New lineups. New plays. New beginnings.

Anticipation runs high as the Coppell football team prepares for its season.

On Thursday night at Buddy Echols Field, the Cowboys tied, 0-0 during the live 12 minutes that were played, against Lake Highlands in its preseason scrimmage, revealing both grit and promise for the upcoming season.

“They have been here all summer,” Coppell defensive coordinator Keenan Kitchens said. “They have worked so hard and I am ready for this new environment and atmosphere.”

Coppell’s season begins on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Homer B. Johnson Stadium against Sachse. The Cowboys hope to carry out their summer preparation while clearing up mistakes from the scrimmage.

“We’re ready,” Coppell coach Antonio Wiley said. “We need to stop the self-inflicted wounds and kill the friendly fire because we had too much of that at tonight’s scrimmage.”

Coppell’s defense will be an area of focus heading into week one and in next week’s preparation.

“Football is about blocking and tackling; if we can’t do the tackling portion and get people on the ground, we’ll be in for some long nights,” Wiley said. “We have got to get better.”

Coaches are pleased with the leadership of this season’s captains group and emerging offensive starters.

“We have got faith in all those captains’ skills,” Kitchens said. “They have shown that they are leaders. They’re the ones for the job.”

Last season, Coppell went 12-1 but fell short of its goal of winning a state championship. Now, the Cowboys enter with new faces but the same goal to get all the way through.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Wiley said. “No matter what happens, a new season is always exciting. We are ready to be back on the field.”

An all new lineup and a team ready for success.

Lock in.

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