Discussing his Temple football team Tuesday afternoon, first-year head coach Chad President used the phrase “sense of urgency” several times. With the Wildcats having only two District 12-6A games remaining, that’s an accurate description of their situation.

Temple (6-2, 2-2) is in fifth place, a half-game behind Killeen Shoemaker (7-2, 3-2) for the league’s final berth in the Class 6A playoffs. After consecutive victories against winless teams Killeen and Bryan, the Wildcats trail second-place squads Hewitt Midway (7-1, 3-1) and Copperas Cove (6-2, 3-1) by one game as reigning champion Harker Heights (6-2, 4-0) leads the way.

Because Temple hasn’t yet defeated a 12-6A playoff contender, its home finale against Copperas Cove at 7 p.m. Friday at Wildcat Stadium becomes a must-win affair for the Wildcats — who finish at Harker Heights next Thursday — as they seek their second straight postseason trip and 12th in 13 years.