By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal Practice just began for the Broncos, but Zane Johnston feels far ahead of schedule. Wednesday marked the first day the University Interscholastic League permitted team practices in advance of the upcoming season, giving players and coaches at least two weeks together before playing a game. Many head coaches use the time to conduct tryouts, evaluate talent, and begin creating cohesion, but Lake Belton is focused on other aspects after returning a large percentage of the team, and the Broncos’ head coach believes it will be beneficial. “I definitely feel like we are ahead of where we would be at this point in previous seasons,” Johnston said. “These kids have been so good throughout the fall at absorbing what we wanted to teach and remembering what we taught in the past. We’ve just really been able to hit the ground running.” Along with maintaining a majority of the roster, Lake Belton’s team consists primarily of basketball-only players, meaning Johnston does not have to wait for the football season to conclude before players transition between the sports. Therefore, almost the entire team has been able to take part in the athletic periods that began with the start of school, allowing for additional time together on the court. Most of the players, however, are already extremely familiar with one another, as only two graduated from last season’s team, but they were critical contributors. Voids left by the departures of Nelson Hayes, a shooting guard who earned 16-5A All-District Honorable Mention as a senior, and guard Hunter Hutchins must be filled. The Broncos have options, though. Dezmin Ravizee and Kendrick Jones Jr., who are seniors, and juniors Mikey Lockett and Allen Muchunu were each all-district selections last year after helping Lake Belton amass a 14-19 overall record. “It is a pretty good formula for success when you’ve got four, five, or six guys who are all capable of scoring double figures,” Johnston said. “I just keep reminding them that on any given night, somebody can get hot, and we’ve got to feed that guy, because the next night, it will be somebody else. We’ve got to be unselfish enough to move the ball, though, and they have responded pretty well to that.” While the preseason is getting off to a good start for the Broncos, they want to be performing near their best in a little more than two months when the District 16-5A schedule begins. Lake Belton opens against visiting Waco on Jan. 16. Killeen Ellison, Killeen Chaparral, Waco University, and Belton round out the league. The Broncos have struggled in district competition since reaching the playoffs in 2022. In the three seasons since, Lake Belton is a combined 7-31, coming off a 1-9 showing last year. The Lions tied Lake Belton for fifth place in the final standings, sitting three games behind the Bobcats (4-6). The Eagles cruised to the district championship with an unblemished record, while the Trojans and Tigers were tied for second place with identical 7-3 records. This season, however, the Broncos intend to return to the playoffs. “The top three last year are probably just reloading and looking good,” Johnston said, “but I can’t really speak too much about them, because I’m not around them. I can speak about my guys, though, and I’m just really pleased with their attitude and effort daily. They have a drive and a hunger, and you can see there is a little difference in their confidence heading into this year.”
By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal Lake Belton’s youth was on display Friday night. Despite falling 49–21 to Cedar Park, the Broncos battled through and continued to show the kind of fight that could make them dangerous down the stretch. The night began with frustration as Cedar Park controlled the tempo early. Timberwolves senior running back Trae Hill powered through the Broncos’ defense, scoring multiple times in the opening half and helping his team jump out to a commanding lead. Lake Belton struggled to find its footing early, but the Broncos didn’t stay quiet for long. Sophomore quarterback Jessiah James and junior wideout Zion Harness sparked the offense midway through the first quarter with a 76-yard touchdown that breathed life into the team. The play highlighted the trust between the two young playmakers and their ability to turn any snap into a scoring opportunity. After Cedar Park stretched its advantage again, Lake Belton kept clawing back. James hit Harness for another deep touchdown late in the second quarter, and moments before halftime, the Broncos executed a crisp two-minute drill that ended with James punching in a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line. What had been a lopsided game quickly became competitive, with the Broncos trailing just 35–21 at the break. Lake Belton’s defense also delivered moments of promise. Caleb Chandler and Gavin Stewart produced key tackles for loss, while defensive back Braxton Cope grabbed an interception in the fourth quarter. But Cedar Park’s physicality ultimately prevailed, with Hill finishing the night with four rushing touchdowns to seal the victory. Afterward, head coach Brian Cope emphasized the positives amid the growing pains. “Our kids kept fighting,” Cope said. “We’ve got to clean up the penalties and take advantage of our chances, but I like the effort. These guys believe in each other.” James finished the night with nearly 250 passing yards and three total touchdowns, while Harness and running back Dupree provided a steady spark on offense. Their connection continues to develop each week, giving the Broncos a foundation to build on as the season winds toward its conclusion. That growth will be tested again this week as Lake Belton prepares for a pivotal home matchup against district-leading Georgetown. The Eagles enter Friday’s game unbeaten in district play at 5-0, while the Broncos sit at 3-2, holding the fourth and final playoff spot just ahead of Rouse (2-3). For Lake Belton, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win would not only solidify playoff positioning but also send a message that the Broncos can compete with the district’s elite. To do that, they’ll need another efficient night from James, continued explosiveness from Harness, and a disciplined effort on both sides of the ball. Kickoff against Georgetown is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Field, where the Broncos will look to bounce back and show once again that their best football is still ahead of them.
