The first month of the season doesn’t often yield the need to label games as must-win. Because, after all, there’s still so many games to be played.
Important victories, on the other hand, are a different matter, and Chaparral and Killeen both pocketed timely triumphs that can only serve as confidence boosters heading into Week 5.
The Bobcats outscored Waco by 13 in the second half for a 32-14 win that snapped a season-starting three-game skid and will send CHS into its District 12-6A opener at Bryan with some momentum.
Meanwhile, one year after going 0-4 in games decided by seven points or less, the Roos buckled down in key moments to grind out a 16-15 win over Pflugerville Hendrickson in their District 12-5A-I debut.
Which team will notch the next important win?
Week 5 offers up a Thursday tilt between host Shoemaker and Pflugerville Weiss plus a trio of Friday contests, including a home game for Ellison, and road tests for the Roos and Bobcats. Harker Heights is idle.
Week 5 matchups
District 12-5A-I
Pflugerville Weiss (3-1, 2-0) at Shoemaker (1-2, 0-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Joseph L. Searles Stadium
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/526fzseb
The Grey Wolves are back in action after an open date in Week 4 and will welcome another set of Wolves into Searles Stadium.
Weiss last week upended College Stadion –– which defeated Shoemaker in Week 3 –– 40-38 to push its league mark to 2-0. The visiting Wolves split their non-district games by beating Round Rock and losing to Austin Lake Travis. They opened 12-5A-I with a 48-0 win over Leander Glenn and post about 38 points per game.
Including this week’s contest, Shoemaker plays four of six on Thursday night.
Killeen (2-1, 1-0) at Pflugerville Connally (1-2, 0-2)
7 p.m. Friday, The Pfield
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/47mfn22v
Amari Paige’s go-ahead 21-yard rushing touchdown, an acrobatic interception by a diving Deshaun Reid on a tipped pass and one final defensive stand helped the Roos get off to a coveted 1-0 district start.
Now, they travel to face the Cougars, who’ve been outscored by College Station A&M Consolidated and Georgetown 110-13 in their first two 12-5A-I games.
Quarterback D’Angelo Ingram completed 14 of 25 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown toss to Isaiah Jones against Hendrickson. Tavaris Miles hauled in eight catches for 122 yards, and the Roos rushed for 197 yards. The defense allowed just 245 yards and totaled seven tackles for loss, including four sacks.
District 12-6A
Chaparral (1-3) at Bryan (1-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Merrill Green Stadium
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3psukrnd
The Bobcats make their District 12-6A debut about 2 hours from their home. Along with their gear, they’ll be equipped with some added umph after upending the Lions a week ago.
Running Quinnten Johnson rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Bryson Coleman added 84 yards and two touchdowns rushing plus a TD toss to Terrance Parrish, who turned a routine catch into a highlight-reel trip to the end zone.
Marcus Majors also rushed for a TD.
Bryan’s lone victory was against Waco, 14-0. The Vikings are coming off a 40-34 loss to crosstown rival Bryan Rudder.
Non-District
Pflugerville (2-2) at Ellison (1-3)
7 p.m. Friday, Leo Buckley Stadium
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/564e9h9z
Marlyn Smith passed for 208 yards, ran for another 194 and had six total TDs, but the Eagles came up three points shy of victory last week against Lake Belton, 54-52.
Ellison, which also got 120 yards receiving and an interception from Tyler Reed, next wraps up its non-district slate by hosting the Panthers.
It’s the fourth straight game for the Eagles in Killeen.
Pflugerville is coming off a 24-19 defeat versus Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch and has alternated wins and losses through the first month of the season. The Panthers average 388 yards and 34 points per game.