Bryan's task: Play well, stay healthy
Vikings look to gain momentum before playoffs
The Bryan Vikings would like to head to the playoffs with momentum. The Killeen Shoemaker Grey Wolves would like to salvage something from a season of turnover.
Friday's regular season finale at Viking Stadium has no playoff implications. Win or lose, the Vikings (5-4 overall, 3-2 District 13-5A) will face Round Rock Stony Point in bi-district and Shoemaker's season is done.
The Vikings have some pressing business, trying to get their offense in high gear to go along with a defense that has been impressive since late in the second half of the A&M Consolidated game.
"I think our football team is not satisfied," said Bob Bellard, who has coached the Vikings to the playoffs for the second straight season. "I still don't think we have hit the level of play we can have. It's a good opportunity for us to go out and do some things."
The Vikings have running back Stan McGruder back this week after missing three games, but Monday's practice delivered a hard hit to the defense. Starting safety and return specialist Justin Hartgroves tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is lost for the year.
"There was no contact," Bellard said. "He just went up and came down wrong. We felt we were going to be as healthy as we have been all year, so that was a big blow to us Monday. He was playing well. It hurts our football team, but I'm really sorry for him."
The Grey Wolves' turnover has been more meaningful than the usual ones suffered on a football field. Because of troop deployments from Fort Hood, the team's roster has remained in flux.
"We have lost nine starters from spring training to here, kids who went through spring training and either moved or were deployed," Shoemaker coach Ken Gray said. "The kids have been battling hard, though."
Just two weeks ago, Shoemaker (2-7, 1-4) had to replace a starting guard.
"We lost our starting left guard," Gray said. "His dad was deployed and he's in South Carolina now."
Shoemaker runs a similar defense to the one employed by Belton and Harker Heights. Based on those games, and with McGruder back in the Bryan lineup, a steady diet of sweeps might be in order. But Bellard insists he would like to incorporate more passing. Whatever it takes to reach the end zone.
"We have looked at film the past two weeks, and everything has looked pretty good," Bellard said. "We're just not scoring. We just need to make a few plays. We need to go finish."
After falling to 1-2 in district play before rebounding with two wins, Bellard relishes having a game with less pressure.
"Our goal is to play our most complete game," Bellard said. "Maybe being able to relax and just go play might end up helping us, but it might end up hurting us, too."
Shoemaker quarterback Andre Smith, who leads the district in passing yards, may miss the game. He injured a shoulder in the loss to Ellison and was not listed on the Grey Wolves' depth chart for this week. If he cannot play, it would be a significant loss for Shoemaker. Smith has passed for 1,414 yards and has run for 682 and nine touchdowns, drawing Division I college interest.
"They are extremely athletic at quarterback," Bellard said. "That's what we are going to see in a week [against Stony Point], so that's a good thing."
• David Campbell's e-mail is david.campbell@theeagle.com