By Clay Whittington All season, the Lady Broncos have been working toward returning to the playoffs. Now, the goal has changed. Lake Belton traveled to Killeen Ellison on Tuesday and encountered little resistance, earning a straight-set victory to remain undefeated in District 16-5A competition. Along with the win, the Lady Broncos clinched a postseason berth with three matches remaining in the regular season. With the spot secured, Lake Belton head coach Allison Waits admits the focus can be altered. “We are really just fine tuning things now,” she said. “We really want to be able to implement the things we try in practice and make them work in games. We just want to continue pushing ourselves to be a better team going into the postseason.” The Lady Broncos had no issues imposing their will on Ellison. Having won 14 of their previous 15 matches entering the evening, Lake Belton cruised to a 15-point win in the opening set, but the Lady Eagles rebounded by jumping out to a 5-2 advantage in the second set. The cushion quickly deflated, though, as the Lady Broncos embarked on a 22-3 outburst to take control and propel them to a 25-10, 25-10, 25-20 victory. The Lady Broncos started strong, winning nine of the match’s first 11 points, and they increased the lead to double digits at 16-6. The gap grew to 20-9 on sophomore Haylee Kasner’s ace before Ellison’s Charity Graham set up teammate Ja’Lya Swiney for a kill. Ellison would not get any closer. Sparked by senior Kaitlyn Hutchins’ hit, Lake Belton recorded five consecutive points to close the set, but soon after, the Lady Eagles established a 5-2 lead to begin the second set. Hutchins’ ensuing kill, however, triggered 10 unanswered points for the Lady Broncos, beginning the explosion that essentially ended the hopes of an Ellison comeback. “That run really meant a lot to our team,” Waits said, “because we were spreading the offense around really well. That has been a goal of ours. “If we needed someone to step up, they were going in and doing exactly what we asked, so it’s great to set those goals and see the girls achieve them.” The Lady Eagles, who are responsible for one of Lake Belton’s two set losses during District 16-5A play, delivered their best performance in the third set, trailing the Lady Broncos by just three points, 22-19, late, but they could not rally. With the victory, Lake Belton improves to 7-0 in the league standings, while Ellison falls to 3-4 with three matches remaining. The Lady Broncos will try to earn an undefeated district championship with wins against visiting Waco and Chaparral before closing the schedule at University. “This is the time of the year where we really want to be playing to the best of our abilities,” Waits said. “I really feel like we are getting into that groove and finding consistency. We are starting to play our best volleyball, and I’m really happy about that. “We don’t want to take anything for granted, and we are happy to have made the playoffs, but that is just one goal. It is our first goal.”
