Eagles Football by Joe Hamby
By Joe Hamby
Georgetown High School’s football team will open its 2026 season against the Temple Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday, August 28, at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Crusader Stadium in Belton. The neutral-site venue is about a 33-minute drive from Georgetown.
The Eagles, a Class 5A high school team, are coming off a 9-3 record in 2025, when they advanced to the Area round of the playoffs. The Temple Wildcats, a Class 6A team, finished the 2025 season with a 7-4 record and advanced to the bi-district round.
As the opening game approaches, Eagles Head Coach Chuck Griffin and his staff have emphasized smart practice habits, disciplined preparation, and championship-level expectations. They have paired those standards with a commitment to giving players the tools they need to pursue the team’s goals.
That approach has shaped the Eagles’ work habits throughout the offseason. Coach Griffin, his assistant coaches, and the players have focused on developing football skills while also encouraging growth as leaders on and off the field.
“You’re going to have a town, a community, a school following you and watching your every move,” Coach Griffin recently told his seniors. “Look around, see all the kids that show up to support you. You were once one of those little kids that played football during the game, looking at the boys on the field as if they were superheroes.”
Summer preparation began with Champions Camp in early June. Practices were held from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Players also watched an instructional video by David Ballou, the University of Alabama’s head performance coach. He shared tips about what distinguishes successful college athletes.
This summer, selected quarterbacks and receivers competed in a statewide seven-on-seven tournament at Round Rock. The Georgetown Eagles finished fourth in that competition.
The Eagles did win the regional state lineman challenge at San Marcos High School in June and finished fourth in the state competition at Hardin-Simmons University.
Collectively, the activities listed above reflect the broader program Coach Griffin and his staff are building — one centered not only on football skills but also on motivation, standards, values, self-confidence, leadership, and habits intended to serve players beyond the football field.
The Eagles will carry that summer preparation into a newly realigned District 12-5A Division I.
The Texas UIL realigned the district by adding the following schools to Georgetown and Leander Glenn: A&M Consolidated, College Station, Killeen Shoemaker, Pflugerville Connally, Killeen High, Pflugerville Weiss, and Pflugerville Hendrickson, creating a nine-team district.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 2026 magazine predicts Georgetown will finish the season fourth in the District, although the team hopes to exceed those expectations.
The magazine also identified several Eagles players to watch: quarterback Kaleb McDougle (6 feet 1 inch, 175 pounds); linebackers Reagan Bollinger (5 feet 10 inches, 190 pounds) and Gavin Smith (6 feet 1 inch, 200 pounds); wide receiver Braylon Westfall (5 feet 10 inches, 150 pounds); and running back Zechariah Guyton (5 feet 11 inches, 205 pounds). Other top players include tight end Westin Hepp (6 feet 6 inches, 210 pounds); offensive lineman A.J. Gonzales (6 feet 1 inch, 275 pounds); and defensive back Johnny Decker (5 feet 11 inches, 164 pounds).
Coach Griffin expects the offensive line to be a strength, while youth and inexperience on defense are concerns heading into the fall.
“It’s time to focus like there is no tomorrow, because it will be over before you even know it. Practice, prepare and play from a place of gratefulness and thankfulness that you are a Georgetown Eagle and that you play in this community, at this school, during this time,” he told the players.
With offseason preparation coming to an end and a demanding district schedule ahead, the Eagles will need to fly high on Friday night in Belton. Fans are encouraged to attend the game and to invite friends.
Joe Hamby is the Football Director with the Sun City Eagles Booster Club, and will be writing stories about the Georgetown High School football team this fall. Send comments related to the articles to hambsfe@aol.com.
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