Belton showed absolutely no effects from its first loss of the season last week and returned to the dominant form it showed during the first six games.

Quarterback Jonathan Paysse directed three touchdown drives during the Tigers' first 13 offensive plays. The defense forced five turnovers and Darrius White returned a fumble 38 yards for a score. And Belton installed the Wildcat offense for the first time as it jumped out to an early 21-0 lead in a 47-20 thrashing of Killeen Ellison on homecoming Friday night at Tiger Field.

"It was really fast," said Paysse, who finished 8-of-9 for 97 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score. "I was just shocked with the defense and how many turnovers they got and how fast everything went. It was just a rush. It was great."

Afterward, defensive lineman Tim Bower, who recovered two fumbles - one on an onside kick - and blocked and returned Ellison's first point-after-touchdown try for two points, was almost at loss for words of their likely soon-to-be accomplishment.

"Playoffs," he said. "It's finally here."

Well not officially. But barring anything catastrophic happening over the final two weeks, Belton (7-1, 4-1 District 12-5A) has nearly wrapped up its first playoff berth since 2003. With Bryan's loss to Temple, the Tigers share first-place in the league with College Station A&M Consolidated and Copperas Cove and also recorded their second win over the Eagles (3-5, 1-4) in school history and first since 1986.

cmeister@temple-telegram.com