AUBREY CHAPARRALS
The newly minted No. 10 ranked Aubery Chaparrals varsity football team heads back out on the road to face the 3-5 Alvarado Indians on Friday.
Alvarado comes into the matchup with a .500 record over its last four contests, opening district play with wins over Godley, Ranchview and Castleberry before falling to Lake Dallas, 51-28, and Springtown, 51-31, over the last two weeks.
“They went 25-2 over the last two seasons, and they have one heck of a program, which is very tradition-rich, similarly to ours,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “We also know going to play at their place is going to be difficult, especially with them being 3-2 in district and trying to ensure that they get into the playoffs. A win over us would all but guarantee them a spot, so we know we’re going to get their best game.”
Offensively, Alvarado has averaged almost 40 points per game through five district matchups, including a 70-point road win over Castleberry on Oct. 9.
Quarterback Kameron Jenkins orchestrates Alvarado’s offense, throwing for over 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns, with wideouts Kenneth Lomack, Juan Resse, Jr. and Keilon Dixon as the team’s top targets on the outside.
“They use a lot of different formations, shifts and motions, so we have to recognize how they line up and make sure we get aligned properly and communicate well across the board,” Ivy said. “If we’re able to do that, it’ll help us prevent the big play, which is a key factor for our defense.”
On the other side of the ball, Aubrey’s offense should have room to operate against Alvarado’s defense, which has allowed 102 points over the last two weeks.
The unit is led by defensive end Timothy Luther and defensive back Edrick Walton, with the duo combining for over 100 total tackles on the season, and defensive end Jayden Martinez, who leads the team with 7 sacks.
“We’ve talked a lot about not being complacent, and I think that will be crucial for us this week,” Ivy said. “… We need to go into this game, start fast, control the football and keep their offense off the field and limit their possessions.”
Aubrey’s current winning streak moved the Chaps into Dave Campbell’s Football Magazine Top 10 in 4A Division I, but Ivy emphasized that his team is only focused on their next opponent.
“There’s no doubt about who is the best team in the district, but I’ve reminded our guys to not take the bait and to keep our eyes on the prize, which is to go undefeated in district,” he said. “… We have to stay humble, stay connected and focused on our job, and our job this week is to beat Alvarado.”
Aubrey and Alvarado will kick off their contest at 7 p.m. Friday at Charles Head Stadium in Alvarado.
