CARROLLTON – The game was tight. The pressure was real. With 6:08 left in the fourth quarter, the Coppell football team needed one final push.
Junior cornerback Jaden Bibbs delivered.
Bibbs received the kickoff return and broke free. He sprinted an untouched 90 yards for a touchdown, sealing the 37-23 victory over Hebron on Friday in the District 5-6A opener at Brian Brazil Stadium.
“We fought hard and got the W,” senior running back Dylan Mcafee said. “We had penalties and mistakes so we have to make better decisions throughout, but we are getting there.”
The game opened with both teams trading blows. Right off the back, junior defensive back Preston Crayton intercepted Coppell sophomore quarterback Carter Zingelmann’s pass. One play later, senior wide receiver Ethan Hellwig hauled in a 34-yard reception and sprinted the final 26 yards for Hebron’s first touchdown.
However, Coppell (3-0) quickly answered. With a 14-yard run of his own, Zingelmann cut straight down the middle of the field into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7 with 5:03 left in the first quarter. Later, he was able to break free once again, sprinting around Hebron’s (1-2) defense into the end zone with 2:58 left in the first half.
By halftime, Coppell’s defense had taken control. Senior cornerback Tyree Roberson intercepted a 40-yard pass at the 3-yard line to stop a Hebron drive.
“We had to make plays where it mattered,” Mcafee said. “That’s what we did.”
After halftime, Coppell’s running game took over. Junior running back Jayden George finished with 15 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Mcafee had 19 carries for 94 yards.
With 9:31 left in the third quarter, George rushed 15 yards and powered through Hebron’s defensive line into the end zone. Senior wide receiver Crew Davis made the two-point conversion to make the score 22-7. Zingelmann later added a 1-yard push past the goal line to extend the advantage to 30-15.
“Our running game was great, and hopefully this will let us open up our passing game too,” Coppell coach Antonio Wiley said. “We have the potential to be a really good football team, but we have to limit the unnecessary mistakes and penalties to do so.”
Hebron responded behind junior quarterback Brady Brock and senior wide receiver Drew Koster, connecting on multiple deep passes. But Coppell’s special teams and defense closed the door with Bibbs’ explosive return putting the finishing touch on the win.
“Luckily we were the better football team,” Wiley said. “We can’t afford the little mistakes going into next week, but I am proud of how we kept fighting tonight.”
With Coppell’s younger roster gaining new experience every night, Wiley sees the growth every game.
“Every game, every snap, these guys are growing up.” Wiley said. “They get older and by midseason hopefully they will be playing like veterans.”
The Cowboys play Denton Guyer on Friday at Buddy Echols Field.
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