Close friends Peoples, Stewart form playmaking duo on field for Wildcats

Temple seniors O’Ryan Peoples and Kade Stewart have been close friends since meeting at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in 2014, when Stewart moved to Temple after his father, Scott, was hired as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator. “We’ve been best friends since second grade. O’Ryan was the first person I talked to here,” Kade Stewart said Monday. “Our first few conversations we were discussing our music interests, and it sprang from there. Then we found out we both play football and it created a bond.” It became an annual tradition for Peoples to accompany Stewart’s family on summer vacations to Garner State Park, a trip they’ve now made 11 times. In his ninth season as Temple’s head coach, Scott Stewart jokingly calls tight end/fullback Kade and running back Peoples “my son and my second son.” “If O’Ryan’s screwing something up, his mother (Tara Davis) will call me and say, ‘You better come get your son.’ I’m like, ‘Send him over,’” Scott Stewart said, laughing. Peoples confirmed that Scott Stewart can dispense some fatherly tough love when needed. “I scored a touchdown here, and I spun the ball and got a flag,” Peoples said. “I ran over to Coach Stew and he chewed my ear out. Then my mom talked to him about it.” Stewart and Peoples will play at least one more home game together at Wildcat Stadium when playoff-bound Temple (7-2, 4-1) competes for a share of the District 12-6A championship in a showdown against Harker Heights (7-2, 5-0) at 7 tonight.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Temple High School Athletics

CLOSE FRIENDS PEOPLES, STEWART FORM PLAYMAKING DUO ON FIELD FOR WILDCATS

GREG WILLE

Temple Daily Telegram | 11/7/2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Ray Swindle