not had any problems scoring points, and on defense they’re very talented and very physical up front,” Monsen said. “We’ll have our hands full."
gwille@temple-telegram.com
