Talk to Temple football coach Bryce Monsen, and he’ll tell you his Wildcats - 1-0 after edging South Garland 21-17 in Waco - have a lot of things to work on and that Round Rock McNeil has a large, quick, strong squad.

“They’re very well coached and have tremendous athletes - very athletic, big, physical kids,” he said.

Talk to McNeil coach Robert Wilcox, and he’ll tell you Temple is a superb all-around team and that his Mavericks - playing their first game - will be fortunate not to get dominated by the Wildcats.

“I don’t see any weaknesses in that team,” he said. “They have a great defense that runs to the ball extremely well, and their offense is the best Wing-T I’ve seen since we played them in 2003. I’m hoping they don’t embarrass us.”

As the old adage goes, something’s got to give when Temple shoots for a 2-0 start and McNeil strives to win its opener in tonight’s 7:30 duel at Wildcat Stadium.

In Monsen’s defense, Temple gained only 213 yards against South Garland and allowed 381, and the Wildcats lost at McNeil - a Class 5A playoff team more years than not - a year ago.

In Wilcox’s defense, Temple showed several flashes of brilliance - from sophomore Lache Seastrunk’s touchdown runs of 75 and 20 yards to junior Tevin Reese’s 85-yard kickoff return for a TD to a pair of crucial defensive stands in the second half.

If Monsen’s assessment proves correct, fans should be in for another close game between the Wildcats and the Mavericks. McNeil won by a touchdown last year at home, but in 2003 Temple prevailed 26-22 on the Mavericks’ field and later ousted McNeil from the Class 5A Division I playoffs with a 23-17 victory in Killeen.

If Wilcox’s scouting report proves accurate, Wildcat supporters should be basking in a 2-0 record and Temple’s first win in its home opener since 2003.

In any case, the Wildcats are excited and ready to play in front of their home crowd for the only time in their four games before District 13-5A begins.

“We’re expecting a lot of people to be there,” Monsen said. “Obviously we want the Wildcat fans to come early and be loud and stay late, because they have such an influence on our kids and it helps them so much. The home opener is always neat.”

Monsen certainly was pleased with the way his team competed in its opener against 5A playoff regular South Garland. The Wildcats overcame deficits of 6-0 and 17-14 to defeat a Colonels crew featuring a quarterback committed to Baylor and a safety headed to Oklahoma.

“When we watched the film with the kids, we saw that we have a lot of things to fix and a lot of areas to look at,” said Monsen, who with a win tonight would match his combined victory total from the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

“The thing we took out of the ballgame was that our kids played extremely hard and had discipline. That excites us, because we know they’re working very hard to put the pride back in our program.”

Monsen praised the running of Seastrunk (seven carries for 112 yards) - who showcased his speed on the two scoring runs - and Quentin Tuck, who excelled as South Garland focused on shutting down senior fullback Adrian Reaves-Brown up the middle.

He also credited the blocking of wingback Adrian Blunt and his linemen and added that first-time starting quarterback Chase Moore played well despite completing only one of three passes for 20 yards.

On the other side, the Wildcat defense gave up plenty of yards in the first half but used big performances by players such as nose guard Cedric Mosley, end Daquan Dunn, linebackers Cody Monsen and Derrick Davis and rover Robert Black to deny the Colonels late in the game.

McNeil’s star is senior safety Aaron Williams, a Texas commitment and Texas Football magazine Super Team member who simply gets to the ball and makes crucial plays. He blocked eight kicks last year.

Quarterback Jake Fenske, a 6-4, strong-armed senior, paces the Mavs’ balanced spread offense along with 280-pound transfer lineman Taylor Newton.

NOTES: Temple boys athletic coordinator Steve Prentiss said Wildcat Stadium’s video scoreboard - new last year - was struck by lightning earlier this week and might not be working by game time. . . . The Temple Quarterback Club will charter a bus to next Friday’s game at Abilene Cooper. The cost of $25 per person can be paid at tonight’s game or at the athletic office.

gwille@temple-telegram.com