By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal Lake Belton wasted little time showing its firepower last Friday night against Leander Glenn, using explosive plays and defensive takeaways to power to a 49–23 district win at home. The victory marked one of the Broncos’ most complete performances of the season, as they outscored Glenn 21–6 in the second half and forced four turnovers after halftime. From the opening quarter, Lake Belton’s balance on both sides of the ball stood out. Quarterback Reese Rosenbaum and wideout Brock Von Racjs connected for a 25-yard touchdown after a Glenn fumble set up the Broncos in prime position. Moments later, Zion Harness added an 18-yard reverse touchdown run to give Lake Belton an early 14–0 lead. The defense was equally sharp, with key takeaways by Gavin Stewart, Evan Lazott, and Braxton Cope, while Arrington Alexander anchored a steady ground attack that wore down the Grizzlies. The Broncos closed the door in the second half with relentless pressure. Rosenbaum tossed three touchdown passes including scores to Luke Phillips and Logan Winkler, while Zyien Dupree’s 85-yard touchdown sprint in the final minutes put an exclamation point on the win. Head Coach Brian Cope praised his team’s energy and depth after the victory, noting the excitement of seeing the Broncos’ reserves close out the game strong. “I’m proud of these kids to go compete for 48 minutes,” Cope said. “The celebrations were genuine, genuine love and excitement for their teammates. If you can do that, you can build something special.” Now, the Broncos — 3–3 overall, 2–1 in district — turn their focus to another test: a home matchup with the Leander Lions. Leander enters the game at 3–3 overall and 2–1 in district play, currently sitting in fourth place. A win for Lake Belton would move the Broncos into that same spot, keeping them squarely in the playoff hunt as the second half of the district schedule heats up. The Lions have shown flashes of explosiveness this season. For Lake Belton, maintaining its aggressive mentality and winning the turnover battle again will be critical. Cope and his team know the stakes. “In this district, it’s an every Friday night deal,” Cope said after the Glenn game. “We’ll enjoy this one, get back to work, and be ready to go again Monday.” If the Broncos can carry over the same intensity and execution that fueled last week’s dominant performance, they’ll have a strong chance to make another statement and climb the district standings in the process.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal It appears the area’s next premier runner has arrived, and on Halloween, she receives the ultimate opportunity to prove it. On the heels of winning the District 16-5A championship, Lady Broncos freshman Keira Dzenowski cemented herself among the sport’s elite Monday morning, when she earned a berth to the upcoming state meet. Posting a time of 19 minutes, 52.07 seconds, Lake Belton’s standout placed 26th individually at the Region II-5A, landing her among the field’s state qualifiers. Only the top four teams and top 10 individuals not on an advancing team moved on, and while Lake Belton was not in contention, finishing 11th with 291 points, Dzenowski dazzled in her regional debut, and now, one final race awaits. The University Interscholastic League Class 5A State Championship will be held Oct. 31 at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park. The five-kilometer race begins at 9:30 a.m. While the potential to add one more medal to her collection looms for Dzenowski, the season came to a close for the remainder of Belton ISD’s harriers. The remainder of the Lady Broncos’ points were produced by juniors Jenna Benedick (57th, 21:18.49), Madelyn Rivas (67th, 21:32.06) and Sarah Gray (97th, 22:34.28) and sophomore Lucy Loa (83rd, 21:56.00). Elizabeth Sandline (113th, 23:02.86) and Alayna Fulton (131st, 23:45.00), who are sophomores, also represented Lake Belton, but their times did not count toward the team total. With four top-10 finishers, including champion Emily Armstrong (1st, 18:14.24), a freshman, Lucas Lovejoy easily captured the team title, scoring 31 points to beat out Dallas Highland Park (2nd, 78). Frisco Wakeland (3rd, 88) and Frisco Reedy (4th, 150) also qualified for state. Belton was 21st (527) behind sophomore standout Isabella Warner (74th, 21:45.82). The Lady Tigers’ remaining runners — freshman Ayla Wakershauser (126th, 23:28.05), junior Roxanna Delgado (128th, 23:33.26), freshman Natalie Mott (134th, 23:51.33), junior Nataly Valdez (139th, 24:02.74), sophomore Delilah Hoffman (145th, 24:28.69) and sophomore Lilian Baggett (148th, 24:40.63) — crossed the finish line with 75 seconds of each other. In the boys race, which was also held at Arlington’s Harold Patterson Sports Complex, Lake Belton was 17th (439). Wyatt Potts, a junior, paced the Broncos, landing in the top 60 with a 57th-place time of 17:38.33, and his outing was complemented by junior Jack McCullagh (100th, 18:23.58), sophomore Tyler Adkins-Beltran (106th, 18:31.96), sophomore Cooper Schels (111th, 18:38.71) and junior Josiah Briggs (123rd, 18:52.59). Lake Belton freshman Drew Houston (130th, 19:03.70) and junior Austin Adams (149th, 19:37.70) also raced. Dallas Wilson (1st, 88) emerged with the team championship followed by runner-up Lovejoy (2nd, 106), Wakeland (3rd, 114) and McKinney North (4th, 128). Frisco Lebanon Trail senior Andrew Malan (1st, 15:51.72) claimed the gold medal, and he will be joined at state by individual qualifiers in North Mesquite junior Joshua Loera (4th, 16:02.83), Reedy seniors Parker Cathey (7th, 16:17.07) and Alex Roeren (11th, 16:30.24), Highland Park senior Spencer Haag (10th, 16:24.08), Walnut Grove juniors Jaxson Hart (12th, 16:38.19) and Christopher Riley-Case (13th, 16:38.67), Killeen Ellison juniors Aiden Hill (14th, 16:41.79) and Andy Harper (17th, 16:43.91) and Kaufman sophomore Ian Enderle (18th, 16:45.15). Individual state-qualifiers from the girls race included Tyler junior Amy Vazquez (4th, 18:42.41), Midlothian Heritage senior Jenna Jacobsen (12th, 19:08.70), Melissa junior Diem Casselberry (13th, 19:13.41) and freshman Grace Vuong (15th, 19:23.61), Midlothian senior Lincoln Husbands (14th, 19:17.90), Mount Pleasant junior Alexia Hawkins (18th, 19:36.00), Wilson sophomore Charis Henderson (21st, 19:40.22), Frisco Liberty senior Caitlyn Ruback (28th, 20:01.00) and sophomore Grace Harris (29th, 20:05.11) and Dzenowski.
