Belton Tigers football preparing for scrimmage next week

August 14, 2025

By Aries Ramos

Belton Journal

With anticipation building and the 2025 football season just around the corner, the Belton Tigers are gearing up for their first action of the year, a preseason scrimmage against Killeen Shoemaker on August 21.

The matchup marks the Tigers’ first opportunity to hit the field with game conditions, offering players and coaches a chance to evaluate their progress after a summer of preparation.

Coming off an offseason filled with hard work, the Tigers are looking to build momentum and establish their identity early. While the scrimmage won’t count in the standings, it will serve as a checkpoint for head coach and staff to gauge where the team stands in terms of execution, discipline, and depth.

Junior quarterback Will Shepard (6’1”, 175 lbs) is among the names to watch on offense as the Tigers begin their live reps for the season. Shepard has shown promising command during offseason workouts, and the upcoming scrimmage will offer a valuable opportunity to see how he performs in game-like conditions.

In the trenches, look for returning junior lineman Angel Zarate (6’0”, 209 lbs) at center to anchor an offensive line that includes rising talent like Beckett Butler (6’5”) and Benjamin Gutierrez (6’2”).

Defensively, the Tigers will rely on a mix of upperclassmen and hungry underclassmen. Junior Graham Chambley (6’1”, 160 lbs) and Azian Wilkinson (5’10”, 170 lbs) form a promising duo in the secondary, while juniors William Young and James Barrera bring intensity at the outside linebacker spots. Expect to see Javid Nua Planz (5’10”, 181 lbs), a versatile junior who lines up at both middle linebacker and running back, play a key two-way role during the scrimmage.

With plenty of returning experience and some new faces eager to prove themselves, the Tigers will use this scrimmage to iron out the kinks, establish communication on both sides of the ball, and set the tone for a season filled with high expectations.

Shoemaker brings physicality and speed to the field, and while no official score will be kept, the competition and experience is what both teams are looking forward to the most.

For Belton, this is the first chance to show what kind of team they can be in 2025.

Kickoff for the scrimmage is set for the evening of August 21st.