TEXAS — After an off-season of uncertainty if high school football in Texas would even be played this fall, games kicked off across the state this weekend.
While the schools in classes 6A and 5A wait to get going later in September, the smaller schools were able to start on time. That includes in the town of Lampasas, where the Badgers took the field for the opener on Friday against Brownwood.
“It’s been stressful because we go out there every day in practice just wishing and hoping we would get this game and it happened,” says Lampasas wide receiver Michael Murray.
Lampasas is a town that lives for Friday nights. They watched their team make it all the way to the state semifinals last season and much of the talent from that team is back. The Badgers are one of the favorites in class 4A, so playing this year means a lot to them.
“It’s been a long time coming and to come out there and be in front of our home crowd, it’s special,” said Lampasas head coach Troy Rogers.
“Some of the things are different, but when we’re out here playing and the band is playing, it’s pretty much the same,” says Lampasas quarterback Ace Whitehead.
Whitehead is one of the top returning players in the state. On Friday night, he ran for two touchdowns and threw for one score. The Badgers also got a couple of TD’s each from Jack Jerome and Case Brsiter, in a 55-23 win.
“Once you get on the field everything goes away,” says Rogers. “Those guys buy into that, they enjoy being together, playing together, we got a long way to go but it was a good start.”
“Felt amazing, great atmosphere. I was not expecting that many fans honestly,” says Murray. “They love football and they follow us wherever they go.”
On the field it looked like almost every other Friday night, off the field there are definitely some changes this season. Lampasas did not sell any tickets at the gate Friday, all tickets had to be bought during the week. The school’s mandates as of now are to let 1,600 fans to be at the game on the home side and 625 on the visitor side. Their policy also states that “all stadium visitors ten years and older must always wear a mask or a face covering within the stadium unless exempt.”
“I know it took a bit of time by a lot of people to get this thing going and put all of the protocols in place,” says Rogers, who also serves as the athletic director. “So there are a whole lot of things that are different but at the end of the day when they’re in between the lines that’s just good ole fashion football and we’re blessed to be able to do it.”