By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal The Lake Belton Volleyball team continued its dominant run through district play Tuesday night, defeating Chaparral 3–1 to secure its third district championship in four years. The win improved Lake Belton’s record to 27–12 overall and a perfect 9–0 in district competition, solidifying their position as one of the best volleyball programs in Central Texas. Lake Belton came out strong and never looked back in the opening two sets. The Lady Broncos set the tone early with quick transitions and clean execution, taking the first set 25–10. The second set was even more dominant, as Lake Belton controlled every phase of the game and rolled to a 25–9 win behind consistent attacking and strong net play. Chaparral, fighting to stay alive, responded in the third set. The Lady Bobcats capitalized on a few unforced errors from the Broncos and tightened up their defense, edging Lake Belton 25–22 to extend the match. But any momentum Chaparral hoped to build quickly evaporated in the fourth set. The Lady Broncos regrouped and closed out the match in convincing fashion with a 25–11 victory, sealing the 3–1 win and keeping their perfect district record intact. The victory was more than just another notch in the win column — it officially locked up the district championship for Lake Belton, marking the program’s third title in four years. It’s a testament to the team’s consistency, depth, and ability to maintain a championship standard year after year. Throughout the season, the Lady Broncos have leaned on a balanced attack, disciplined defense, and strong team chemistry to outlast their opponents. Now, with the district crown secured, the Lady Broncos will turn their focus to the regular season finale against Waco on Friday, October 24, where they’ll look to close out district play undefeated. The matchup is set for 5:30 p.m. in Waco, and while the Broncos have already clinched the title, they know the importance of finishing strong with the postseason just around the corner. Waco currently sits in fourth place in the district standings and will be eager to challenge Lake Belton on its home court. For the Lady Broncos, it’s another opportunity to fine tune their play, keep their momentum rolling, and make a final statement before playoff brackets are set. As the postseason approaches, Lake Belton appears locked in and ready as a confident team with championship aspirations and the track record to back them up.
By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal The Lake Belton Broncos are coming off one of their most complete performances of the season, a 45–0 homecoming rout of Leander, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into a crucial district matchup against Cedar Park this Friday night at Gupton Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Lake Belton ,3–1 in district play, put together a statement win last week that showcased dominance on both sides of the ball. The Broncos’ defense set the tone early, forcing three turnovers and keeping the Lions off the scoreboard from start to finish. Ji’yson Sherman played a major role with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while the defensive front applied constant pressure throughout the night. On offense, the Broncos kept the Lions on their toes by switcvhing between the run and pass attack. Running back Zyien Dupree turned in a standout performance, scoring three touchdowns as Lake Belton built a commanding lead by halftime. Quarterbacks Reese Rosenbaum and Jessiah James both contributed big plays through the air, with Rosenbaum connecting on key passes to Braxton Cope and James finding Zion Harness and Christian Onchweri for explosive gains. Head coach Brian Cope credited his team’s preparation and focus as key factors in the win. “Our kids are practicing hard, they’re playing hard, and they’re playing for each other,” Cope said. “We’ve made some adjustments, and I think it’s really sparked us. It was great to see everyone contribute, especially on homecoming night.” That win not only boosted the Broncos’ confidence but also tightened the district standings heading into the final stretch. This week’s matchup with Cedar Park, also 3–1 in district, looms large, as both teams are battling for playoff positioning. The Broncos defeated the Timberwolves 28–21 in their last meeting, a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. Cedar Park, known for its defense and explosive passing game, will look to even the score on its home turf. Lake Belton, meanwhile, will aim to replicate the physicality and precision that have fueled its recent surge. “Our district is tough every single week,” Cope said. “It doesn’t matter who you play — you’ve got to bring it every single time. I’m proud of how our kids are responding. We’ve still got a lot of football left, but they’re locked in and hungry.” With both teams sitting near the top of the standings, Friday’s clash at Gupton Stadium could have major implications in the race for a playoff spot and perhaps the district crown.