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The Elgin High School varsity football team had preseason action on Friday, Aug. 18 as the Wildcats hosted Canyon Lake High School for a scrimmage at Wildcat Stadium.
Although just a preseason game to get starters and backup players plenty of valuable reps for Elgin head coach Heath Clawson, the Wildcats’ offense was able to move the ball consistently to start the scrimmage with senior quarterback Nathen Lewis under center.
Senior running back Darren Harper also got a handful of carries on offense and showed his power running the ball for solid games, often bulldozing opposing Hawks defenders on his way for extra yardage.
Lewis was able to get the ball to a few of his weapons with junior wide receiver Zaire Nuells, sophomore wide receiver Gary Jefferson Jr. and senior wide receiver Blake Courtney leading the way downfield with sizable gains on multiple drives. Jefferson Jr. looks like he is going to be one heck of a player as just a sophomore for the offense, while Nuells had a long touchdown reception on a great throw from Lewis in which he burned the Canyon Lake defense.
Elgin junior quarterback Blake Thames also had a notable drive on offense in which he led the reserves down the field and capped it off with a short touchdown pass over the middle to junior wide receiver Jalen Owens for the score.
Against the run-heavy Slot-T offense that Canyon Lake has implemented for years, the Wildcats’ defense mostly looked very disciplined as the starters were able to keep the Hawks in check with limited gains.
Wildcats senior linebacker Isaac Carter made a terrific play late in the scrimmage when he jumped in front of a screen pass for an interception and took it back for a long defensive touchdown. Unfortunately, the play was called back due to a penalty on the Elgin defense.
Elgin’s special teams unit even impressed with Wildcats senior kicker/punter Paden Maass booting deep punts into the night and he kicked a pair of touchbacks during the kickoff session.
The Wildcats open their 2023 season at 7:30 p.m. this Friday as Elgin travels to take on Lampasas High School at Badger Stadium. In the 2022 season opener, the Wildcats ended a 10 game losing streak when they knocked off the Badgers 29-20.
BASTROP BEARS
Bastrop High School is coming off its home scrimmage at Erhard Field this past week against Austin McCallum High School and the Bears are ready to kick the 2023 season into gear. Originally supposed to be a Thursday opener, Bastrop will travel at 7 p.m. on Friday to take on Kyle Lehman High School.
CEDAR CREEK EAGLES
With its scrimmage at BISD Memorial Stadium under its belt last week hosting San Antonio Highlands High School, the Cedar Creek High School varsity football squad will look for its first win as a program since 2021 as the Eagles host Gonzales High School at 7 p.m. this Friday.
SMITHVILLE TIGERS
Preseason is a thing of the past for Smithville High School after the Tigers hosted Austin LBJ High School last week and are ready to get things going. The Tigers are set to kick off the 2023 regular season in search of another postseason berth as Smithville hosts Austin Travis High School at 7:30 p.m. on Friday for Parents Night.
MCDADE BULLDOGS
Six-man football mania is here for McDade High School as the Bulldogs under first-year head coach Nick Parker are ready to go. The Bulldogs will make the three-hour journey west to Menard High School for the regular-season kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
