By Alex Nicoll
Staff Writer
Senior running back Gavin McDaniel rushed for over 100 yards, junior tight end Conner Williams caught his first touchdown pass this season and the Cowboys took Senior Night on a score of 28-3 over the Denton Ryan Red Raiders.
Compared to other games this year, last Friday night’s win was one of the lowest scoring for the Cowboys, but it was just as dominating defensively. The Red Raiders were held to under 200 yards of total offense, stifling senior quarterback Mitchell Bridges all night.
“We just told ourselves we were not going to let them score or get one more yard,” senior defensive end Solomon Thomas said. “We are better than that and we just came out and played hard, played as a team and played better.”
Junior running back Charles West struggled during the night with only 20 yards on 10 carries.
But whatever West lacked offensively, McDaniel made up for.
On the opening drive for the Cowboys, he burst through the line for a gain of 61 yards. West, McDaniel and sophomore running back Brandon Rice then combined to run the ball the rest of the way until McDaniel ran for a seven yard score.
Coppell then forced Ryan to go three-and-out on their next drive.
Junior quarterback Skyler Bonneau, who finished 8-of-9 for 111 yards and two passing scores, quickly took advantage of the possession finding McDaniel downfield for a 54 yard scoring strike. The Cowboys were up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Ryan responded by kicking a 25-yard field goal from senior kicker Marc Orozco to cut the lead back to 14-3.
The Red Raiders almost had another score, after forcing the Cowboys to punt and marching down the field, but Thomas burst through the offensive line to block a 40 yard attempt by Orozco late in the second quarter.
A problem that has plagued Coppell this season and especially last night is the amount of penalties and yards the team racks up. Coppell ended the night with seven penalties, most of them coming at crucial moments on drives.
“We have to go in and watch video and correct some of our miscues,” McBride said. “Some of them are our fault. We did not get the right personnel in on some plays and that is the coaches fault. Some of it is being overaggressive. We like to jump the line a lot but just because our kids are trying to get to the ball so I can live with that.”
After swapping possessions with neither team scoring to open the half, a lengthy drive by the Cowboys ended with Bonneau hitting Williams in the back of the end zone on a six-yard rollout. The score stood at 21-3 at the end of the third.
The last scoring drive for Coppell came midway through the fourth quarter. Bonneau hit senior tight end Blake Mahon on a nine-yard pass and then sophomore wide receiver Josh Fink for 14 yards to set up Rice for his first touchdown of the night. After that McBride put in the second stringers, closing the curtain on the careers of many seniors at Buddy Echols Field.
“I am so fired up for them. I just love them and are so proud of them for giving us all they got,” McBride said. “I am just happy for them.”
The final score at the end: Coppell 28, Ryan 3.
“[The seniors] have made a huge mark in Coppell,” McBride said. “They have made football relevant here and they have been great mentors for the younger ones. I love them and am proud of them.”