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal All season, the Lady Broncos have been working toward returning to the playoffs. Now, the goal has changed. Lake Belton traveled to Killeen Ellison on Tuesday and encountered little resistance, earning a straight-set victory to remain undefeated in District 16-5A competition. Along with the win, the Lady Broncos clinched a postseason berth with three matches remaining in the regular season. With the spot secured, Lake Belton head coach Allison Waits admits the focus can be altered. “We are really just fine tuning things now,” she said. “We really want to be able to implement the things we try in practice and make them work in games. We just want to continue pushing ourselves to be a better team going into the postseason.” The Lady Broncos had no issues imposing their will on Ellison. Having won 14 of their previous 15 matches entering the evening, Lake Belton cruised to a 15-point win in the opening set, but the Lady Eagles rebounded by jumping out to a 5-2 advantage in the second set. The cushion quickly deflated, though, as the Lady Broncos embarked on a 22-3 outburst to take control and propel them to a 25-10, 25-10, 25-20 victory. The Lady Broncos started strong, winning nine of the match’s first 11 points, and they increased the lead to double digits at 16-6. The gap grew to 20-9 on sophomore Haylee Kasner’s ace before Ellison’s Charity Graham set up teammate Ja’Lya Swiney for a kill. Ellison would not get any closer. Sparked by senior Kaitlyn Hutchins’ hit, Lake Belton recorded five consecutive points to close the set, but soon after, the Lady Eagles established a 5-2 lead to begin the second set. Hutchins’ ensuing kill, however, triggered 10 unanswered points for the Lady Broncos, beginning the explosion that essentially ended the hopes of an Ellison comeback. “That run really meant a lot to our team,” Waits said, “because we were spreading the offense around really well. That has been a goal of ours. “If we needed someone to step up, they were going in and doing exactly what we asked, so it’s great to set those goals and see the girls achieve them.” The Lady Eagles, who are responsible for one of Lake Belton’s two set losses during District 16-5A play, delivered their best performance in the third set, trailing the Lady Broncos by just three points, 22-19, late, but they could not rally. With the victory, Lake Belton improves to 7-0 in the league standings, while Ellison falls to 3-4 with three matches remaining. The Lady Broncos will try to earn an undefeated district championship with wins against visiting Waco and Chaparral before closing the schedule at University. “This is the time of the year where we really want to be playing to the best of our abilities,” Waits said. “I really feel like we are getting into that groove and finding consistency. We are starting to play our best volleyball, and I’m really happy about that. “We don’t want to take anything for granted, and we are happy to have made the playoffs, but that is just one goal. It is our first goal.”
By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal Lake Belton wasted little time showing its firepower last Friday night against Leander Glenn, using explosive plays and defensive takeaways to power to a 49–23 district win at home. The victory marked one of the Broncos’ most complete performances of the season, as they outscored Glenn 21–6 in the second half and forced four turnovers after halftime. From the opening quarter, Lake Belton’s balance on both sides of the ball stood out. Quarterback Reese Rosenbaum and wideout Brock Von Racjs connected for a 25 yard touchdown after a Glenn fumble set up the Broncos in prime position. Moments later, Zion Harness added an 18 yard reverse touchdown run to give Lake Belton an early 14–0 lead. The defense was equally sharp, with key takeaways by Gavin Stewart, Evan Lazott, and Braxton Cope, while Arrington Alexander anchored a steady ground attack that wore down the Grizzlies. The Broncos closed the door in the second half with relentless pressure. Rosenbaum tossed three touchdown passes including scores to Luke Phillips and Logan Winkler, while Zyien Dupree’s 85 yard touchdown sprint in the final minutes put an exclamation point on the win. Head Coach Brian Cope praised his team’s energy and depth after the victory, noting the excitement of seeing the Broncos’ reserves close out the game strong. “I’m proud of these kids to go compete for 48 minutes,” Cope said. “The celebrations were genuine. Genuine love and excitement for their teammates. If you can do that, you can build something special.” Now, the Broncos 3–3 overall, 2–1 in district turn their focus to another test — a home matchup with the Leander Lions. Leander enters the game at 3–3 overall and 2–1 in district play, currently sitting in fourth place. A win for Lake Belton would move the Broncos into that same spot, keeping them squarely in the playoff hunt as the second half of the district schedule heats up. The Lions have shown flashes of explosiveness this season. For Lake Belton, maintaining its aggressive mentality and winning the turnover battle again will be critical. Cope and his team know the stakes. “In this district, it’s an every Friday night deal,” Cope said after the Glenn game. “We’ll enjoy this one, get back to work, and be ready to go again Monday.” If the Broncos can carry over the same intensity and execution that fueled last week’s dominant performance, they’ll have a strong chance to make another statement and climb the district standings in the process.
