By John Loop
Sports Writer
Coppell’s run-first approach spread the Marcus defense thin enough to lay 31 unanswered points on the Marauders and safeguard an undefeated 8-0 record.
The night started with a tribute video to Jacob Logan put together by KCBY’s Davis Deloach. It was another emotional night for the Cowboys as this was the first game in front of the Coppell home crowd since Logan’s passing.
Coppell took no time getting on the board after receiving the opening kickoff. Senior wide receiver Cameron Smith hauled in touchdown catch No. 11 on the season, a ten-yarder from senior quarterback Colby Mahon early with just over ten minutes left in the first quarter.
Mahon finished 10 for 12 with 122 yards passing and two touchdowns. Smith caught three balls for 68 yards.
Senior running back Boris Mulume rushed 11 times for 66 yards, leading the team. Mulume saw playing time at running back for a good portion of the game, as the Marcus defense held junior Gavin McDaniel (14 carries for 45 yards, 1 TD) and sophomore Charles West (6 carries for 45 yards, 1 TD) to short gains all night.
“I rose up from a low spot [on the depth chart],” Mulume said. “I have been working hard in practice to get better, and I think I proved it tonight.”
Heavy emphasis was placed on the running game because of dropping temperatures and slight wind. Mahon’s second pass of the game sailed wide of Cameron Smith on the sideline.
Scoring did not happen again until early in the second quarter. After he had rambled for a 21-yard gain a few plays earlier, West waltzed in for a one-yard touchdown.
Junior kicker Adam Centers booted a season-long 51-yard field goal to make the score 17-0.
Turnovers were the story, as there six giveaways over the course of the game, three by each team. The offense coughed up the football three times, one each for McDaniel, Mahon, and West. But the defense also forced three turnovers, helping in the effort to keep the Marauders out of the endzone.
Just before halfitme, Mahon connected with senior receiver Jason Lister for another Cowboy score, this one from 17 yards out. The team went into halftime leading 24-0.
The defense held strong after Mahon fumbled the snap from senior center Leighton Light early in the third quarter. The series before had resulted in a fourth down stand for the Cowboy defense. But Mahon’s fumble placed the ball inside the Coppell 20 yard line.
The Marauders treated almost every possession as if it was all four-down territory. And the defense pushed them back every time.
The ensuing possession for the Cowboy offense resulted in another turnover, but the defense stayed strong again.
After regaining possession with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Mahon led the offense down the field behind the strong running of Mulume and McDaniel. The slow and methodical 10-play drive ended with a 10 yard scoring run by McDaniel to seal the win.
“Our offense tries hard,” junior captain and defensive end Solomon Thomas said,”They are a tough, physical offense.”
The final possession for the Cowboys began with all backups in. Mulume and sophomore fullback Eric Stevenson ran out the clock with draws up the middle to finish off an easy win.
The Cowboys, with the win, have clinched a playoff berth in this year’s postseason, something that hasn’t happened at Coppell High School since the storied 2010 season.
Coppell now gears up for a tough District 5-5A matchup against the Denton Ryan Raiders next week at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex.
