Consider: While starting 5-0 for the first time since 2003 and 2-0 in district for the first time since 1999, Belton has trailed for just 5 minutes, 51 seconds (less than 2.4 percent) and has been nearly injury-free.

Part 2, which begins at 7:30 tonight against College Station A&M Consolidated (3-2 overall, 2-0 District 12-5A) at Tiger Field, already has a challenging feel. Star quarterback David Ash suffered a high ankle sprain in the 38-0 shellacking of Killeen Shoemaker. He has been walking with crutches all week and whether he plays officially will be a game-time decision. So what was supposed to be Belton's biggest barometer thus far as to how much the program has improved just became tougher.

"Is it a measuring stick? Yeah - to see where we really are," Belton coach Rodney Southern said. "To see where we are you have to beat teams like we're fixing to play (league unbeatens Consol tonight and Copperas Cove next Friday).

"From watching film, they're different from anybody we're going to see because they're completely balanced run-pass. They play all the percentages. They're the most consistent, balanced, well-coached football team we will have faced to this point."

If Ash doesn't play, Belton will turn to capable junior backup Jonathan Paysse. He has played in every game and is 1-for-5 passing for 2 yards and has eight rushes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

When asked how much the gameplan changes with the 6-foot, 172-pound Paysse instead of Ash, Southern replied: "Not a whole lot. There's some things Jonathan does as well. Now there are some things Jonathan is more comfortable in doing that we will work on."

Replacing Ash's 41-yard punting average, a key in Belton controlling field position, would be senior Seth Alcozer, who has yet to attempt a kick this season.

While Belton potentially has been dealt a blow at quarterback, Consol's situation is much worse.

In the last two weeks - wins over Temple 38-23 and rival Bryan 43-33 - Consol has lost starters Dillen Ashton and Parris Colbert to season-ending ACL injuries.

Sophomore Jacob Bronowsky, who began the season on junior varsity, will make his first varsity start. He played about three series in the fourth quarter against Bryan but didn't have a carry or a pass attempt, thanks to the rushing duo of Chris Nutall (545 yards, eight touchdowns) and Clinton Banks (611 yards, 10 TDs).

"The Bryan game was very big for us," A&M Consolidated coach Jim Slaughter said. "For that kid, it was great that he was able to come in and lead us on two drives - getting just a little bit of experience."

Bronowsky entered last week with Consol trailing 33-28, but he finished off two scoring drives. His job centered on handing off to the 5-8, 172-pound Nutall and the 5-10, 225-pound Banks, who combined for 258 of the Tigers' 395 rushing yards. Belton expects to see a healthy dose of Consol's backs, mixed in with the occasional play-action pass.

"They are such a sound and technically well-coached offensive line," Southern said of the key to the running game. "They do four or five or six things and they do them very, very well. They do them to the wide side of the field, to the short side of the field, to the strength of the formation, away from the formation. You know what you're going to get, but you don't know for sure where it is or when you're going to get it."

Consol's offense is averaging 384 yards and 36.2 points per game, but it's the defense that has been troublesome.

Consol has allowed nearly 408 yards and 34 points per game and has been vulnerable to big plays, giving up 14 scoring plays of 20 yards or more. But in the second halves against Temple and Bryan, Consol's defense has made enough key plays to keep its offense on the field.

"Sometimes we have a hard time adjusting to the speed of the game," Slaughter said. "Again, we've had a lot of kids moving in and out of positions. When we played Austin Westlake, we had four starters out and the kids still played pretty well (in a 20-7 loss)."

For Consol, tonight's game is a step to keep its Tigers in line for a possible district title.

For Belton, it's a major step toward proving it belongs in that discussion.

Southern said the best example of where Consol's and Cove's consistent programs stand was evident in last season's film.

Early in the third quarter Belton led 14-11 before during a seven-minute span it allowed a quick scoring drive, a blocked punt return for a score and a 66-yard touchdown pass to fall behind 32-14. Consol eventually won 39-22 but later had to forfeit the game for using an ineligible player.

"I'm watching it and we're making plays," Southern said. "Teams like this in those crunch times, they're going to make those plays. If they can't make them they're going to play the percentages and the field-position battle and make you make them."

Those are the situations Belton must handle tonight.

- HISTORY -

Belton has lost 10 straight on the field to Consol dating to 1992 and trails 11-6 in the all-time series.

cmeister@temple-telegram.com