By Marcus Krum
Sports Editor
@marcuskrum
It’s not always easy to bounce back from back to back losses. Playing on the road in the first district game of the year, the Coppell football (3-2) team did more than just bounce, however. They came roaring back, blowing out LD Bell (0-5) by a final score of 42-10.
After a quick scoring drive on their first possession was capped by a sophomore running back Joe Fex touchdown run, and the Cowboys defense forced a three and out, the game looked already in the control of Coppell. However a fumble on their next drive led to a Blue Raiders field goal, moving the score to 7-3 Coppell.
Again, on their third possession, the Cowboys came out firing, marching right down the field in a nine-play, 53-yard drive finished off by a three yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Brady McBride to senior wide receiver Jarel McGill. However, Bell came right back with a long drive of their own, scoring on a 19 yard touchdown run from junior running back Ivan Taylor, making it a 14-10 Coppell lead.
The Coppell offense traded another blow, after McBride, who finished 10 of 19 for 164 yards and two touchdowns through the air, hit senior wide receiver Josh Fink on a short pass and Fink broke a tackle and ran 50 yards for the touchdown.
“If he plays like that, then we’re going to be good,” senior offensive lineman Jacob Garcia said. “He always plays well in practice and games. If he keeps playing like that, we’re good.”
LD Bell, even when down 28-10, still looked alive in the game. They ran the kickoff back to midfield, then looked to be driving again late in the first half when the Coppell defense came up huge. Senior defensive back Josh Mulumba stripped the ball from the Blue Raiders ball carrier and took it 67 yards to the house to give the Cowboys an 18 point lead going into halftime.
In the third, each defense began to make plays on third down, getting stops and forcing punts on both sides. On their third possession of the second half, McBride scramble out of the pocket and beat everyone to the edge, carrying it himself for the 54 yard touchdown, breaking the game wide open.
“It’s good to be 1-0,,” DeWitt said. “That was a good first district game. We’re pleased.”
In the fourth quarter, McBride again carried it on a keeper, this time three yards for the touchdown, putting the score at 42-10 for good. The defense continued to play lights out as they had since the first quarter of play. For the first district game of the season, they came out playing just as they should have been: fast, aggressive and smart in all facets of the game.
“Hopefully this will give us a little momentum,” DeWitt said. “We’ve got to look at what we did well, correct some mistakes, and get ready for Southlake starting tomorrow.”
