By Marcus Krum

staff writer

@marcuskrum

Coming off of a tough 61-34 home loss to a very strong Cedar Hill team, the Coppell football team (2-2) returns to action tonight against Hurst  L.D. Bell (0-4). This game will begin District 7-6A play for both teams.

The Cowboys defense did not match up well last week against the powerhouse Cedar Hill offense, allowing 379 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. This needs to improve greatly this week, as they are facing Bell running back Daniel Dorsett, who according to MaxPreps, is averaging 173.8 rushing yards per game.

“We have to be gap sound, and we have to tackle,” Coppell coach Mike DeWitt said. “He is a really good back.”

Although Bell has not won a game yet this season, the play of Dorsett has kept them close in some of their games. It put up 35 points against Keller Central, only losing that game because their defense allowed 34 points in the second half.

“I think they’re better than their record shows. They are a really good team, they have a lot of really good players,” DeWitt said.

However, the Cowboys have a new powerful weapon in their offense: junior running back Brandon Rice. In his first game back last week against Cedar Hill, Rice carried the ball 18 times for 102 yards and a score. He gave rest to senior running back Charles West, which could be key in games that West gets a lot of carries in the fourth quarter.

“That was a great performance in his first week back,” DeWitt said. “We are excited to have him.”

Although on paper this game might look like an easy win for the Cowboys, it could come down to the final quarter with two great offenses going at it.

“You can only take it one game at a time,” DeWitt said. “Our focus is that we have to take care of this week.”