Football shifts focus to securing district championship

Coppell+senior+wide+receiver+Baron+Tipton+catches+a+pass+as+Hebron+junior+wide+receiver+Gabriel+White+goes+in+for+a+tackle.+The+Cowboys+host+Flower+Mound+in+its+final+home+game+of+the+regular+season+tonight+at+5+p.m.+at+Buddy+Echols+Field.

Coppell senior wide receiver Baron Tipton catches a pass as Hebron junior wide receiver Gabriel White goes in for a tackle. The Cowboys host Flower Mound in its final home game of the regular season tonight at 5 p.m. at Buddy Echols Field.

After months of hard work and dedication, the Coppell football team is one victory away from claiming the District 6-6A championship. 

Coppell (8-0, 5-0 in District 6-6A) hosts Flower Mound (4-4, 2-3) at 5 p.m. today at Buddy Echols Field for its final home game of the regular season. Tonight’s game was moved to an earlier kickoff due to the possibility of thunderstorms later in the evening. 

The Cowboys clinched a playoff spot after last Friday’s victory against Hebron, but their seeding remains undetermined heading into tonight’s game.

According to Coppell  coach Antonio Wiley, a victory secures the Cowboys the No. 1 seed in district. With the top seed, Coppell would be placed in the Class 6A Division I playoffs.

“Our kids are gearing up to try to make a push for a big playoff run and see if we can play in December,” Wiley said. “Our first goal of the year is to win the district title, second goal is to practice on Thanksgiving. If you practice on Thanksgiving, that means you’re practicing in the third round of playoffs, when you’re one of 24 schools left in your division so you’re pretty special at that point.”

Wiley expects Flower Mound’s offense to attack the perimeter and use screen passes to keep the Cowboys at bay. 

“Our kids play fast and hard, they’re fearless and relentless,” Wiley said. “They just keep going and we wear people down as the game goes on. Our offense is so explosive that if you can’t keep up with that pressure early then it puts people in a bind”

Coppell’s defense has yielded 48 points in district games, whereas Flower Mound’s defense has allowed 151. 

However, according to Wiley, Flower Mound still possesses the ability to pull out a win. 

“We need to go out, start fast and try to put it away early,” Wiley said. “If they show up and play, it could be a battle for four quarters.”

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Originally posted 2023-10-27 16:20:36.