KILLEEN — The Lake Belton Broncos fought off a comeback attempt by the Killeen Kangaroos on Thursday night to win a 49-42 shootout at Leo Buckley stadium.

Zyien Dupree led the Broncos (2-1) in an early fourth-quarter charge that proved to be the difference in the contest. Eli Mascarenas scored on a 1-yard sneak on the second play of the final period, which was preceded by a 10-yard run from Dupree. Mascarenas’ touchdown gave Lake a 35-28 advantage.

Dupree then did some scoring of his own, scampering 25 yards to the end zone to extend the Broncos’ lead to 42-28.

Lake’s defense forced a fumble by Killeen quarterback D’Angelo Ingram, who was shaken up on the previous drive and did not play after the fumble.

Dupree wasted no time turning the turnover into points for the Broncos, running to pay dirt on the next play to push Lake’s advantage to 49-28. Dupree finished the night with 155 yards rushing.

“Awesome job stepping up and running the ball when we needed him to,” Lake head coach Brian Cope said of the freshman running back.

Killeen backup quarterback JaMarcus Wilson came in and led the way as the Roos (0-3) tried to storm back, first connecting with Timothy Boatner on an 11-yard score to trim the margin to 49-35.

Wilson then led a seven-play, 56-yard drive that culminated in a 17-yard pass to T’Antrae Thomas to get Killeen within 49-42 with 11 seconds left.

The Roos had used all their timeouts, and Davion Peters fell on the ensuing onside kick to secure the Broncos’ win.

Wilson finished 4-for-7 passing for 79 yards and the pair of TDs while also rushing for 22 yards.

Peters opened the scoring on a 4-yard run and added a touchdown in the third quarter when Mascarenas found the junior in the back of the end zone. Peters hauled in the 20-yard pass to give Lake a 28-21 lead.

Before exiting the contest, Ingram threw for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both of which came in the third quarter. The first was a 9-yard score to bring the Roos level at 21-all. The second one tied the contest again, this time at 28 when the sophomore quarterback found Thomas for 29-yard connection.

Mascarenas came out slinging the ball in the opening quarter, connecting with senior Zach Dodd for an 81-yard touchdown and with sophomore Zion Harness for a 74-yard TD. Both receivers turned short throws into big plays for the Broncos. Mascarenas finished 7-of-11 for 220 yards.

Killeen entered the second quarter trailing 21-0 and leaned on its run game to get out of the hole. Senior J’Narri Franklin put the Roos on the board with a 29-yard score, and junior Sha’Drach Gordon followed with a 53-yard run for a TD on Killeen’s next possession. Gordon broke through the line of scrimmage and shifted direction toward the Killeen sideline, picking up a crucial block that allowed him to find pay dirt.

“They’re a good passing team,” Cope said. “We answered when we could, but we’ve still got a long way to go. We’re not a finished product and we’ve got to get better.”

The Roos rallied in the second quarter behind a rushing attack that came alive and picked up 142 yards on 14 attempts, including the two scores.

Lake’s Xavier Wells picked off three passes but fumbled one. Boatner corralled the loose ball and ran for a 33-yard gain. Killeen followed by driving down the field and had a chance to score, but Wells redeemed himself with a one-handed snag in the end zone that ended the threat.

Lake’s Adam Constancio also hauled in an interception that ended Killeen’s first drive and was followed by Dodd’s 74-yard score two plays later.

LAKE BELTON 49, KILLEEN 42

Lake Belton 21 0 7 21 — 49

Killeen 0 14 14 14 — 42

LB — Davion Peters 4 run (Tommy Stephens kick)

LB — Zach Dodd 81 pass from Eli Mascarenas (Stephens kick)

LB — Zion Harness 74 pass from Mascarenas (Stephens kick)

Kil — J’Narri Franklin 29 run (Dawood Al Mashhadani kick)

Kil — Sha’Drach Gordon 53 run (Al Mashhadani kick)

Kil — Timothy Boatner 9 pass from D’Angelo Ingram (Al Mashhadani kick)

LB — Peters 20 pass from Mascarenas (Stephens kick)

Kil — T’Antrae Thomas 29 pass from Ingram (Al Mashhadani kick)

LB — Mascarenas 1 run (Stephens kick)

LB — Zyien Dupree 25 run (Stephens kick)

LB — Dupree 27 run (Stephens kick)

Kil — Boatner 11 pass from JaMarcus Wilson (Al Mashhadani kick)

Kil — Thomas 11 pass from Wilson (Al Mashhadani kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

LB Kil

First downs 18 23

Rushes-yards 47-247 34-182

Passing yards 220 315

Comp.-Att.-Int. 7-11-0 22-37-4

Punts-average 5-35.8 3-42.7

Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-1

Penalties-yards 9-100 10-80

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Lake Belton: Dupree 20-155, Mascarenas 16-73, Kellen Scarborough 3-16, Peters 4-5, Tekoa Martin 3-3, team 1-(-5); Killeen: Kardae Hicks 17-85, Gordon 2-58, Franklin 4-38, Wilson 4-22, Ingram 7-(-21).

PASSING — Lake Belton: Mascarenas 7-11-0-220; Killeen: Ingram 18-30-4-242, Wilson 4-7-0-79.

RECEIVING — Lake Belton: Dodd 4-103, Peters 2-40, Harness 1-74; Killeen: Boatner 10-94, Thomas 3-93, Raymond Howard 2-82, Antwoine Warren 5-29, Franklin 1-17, Hicks 1-1.


TDT Will Hopkins