By Tony Adams The Belton Journal Texas high school football has a funny way of turning on a dime. Just ask Lake Belton head coach Brian Cope. With Leander Rouse up by 10 points with 9:22 remaining in the game last Friday night at Tiger Field, the Raiders opted to go for a dagger: a successful onside kick attempt to keep the ball away from the Broncos’ powerful offense. What they got was a head scratch from the football gods, and then a 50-yard onside kick return for a touchdown by Josh Lighthall. It started a 21-point swing in which all three facets kicked in great plays in a 49-38 win. “Josh Lighthall with huge play,” Cope said. “AJ Peters is the 212 player of the game because of his special teams’ effort. Chuong Long (7-of-7 in point after conversions) has done a good job being consistent. We won the big play and starting field position and were one yard away from winning the net punting battle. It was a good job all around.” With special teams setting the table for the turnaround, it set the offense up to add to their success. Maverik Maddux did an excellent job of controlling the ball, mixing in Zyien Dupree and Arrington on the run, and working passes into Davion Peters, Brock von Rajcs, Zion Harness, Luke Phillips, and Logan Winkler. The offensive line gave him plenty of time to make offense happen, with a 455-yard output overall. “A great job by our offense,” Cope said. “We scored three out of five times in the first half. In the second half, it takes three scores to win the game, and we ended up scoring four when you count the kick return. Our receiving corps had 11 dominating blocks, so we won the perimeter, and the offensive line did a great job in pass protection. Then, at the end of the game, to run the ball to win and seal it was outstanding to watch. I am proud of that group for them playing a complete game.” The Broncos gave up a good number of yards on defense but picked off two key passes and had several big third and fourth down stops that gave the offense some short-field opportunities to convert. “Outstanding job by our defense when it counted,” Cope said. “Gavin Owens and Gavin Stewart played outstanding. We won the turnover battle and the explosive play battle which is always so important in the game.” Next up for The Lake Show: a trip to Birkelbach Field in Georgetown to take on the East View Patriots. The offense passed for 130 yards per game and rushed for 148 in their 31-17 win over Leander Glenn. It is a very balanced offense, as the Pats average 169.3 yards passing and 162.8 yards per game rushing. “They are minimal in their formations but very effective in what they do,” Cope explained. “They have two very talented receivers and two good running backs. Their quarterback moved from receiver and can run really well along with running their offense as well. This is another big test for our defense. We must get off the field when we get the chance.” Defensively, the Broncos have been able to handle both aspects of offenses through the first four games. They were extremely aggressive against the Rouse passing game, and it affected the run game as well. “They keep stepping up in big moments,” Cope said. “Gavin Stewart and Braxtan Cope in the back end, along with Jy Sherman and Christian Onchweri, have done outstanding. Gavin Owens is leading the linebackers, and Evan Lazott and Caleb Chandler are doing a great job in the front seven. They are leading from the front, and our team is responding to them.” The Patriots are second overall in 8-5A-I in points allowed per game with 24.3. Defensively, they are aggressive in the front seven and play the pass well. “They are a 3-4 defense who blitzes two almost every play,” Cope said. “They force you into man-to-man matchups on the offensive line, and we must win those. They are talented across the board with their secondary being outstanding. This will be a battle of strength versus strength. In the little SEC, every week is going to be one that you must bring it.” The Broncos’ passing game has gotten into the groove as of late, averaging 210 yards per game. The run game is averaging 130 yards per contest through four games. “We have to execute our plan,” Cope said. “We did that in two of the four games this year. In district, you do not have a chance to miss. We have to win the perimeter and take advantage of their aggressiveness. It is going to be another tough test because they put tons of pressure on you.” Bouncing back from the program’s first two-game losing streak, Lake rebounded with two huge wins and has another opportunity to go 1-0 again on Friday. “We have to respond to success,” Cope said. “It is easy when you lose to respond. But when you win two in a row, you have to practice even harder. This is now a six-week battle, and we have to take it one week at a time.”