PHOTOS BY CLAY WHITTINGTON Lampasas defensive coordinator Jimmy Randolph looks on as quarterback Colton Perkins takes a snap during Wednesday afternoon's practice. At the moment, Lampasas is right where it wants to be. The Badgers are fourth in the District 25-4A standings.

They find themselves in the position by default, however, because they have yet to play a district game.

Tonight, they hope to earn their spot in the playoff race by beating Hendrickson in the Badgers' district-opener, but it won't be easy as the Hawks sport the district's top rusher in Kenny Williams. In four games, the junior has run for 866 yards and 11 touchdowns on 74 carries, resulting in an average of 11.7 yards per carry.

"We know what is coming, we just have to be ready for it," head coach Joey McQueen said. "There are a lot of people in our district that don't think we have a chance against Hendrickson, but we've had some good practices, and [defensive coordinator Jimmy Randolph] and the defensive staff have a good plan against them. [Now] we've got to execute it."

Brode DuBose, 9, and Josh Woods chat between running plays in practice. Hutto certainly could not stop the quick, shifty and powerful running back.

Last week, Williams ripped the Hippos to shreds, running for 279 yards and five touchdowns in a 62- 35 district-opening victory for the Hawks.

The Badgers' defense has been solid against the run all year, giving up 692 yards on the ground, fourth best in the district, with 332 coming in a 33-point shutout loss at San Marcos.

Leading the way defensively for the Badgers are middle linebackers Rush Seaver (22 solo tackles, 29 assists) and Edward Hall (15 solo, 23 assists), free safety Brandon Abbott (18 solo, 14 assists) and defensive back Aaron Reyna (23 solo, eight assists).

While the Hawks are impressive on the ground, they are not perfect. In addition to leading the district in rushing, they also have the most fumbles with 18. They have lost 10.

"Hopefully, they'll have some turnovers that we'll cause and, if that happens, we'll take advantage of it," McQueen said.

LHS offensive coordinator Clinton Burns talks with a couple of his varsity players as the Badgers prepare for Hendrickson. Although turnovers will help, Lampasas' best defense is a good offense.

The Badgers' modus operandi all year has been to shorten the game by creating methodical, timeconsuming drives with the running game and limiting the opposition's touches.

"We're trying to get 60 snaps per game and if you have 10-play drives, then you're looking at six possessions each game," McQueen said.

The key is capitalizing at the end of each drive. For the most part, the strategy has worked.

Excluding San Marcos, Lampasas has been in every game it has played, losing two by a single point.

The Badgers join Hutto and Killeen as the only teams with multiple backs in the district's top 10 rushers.

Tail back Hall is third with 420 yards, and full back Brode DuBose (293 yards) ranks ninth despite missing two games. Senior running back Reyna sits at 12th with an 18- yard average (11 carries, 198 yards). The trio have crossed the goal line 11 times.

Two weeks ago, the three scored all seven of the Badgers' touchdowns in a 49-48 last-minute loss to Gatesville.

With an open date last week, the Badgers had two weeks to dwell on the heartbreaking shootout defeat, but they have not spent the free time feeling sorry for themselves, according to McQueen.

"What I've learned about this team is that they feel good about themselves, they believe in the coaching staff, and they believe in each other," the coach said. "Being 1-3 right now, they could [have] their heads down, not working, not caring about anything, but they still believe they are 3-1.

"I like their attitude right now. They're not cowering down and going south. They're rising up and heading north."