But last Friday the ghosts of seasons past came back to haunt the Badgers as the final scoreboard showed a dismal result: San Marcos 33, Lampasas 0.
"It was a letdown," Lampasas first-year coach Joey McQueen said. "It was a great atmosphere playing on a college field (Texas State) but we couldn't get it done.
"Our defense played well early, but we did a poor job offensively to help them out. We were only down 6-0 at halftime and had a chance for the lead."
Now the Badgers (1-2) get to find out if those ghosts are there to stay or if there still is reason to be excited in Lampasas. The first test in finding out comes at 7:30 p.m. today when the Badgers host the Gatesville Hornets (2-1) at Badger Field.
First, McQueen said Lampasas has to learn from its last game but quickly move past it. And he's kept his sense of humor in doing so.
"They (San Marcos) run the same offense we do (Slot-T). They just run it better than we do," he quipped. "It's was good training. I just wish they had of showed me how to run it at a clinic instead of first-hand."
Gatesville coach Kyle Cooper knows that the Badgers are improved and he has prepared his team for a tougher game than it saw last year, when the Hornets won 34-0.
"They are a hard-nosed football team," he said. "They are physical and come at you. That starts with the coach, and I've known McQueen for a long time. He's got them going in the right direction. We told our guys it's a different team with a different coach."
Cooper's Hornets have been moving in the opposite direction of the Badgers. They opened with a tough 47-22 loss at Mexia but followed that with a 35-27 win over Cameron Yoe followed by a 19-0 win over Fairfield last week.
"I'm proud of our defense for getting that shutout last week," Cooper said. "I think we have matured a lot since Mexia. But then we had seven guys with no varsity experience. So now if you look at it, seven of our eight guys up front have three times as much varsity experience now than they did after that game."
While things seem to be looking up for the Hornets, Cooper insists they are far from where they need to be.
"We still have to be more physical on defense," he said. "And offensively we have to get the running game going. It's been hit or miss. At times we haven't looked so good and I'd like to see us gain some consistency."
The Hornets have rushed for 361 yards, led by Kevin Clarke with 201 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries.
It's been the passing game that's been moving Gatesville. Junior quarterback Jake Truss has completed 51 of 85 passes for 519 yards and six touchdowns. His top target has been Ross Wallace, who has an area-high 23 receptions for 218 yards and four scores.
"I think we have gotten great play out of our skill(-position) kids," Cooper said. "We have to continue to get the ball to all of our kids. We have to be balanced and attack in a number of ways."
McQueen feels confident that his Badgers can defend the Hornets' passing attack well.
"In my 28 years of coaching, this is the best secondary I've coached," he said.
Unlike the Hornets, the Badgers' offense isn't interested in balance at all. The Slot-T is designed to be a ball-control offense that eats up the clock. The Badgers have 618 yards on the ground and none through the air. Furthermore, the Badgers have attempted only five passes.
That rushing attack will also get a boost tonight as starting running back Brode Dubose (33 carries, 171 yards, 2TDs) returns after missing the last two weeks with an injury.
"Edward Hall has been (getting the bulk of the carries) in Dubose's absence," McQueen said. "Now we have them both back there and when they are together we call them thunder and lightning. We hope it's thunder and lightning tonight and not spit and sputter."
mhood@temple-telegram.com
