The start of the regular season is finally here, and that means the Badgers of Lampasas are set to take on the Battlin’ Billies of Fredericksburg tonight.
Week one is a great opportunity for every team around the state to learn a lot about themselves, and stop wondering, hoping or guessing.
There is a feeling of excitement in the Lampasas football building about the opportunity to get on the football field and show some of the potential this young team has in 2025.
Head coach Troy Rogers said he is ready to start playing football again.
“It’s exciting; it’s the best time of the year,” Rogers said. “Probably the roughest times of the school year are the first month after football is over, just readjusting, and then it’s the first few weeks when football starts because it’s scrimmage season and you’ve got your two scrimmages … you’re waiting to get to that game week.”
The coach added that internally the Badgers have moved from position charts to depth charts, and the three squads freshman, junior varsity and varsity – have been decided, at least for the time being. Things can always change as the season progresses.
In considering Fredericksburg, the player who pops on film is junior Griffin Beard. He gets lined up all over the offensive formation, and the Battlin’ Billies find ways to get him the ball often.
Rogers knows that a key to the Badgers’ success defensively will be slowing down Beard.
“He’s what makes them go offensively, and last year even as a sophomore he was starting both ways,” Rogers said. “He’s just an elusive kid. He’s not big. He’s not going to run you over, but he really runs good routes and has good hands, and he has a really high football IQ.”
As a team, Fredericksburg has speed all over the field, but players aren’t quite as big as the Billies traditionally have been.
Speed throughout their skill positions and at quarterback means they will threaten the big play during the game. The Badgers will need to limit those opportunities as much as possible and then try to hit on some of their own explosive plays.
“When you look at them, they’ve got skill guys, and they’ve got some weapons on offense, and they’re not probably as big as they’ve been,” Rogers said. “They’re an explosive football team.”
Look for the Badgers on offense to utilize their weapons early and often, as they will try to get touches to players such as KJ Reed, Shawn Roberts, Jaden McElwain and Kayden VanPelt all while Bryson Roberts is taking every snap.
Roberts is a threat to create a big play with his legs as well. He will finally be turned loose for the first game after being restricted during scrimmages to protect himself.
“You want guys to get the ball in their hands early so you’re not looking up and it’s the third quarter and someone hasn’t touched the ball yet,” Rogers said. “That’s our job as coaches to make sure we get them touches … We’ve got to make sure we find ways to get these weapons the ball early.”
On defense, a key will be getting after the quarterback and focusing on contain when the quarterback scrambles out of the pocket. That was something that gave the Badgers trouble in the scrimmage against China Spring.
“We’re going to have to contain, and that was one of the things at the scrimmage last week that we didn’t do a very good job of -- containing,” the head coach said. “So that’s been a point of emphasis.”
Rogers added that seeing China Spring in the scrimmage was a positive, because it highlighted some things the Badgers needed to work on this week while getting ready for Fredericksburg.
With the speed Fredericksburg has on offense, Lampasas should match it in a lot of places on their defense.
Former safeties Tate Langford and Corbin Kepler have rolled down and are playing linebacker this season. Both run very well. Aaron Everts and Sean Smith are in the secondary, and they both were members of the sprint relay teams for Lampasas on the track.
It is likely the team that can contain the other’s speed the best will have a good shot at winning this game.
Turnovers also could play a big role, as they so often do.
Roberts has a little experience at quarterback from his time replacing Reed Jerome last season, but this is his first experience going into a road game as the starter at that position. There also is some unknown at quarterback for the Billies, as they could have two different players take snaps in the game.
The quarterback and ball carrier who doesn’t make a big mistake and turn the ball over likely will be on the winning side of this contest.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has the Badgers as a 10-point favorite.
There is no time like the fall and the first football game under Friday night lights. Buckle up Badger fans, and enjoy the ride.
