GARLAND – With the start of a new season and new coaching staff, the Coppell football team  knew it had to take control. Within two plays it fulfilled its objective; Coppell scored and never looked back.

From whistle to whistle, the Cowboys were in complete control. The ball went up for the kickoff and not four minutes later was in the endzone, courtesy of a 74–yard catch, taken up the right sideline by Coppell senior wide receiver Zack Darkoch, which was promptly followed by a one yard score by Coppell senior running back Malkam Wallace. 

From there, the Cowboys only looked ahead, defeating Sachse, 56-27, on Thursday at Homer B. Johnson  Stadium.

“It feels good to be able to put my team on my back and then [be]able to punch it in and get that lead in the beginning,” Darkoch said. 

Coppell, after a quick start by the offense, responded with an equally quick stop by the defense, stopping Sachse at the 37 yard line with a batted down ball from Coppell senior cornerback Braxton Meyers, leading to a turnover on downs. 

Like clockwork, Senior quarterback Jack Fishpaw hit the Mustang defense with a 50-yard pass up the right sideline to senior wide receiver Ayrion Sneed for a touchdown. With 6:54 left in the first quarter the Cowboys were up 14. The Mustangs responded  with a 56-yard run by senior running back Pope Akanna to halve the deficit; that was as close as the Mustangs would get.

From the Sachse touchdown, Coppell would go on to score 42 points to the Mustangs’ 20.

“We have a blood in the water mentality. We’re sharks and we’re going to feed when there is blood in the water,” Coppell coach Antonio Wiley said. 

Coppell didn’t change their approach no matter the score – as evidenced by Coppell going for it on a 4th and goal to convert a quarterback sneak from Fishpaw to make it 28-14 Coppell in the 2nd quarter. 

Although the defense allowed 27 points, it wasn’t without shining moments, none shining brighter than Coppell senior lineman Chimdia Nwaiwu’s pass block to turn the ball over on downs. Facing a tough offensive and defensive line, Coppell’s lineman fought well, with the offensive line not allowing any sacks and the defensive line limiting any sustained drives from Sachse.

Coming off of a season of heartbreak, from missing out on the playoffs, it was important to Wiley to open with a victory and a great performance, especially by the offense with 28 unanswered points (56 total) and 506 yards of offense.

“Our kids showed up, they played well and executed offensively,” Wiley said. “I can’t say enough good things about them. They were explosive and they were attacking.”

Returning to Buddy Echols Field to host South Grand Prairie on Friday, Wiley sees an opportunity to fix the defensive mistakes and maintain their offensive momentum.

Coppell will face South Grand Prairie at Buddy Echols Field on Friday at 7 p.m. 

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