Tevin Reese caught two long touchdown passes from Kevin Lock in the first 14 minutes and ran for a score right before halftime as Temple cruised to a 48-10 win over Harker Heights, giving the Wildcats a crucial District 12-5A victory at Buckley for the second consecutive Thursday.

Fullback Derrick Davis ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, fellow junior Lache Seastrunk scored on a 41-yard dash as he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, and Reese had four catches for 115 yards as Temple (2-5 overall) moved to 2-2 in 12-5A to guarantee itself a share of third place.

“The coaches told us it was a short week and that we had to work out hard and play hard,” said senior Baylor commitment Reese, whose team edged Killeen Ellison 49-42 a week earlier.

“It was a good game because everyone gave 100 percent and we played as a team. We’re looking to win out. We don’t want to lose any more games.”

Temple coach Bryce Monsen, whose squad was 6-0 in district last year but 0-2 in 12-5A entering last week, was encouraged by probably the Wildcats’ best overall performance of the season.

“Obviously it was a great team win in terms of offense, defense and the kicking game,” Monsen said after his team ran for 331 yards, passed for 136 and got a 14-yard fumble return for a touchdown from junior Stedman Moore. “I’m very proud of our kids and this really puts us in the thick of the (playoff) race."

A week after running for a career-high 291 yards and four touchdowns, Seastrunk carried only nine times - once in the second - for 83 yards and didn't play in the fourth quarter. He's run for 1,051 yards and 10 TDs this season.

Junior Kerry Sloan rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown for Heights (1-6, 1-3), which had 331 yards total offense. But the Knights were damaged by 87 penalty yards, two lost fumbles and their inability to cover Reese on deep routes.

“They got behind us a couple of times, and we knew that No. 13 (Reese) is pretty fast,” Heights coach Todd McVey said. “Their quarterback (Lock) was really on the money.

“Our defense did a decent job and the effort was there, but we shot ourselves in the foot too many times.

"My hat’s off to Temple and now we’ve got to get back to work.”

The speedy Reese had an unusually quiet night in last week’s shootout win at Ellison, neither catching a pass nor having a carry. On this evening, however, he made a big impact early and often as the Wildcats raced to a 35-10 halftime lead.

On the game’s first possession, Temple ran four times to reach the Heights 46-yard line. Senior left-hander Lock then faked a handoff to buy time for Reese, who sprinted past two members of the Heights secondary on the left side and hauled in Lock’s lofted pass at the 15 on his way to a 7-0 lead with 2½ minutes gone.

Temple’s defense then made Heights go three plays and out, and Quinston Trejo charged in to get a piece of James Bocanegra’s punt before the ball rolled out at the Knights’ 39.

Hard runs by Davis and Daniel Carr wrapped around a personal-foul penalty on a Seastrunk carry moved Temple to the 3, and Davis crashed across the goal line for his third touchdown in two weeks. Chris Winkler’s extra point was blocked, leaving it a 13-0 game midway through the first quarter.

A 31-yard catch by C.J. Akins and Kerry Sloan’s 37-yard run keyed Heights’ ensuing drive to the Temple 4, but penalties made the Knights settle for David Tarsa’s 23-yard field goal to make it 13-3.

However, Davis - a hard-hitting linebacker who had his first 100-yard rushing game - rumbled up the middle for 42 yards before Seastrunk (nine carries, 83 yards) sprinted to the right corner and raced for a 41-yard score. Lock went up the middle for a two-point run and a 21-3 Temple lead with a minute left in the first.

After another Heights punt and a 29-yard Davis run, Reese got another opportunity. From the Knights 23, Lock froze the defense with a fake handoff and fired a pass that hit Reese in stride on the right side for a touchdown and a 28-3 game two minutes into the third.

“I told Kevin, ‘Look for the other guys, but throw it to me if I’m open,’ and he did,” Reese said. “Our coaches made the right calls. I just come into every game wanting to do my part.”

Added Monsen: “Tevin’s a skilled kid, and tonight his number was dialed. Kevin had some time to throw and you have to credit our offensive line. I see the offense coming together and playing with confidence.”

Heights answered with Sloan’s 12-yard TD run on an option play, but Reese and the Wildcats essentially sealed the win just before halftime.

Lock hit Reese along the left sideline for 34 yards, then on third-and-11 from the 18 with 36 seconds left Reese took a toss coming to the right side and sprinted through a huge hole before crashing in for his touchdown run and a commanding 35-10 advantage.

A fumble recovery by Davis early in the third quarter led to Carr’s 22-yard touchdown burst on a well-blocked sweep to the left to make it 42-10.

Moore capped the scoring with 4½ minutes left. Heights quarterback Tommy Seigman fumbled when hit hard on a run, and Moore scooped up the ball and ran 14 yards to make it 48-10.

Said Monsen of next Friday’s duel with Bryan: “We’re excited to get back home, and if they win tomorrow our game becomes even more important.”

gwille@temple-telegram.com