The Bastrop Bears' 2026 season began roughly the same way that their highly successful 2025 season ended -- with a tough loss on the road to a talented Houston area team. The Bears will head in the opposite direction looking to even their mark in Week 2 when they travel to Joseph Searles Stadium in Killen to face the Chaparral Bobcats in our VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week.
As was often the case last year, Bastrop had little trouble scoring points. Senior quarterback Weston Nielson tossed two touchdown passes apiece to Kaleb Dowell and Dallas Crescenzo as the Bears posted 34 points -- including 20 points in the second quarter alone -- in last week's season opener vs. Montgomery Lake Creek.
Unfortunately for Coach Griedl's crew, they surrendered 28 points in that same frame and were never quite able to make up the deficit in falling 52-34 to the Lake Creek Lions.
Bastrop (0-1) will face a Chaparral squad that's also looking for its first win of the young season. The Bobcat defense struggled in a 49-20 home loss to Waco University to open its 2026 campaign. So whichever defense finds its footing first will likely go a long way in deciding which team gets its first win of the season.
What: Bastrop Bears @ Killeen Chaparral Bobcats When: 7:15 Pregame, 7:30 Kickoff Where: Joseph L Searles Stadium, Killeen Who: Jake Herman, Danny Hernandez Watch: https://www.vype.com/football-bastrop-vs-killeen-chaparral OR on the KVUE+ App
