ELGIN — The Elgin Wildcats are hoping to play the role of spoilers on Thursday.
Elgin (2-6, 0-3 District 16-4A) will renew its rivalry with Bastrop at BISD Memorial Stadium in front of KBVO-TV cameras in the KXAN Big Game of the Week. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Elgin head coach Danny Lauve said he is using the TV game as motivation to get his team fired up for the big challenge ahead.
“We are struggling a little right now and for some kids, that’s hard to handle,” Lauve said. “Obviously, it’s Bastrop, and to play on a Thursday against a quality program on TV is added motivation. For me it would be a great deal to go to Bastrop and beat them on TV.”
Elgin hasn’t won since Sept. 10 when they defeated Taylor on the road.
The Wildcats have struggled since and have battled injury after injury throughout the season.
It should be noted, however, that Elgin’s roster has 40 kids on it and most of them play both ways.
The Wildcats are coming off a 35-3 loss to Hutto in quarterback Dylan Scott’s first game back from his injury.
Running back Da’ Rick Nolan (88 carries, 703 yards, 6 TDs) is probable for Thursday’s game.
Nolan was injured on Sept. 24 against Manor after having-100 yards rushing or more in Elgin’s first four games.
Nolan was well on his way to a fifth straight 100-yard rushing game against the Mustangs with 10 carries for 76 yards.
The senior running back played against Connally two weeks ago and had 133 yards on 11 carries, but saw limited action last week against Hutto.
“(Nolan) is the heart of our offense and that was pretty evident early on this season,” Lauve said.
Elgin also has been without the services of wide receiver A.J. Flot, who had nine catches for 101 yards before suffering his season-ending injury against Connally.
The Wildcats will also be missing wide receiver Aundoy Thomas, who will also miss Thursday’s game due to being injured.
Scott returned last week against Hutto, but struggled without his main weapons as Elgin had just 108 yards of offense.
Elgin’s biggest challenge on Friday will be stopping Bastrop’s all-star quarterback Josiah Monroe.
For a defense that is giving up 34.6 points and 364.6 yards per game, that task may seem near impossible.
“I don’t think you can stop him,” Lauve said. “If the kid has done that for two years successfully, we aren’t going to walk in there and stop him.
“We have to contain him, take away all of his weapons and put it on his shoulders to get it done. He’s not going to make mistakes.”