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A fast and physical defensive display from Coppell propelled a shutout against Plano.
Even with some first-half turnovers, Coppell’s defense stood tall and shut out Plano’s rushing attack in Friday night’s 38-0 bi-district win at Buddy Echols Field. The Cowboys allowed just 112 yards.
On the second half’s opening drive, trailing just 17-0, Plano had its best drive of the night, shifting to a heavy offensive package, and drove the ball past midfield for the first time. The Wildcats went for it on fourth down to sustain the drive from just outside the red zone, but Coppell senior defensive lineman Eduvie Nesiama sacked quarterback CJ Smith to end the possession and give his offense the ball back. It was one of four sacks on the night.
High School Sports
“That play stopped all their momentum and that really just boosts our confidence, morale and it allowed us to finish the game, close it and end it,” Nesiama said. “The gameplan was to play physical, play violent, and stop the run. That was the main thing for our D-line, making sure that they got no push so we could throw them in second and long, third and long.”
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On the ensuing possession, Coppell scored and all but iced the game with a 47-yard pass from quarterback Carter Zingelman to Crew Davis. The Cowboy offense generated over 400 yards in the game but Plano’s defense held them to just two first-half touchdowns. Coppell head coach Antonio Wiley chalked that up to self-inflicted wounds, Plano’s defense forced an interception and held them to a field goal late in the first half.
“We moved the ball up and down the field,” Wiley said. “We didn’t have a struggle, we just struggled finishing.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to clean that up because if you want to be a good football team, and you want to play football late November, early December, you got to find a way to not turn it over in the red zone and make the plays where they need to be made.”
Zingelman and the offense responded by scoring on every single drive in the second half. Wiley credited his defense with sustaining pressure the entire game while his offense cleaned up for a nearly flawless second half.
“It took us time to adjust, but once we did, we got the stuff we needed to and got the ball back to the offense, and they were able to finish some drives and close some things out,” Wiley said.
Coppell will play Richardson in the area round next week at a location to be determined.
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