GARLAND- Less than three minutes of play had commenced before Sachse senior wide receiver Jamari Harts completed a 50–yard touchdown pass. But the Coppell football team didn’t back down. 

The young Cowboys team worked through its  nerves to defeat Sachse in its season opener game, 42-28, at Homer B. Johnson Stadium on Friday night.

“It was just the first game so we had a lot of new guys on offense,” Coppell junior quarterback Jack Fishpaw said. “There were a lot of nerves in the beginning but after that we were good. [We knew we] just had to keep going.”

Sachse held the lead until the second quarter. The Cowboys proceeded to score three touchdowns within the final five minutes of the half. 

With 5:06 left on the clock in the first half, Coppell junior running back Blake Robbins scored in a two-yard run to tie the game. Shortly thereafter, Coppell senior wide reciever Dylan Nelson and Coppell senior wide receiver Charlie Barker caught touchdown passes from Fishpaw, bringing the score to 21-7 before halftime.

“We talked about a few things [during the half],” Coppell coach Michael DeWitt said. “Mainly, we said to ‘keep doing what you’re doing’ and to continue to move the chains on offense and run and protect the football. We challenged the defense with being physical upfront, having to tackle well and getting takeaways.”

The second half started with quick touchdowns from each team, with Nelson scoring on a 75-yard run and Harts on a 8-yard run. Sachse tied the game at 28 with a touchdown by Sachse senior quarterback Alex Orij, but the Cowboys regained control of the clock, utilizing long drives and racking up points. Nelson scored an additional 16 yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys the lead at 35-28.

“Our offense did a great job responding with some explosive plays,” DeWitt said. “We ran the football and some time off the clock. We had a long drive in the third quarter which gave our defense a rest, which was huge. They were wearing us down upfront and leaning on us, hounding the ball. We got some turnovers that helped us off the field.”

There was no fourth quarter comeback for Sachse.

Nelson finished with 305 rushing and receiving yards and four touchdowns while Fishpaw racked up 351 total yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s a team effort but [Nelson and Fishpaw] both played really well,” DeWitt said. “Fishpaw, with the way he prepared for the opportunity to start, was ready. The O line gave him time and they ran the ball which always helps. Nelson did his thing and I’m proud of his efforts.”

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