The Sachse Mustangs ran their first fall football practice Tuesday, Aug. 11, in 98-degree heat with a 104 heat index, forced outdoors while the school's brand-new indoor facility sits complete but off-limits, awaiting a temporary occupancy permit from the city.

Head coach Mark "Red" Behrens didn't know until the final hours before practice whether his team would be inside or outside, according to Sachse News. The 80-yard indoor turf field inside the multipurpose activity center is finished, but the city of Sachse has not issued the permit. Behrens said he was hopeful it would come sometime during the week.

The facility is part of Garland ISD's Proposition B bond package, passed by voters in 2023 at a total cost of $135.91 million. As we reported Aug. 12, the district opened its first identical MAC at Naaman Forest High School on Aug. 8, with Sachse among six remaining campuses still under construction.

"Safety and security means keeping them out of the sun. North Texas weather is unpredictable, and our kids need to be protected," Superintendent Ricardo Lopez said at the Naaman Forest ribbon-cutting on Aug. 8.

Without the indoor option, the Mustangs leaned hard on heat-safety measures. Six hydration stations were set up around the practice field, and players walked to them after every three reps of a drill to fill up on water. A new UIL mandate this year requires teams practicing outdoors to use a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature app that measures heat stress in direct sunlight, factoring in temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. If readings exceed a set threshold, practice must stop.

The session began with stretching. Then players split into position groups. Offensive linemen worked handwork and footwork in blocking drills. Defensive linemen lifted a football sled. Secondary players used pads for arm technique, and running backs practiced footwork with bags and recovering loose balls. Wide receiver Caleb Bass was spotted looking the ball into his hands during a passing drill.

Among the key returners anchoring the defense is senior Trason Haley (No. 92), a 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior lineman who committed to North Texas in July. Haley earned District 9-6A first-team honors as a junior after posting 51 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Mustangs finished 6-5 last season and reached the Class 6A Division I bi-district playoffs before falling 50-17 to Rockwall at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.

Sachse opens the 2026 season Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. against Jesuit at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.