'NOW THEY'RE FUN'
Badgers open District 25-4A play tonight with clean slate
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Senior receiver/quarterback Jarrod Bowen helped ignite the running game last week. Bowen carried for 104 yards and a touchdown, running the zone-read from the shotgun.

From here on out, they all count.

The Lampasas football team opens its District 25-4A slate tonight at Mustang Field in Marble Falls.

"Now, they're fun," first-year LHS head coach Ryan Bailey said. "Season 2 has started, and that's all we're focused on."

The Badgers (0-3) had more than their share of chances to register wins the past two weeks, committing mistakes at crucial times in a 21-16 loss to Taylor and a 20-17 overtime loss to Gatesville. Against a Marble Falls team fresh off a bye and explosive on offense, Lampasas cannot afford to make as many mistakes and expect to compete.

Without the mistakes?

"We can compete with them," Bailey said. "We've competed with every team we've played so far, and these guys are comparable to the teams we've played."

After losing to Llano 26-14 in Zero Week, the Mustangs rebounded to beat Crockett 42-14 in Week 1 and Del Valle 26-25 in Week 2.

Jonathan VanLiew: Junior can help in the return game with Jarrod Bowen's increased role.

The Mustangs go as quarterback/ linebacker Thor Woerner goes. Woerner has scored seven touchdowns on the ground and thrown for two more. The 6', 210-pound Woerner has carried 42 times for 258 yards.

"He's a good football player," Bailey said. "He's not a worldbeater by any means, but he's a good all-around football player, a big ol' thick kid who they count on a lot."

Offensively, the Badgers have been inconsistent in each game, but a new wrinkle the offensive coaching staff added last week paid dividends in the running game.

In an attempt to get receiver Jarrod Bowen the ball more often, Bailey moved him into the quarterback position for much of the game. From the shotgun, Bowen ran the zone-read. Behind a downblocking zone scheme, Bowen had his choice to hand off to tailback Brode DuBose on cut-back runs or keep it himself.

The scheme produced a seasonhigh 165 rushing yards (in high school sacks count off from the rushing total). Bowen ran for 104, and DuBose for 75.

PHOTOS BY DARRELL BROOKS Above: Sophomore Vann Millican has excelled in the two-minute drill, leading scoring drives in the final minutes each of the past two weeks. In the loss to Gatesville, Millican threw a 24-yard touchdown to Jarrod Bowen with seven seconds remaining in the game to send the contest to overtime. Left: Defensive tackle Gabe Sanchez (60) has helped provide stability against the run for a defense that allowed just 223 total yards in the loss to Gatesville and has forced nine turnovers in three games.

"We're going to try to keep them (Marble Falls) guessing," the coach said. "Jarrod did some good things at quarterback, Brode had a great game, and Rabbitt (Ryan Abbott) ran the ball well. This week, we're going to add a little bit more, and we expect big things out of those guys."

The passing game, which appeared on track in Week 2, took a step back last week. Bowen and sophomore pocket quarterback Vann Millican did not complete a pass between them until the fourth quarter.

Millican, however, connected on two crucial throws late in the game. His 24-yard touchdown strike to Bowen with seven seconds left tied the contest and forced overtime. His 15-yard completion to Cole Ball converted a third-and-long situation in overtime.

Send-off

The Lampasas High School Booster Club will be at Star Propane on Highway 281 at 4:15 p.m. today to give the football team a send-off. Members plan to bring signs and goody bags for the players. Anyone is invited to attend. The club plans to do this for every road game this season. The Matchup

Teams Lampasas (0-3) at Marble Falls (2-1)

Last Week

Gatesville defeated Lampasas, 20-17, in double overtime Marble Falls was idle Key Players

Lampasas: Linebackers Coleton Lucas, Reese Vann and Stephen Eskola; Defensive tackle Gabe Sanchez; Receiver/quarterback Jarrod Bowen; Running back Brode DuBose.

Marble Falls: Quarterback Thor Woerner; Offensive lineman John Bird; Receiver Stacy Davis; Safety Taylor Smith.

At Stake It's the District 25-4A opener