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Josh Carter hits Canyon Lake quarterback Peyton McMullen on a pass play last week. Lampasas (4-0 in district, 7-0 overall) will host Fredericksburg (1-3, 5-4) Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. JEFF LOWE | DISPATCH RECORD
The Badgers are one win away from an undefeated regular-season record as they host Fredericksburg in the district finale Nov. 6.
In 1925, the Badgers reportedly went undefeated and unscored on, in the days of three-yards-and-a-cloud-of dust offenses.
Fredericksburg started this season on a similar note as Lampasas, winning three games by more than 30 points. But after a one-point loss to Wimberley and a one-point win over a strong Boerne team, the Billies have gone 1-3 in district. Their only district victory came last week in a lopsided 55-13 victory over winless Taylor.
The Billies don’t have as much size as they have had in the past, although they do have 265-pound junior lineman Zachary Wubbolding.
“Typically, they’ll roll out with that O line that looks like they’re a college O line,” LHS head coach Troy Rogers said. “And they don’t have five of those guys this year. But they play physical. They don’t make mistakes. They do their job.”
Quarterback Cole Immel has thrown for 1,426 yards and 12 touchdowns this year, while running for another 635 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Safety Rob Zuberbueler is a key defensive player.
Judson Beard and Kade Jenschke are the Billies’ leading receivers, with well over 400 yards apiece and several touchdowns.
Judson Beard scored twice against Lampasas last year. Although the Badgers ultimately won the 2019 district title game 47-35, the Billies jumped out to a big 14-0 lead.
In 2018, the Badgers had a huge lead before Fredericksburg outscored them 34-7 to cut the final margin to a two-point Lampasas victory.
The Billies often finish with middle-of-the-road season records, but they don’t go down easily.
This year, only one loss (against LBJ) was by more than 15 points.
“They do a good job of combining their schemes to give you different things off of it,” Rogers said.
Fredericksburg’s base offense will be more familiar for Lampasas than the Slot T team they faced in Canyon Lake last week.
“They like to run the little quarterback pop deal where they pop and he’ll run power, and they’ll have throws off of that,” Rogers said. “The quarterback throws the ball well, and they’ve got a few good receivers that can go get it.”
Lampasas is coming off a 40-34 win at Canyon Lake which included uncharacteristic mistakes and penalties. But Rogers and his team have put that behind them and are ready for a stronger closing statement to their district title run.
“We came prepared this week [and] came ready to go,” said senior receiver Mike Murray.
Murray and about 20 of his classmates will play their last game at Badger Field.
“We’re all really excited to play,” he said. “Especially the seniors. It’s our last [home] game. We want to get the ‘W’ for the fans…I love the atmosphere. I don’t know where I’d be without this fan base.”
This year, Lampasas had one less home game than usual because of a predistrict quarantine.
“We’re not really worried about that,” Murray said. “We’re just worried about playing the next game.”
Murray recently decommitted from the University of New Mexico and has reopened the recruitment process. Several schools from Texas and neighboring states have been looking at him.
Last week marked Murray’s season-high receiving performance, with 209 yards.
Rogers, as a former Badger quarterback, understands the emotion Murray expressed ahead of his last home game.
“Anyone who’s ever worn a Badger jersey understands the significance of playing at Badger [Field],” Rogers said. “And getting to do it for your last senior home game I think is a special deal. I think these guys will treat it just like that. We need to respect Badger Field and go out there and give us our very best.”
See district standings and state rankings, page 6.