Bellies still full from Thanksgiving dinner, the Coppell Cowboys take on the Mesquite Horn Jaguars today at Allen Eagle Stadium at 1 p.m. in the Class 6A Division 1 area playoffs.

After their 37-6 victory over the Richardson Eagles last Friday, the Cowboys head into their second playoff game of the 2017 season expecting a bigger challenge.

“They’re very athletic on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively so [we need to be] able to contain their speed on offense and offensively we have to be able to run the football against them,” Coppell coach Mike DeWitt said.

Playing in the $60 million stadium, Coppell is looking to take another step towards advancing further than it did last season where it was eliminated in the regional semifinals by the Round Rock Dragons, 49-45.

Ranked 10th in the state, the Jaguars have a total of 37 rushing and 27 receiving touchdowns this year, while Coppell, ranked 48th, has 22 rushing and 34 receiving.

The Jaguars rush for an average of 243 yards per game, compared to the 213 rushing yards per game for the Cowboys, so the Cowboys’ main defensive challenge will be to control Horn’s rushing attack.

However, players have more than just their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses in mind as they head into the game.  At the end of practice on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys took turns thanking friends, family, coaches and teammates, who were all invited, for the support they have received throughout the year.

“Every game going forward is the most important game and [we know] that if we lose we’re done,” Coppell senior receiver Gabriel Lemmons said. “To the seniors, this is it. And to the juniors, they know for the seniors this is it so the juniors are playing for the seniors and the seniors are playing to keep going.”