Like an effective starting pitcher, a good football team finds a way to win a game when it doesn’t have its best stuff overall.

Back in mid-September, a breakthrough performance by its defense lifted Temple to a momentum-building 19-14 road victory against San Antonio Reagan.

At Wildcat Stadium last Friday night, the Wildcats had difficulty slowing a talented Bryan attack that produced 580 total yards (331 passing, 249 rushing), highlighted by three passing plays of 54-plus yards.

But Temple’s offense essentially proved unstoppable, carving up the Vikings for a staggering 674 yards — 369 passing, 305 rushing — and scoring 28 points in each half to spearhead a vital 56-34 win in District 12-6A action.

The Wildcats (6-2) did what was required to prevail and improve to 3-1 in district, giving them an opportunity to clinch a Class 6A state playoff berth with a victory over Copperas Cove (3-5, 1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bulldawg Stadium.