Dawgs look to hit on all cylinders in non-district finale

By TJ MAXWELL

For the fourth-consecutive week, the young Copperas Cove Bulldawgs football team with face a formidable foe and head coach Jack Welch hopes they improve for the fourth-consecutive week and bring home a victory for the large crowd expected for homecoming festivities in tonight’s game against Schertz Clemens.

“We’re playing a good football team,” said Welch. “They are highly ranked. This is going to shake some folks up, but I think we’re a good football team and I think that’s going to show throughout this year.

“This is a fun group. They work hard and they’re very focused. When you’re getting everything out of them and you can see yourself getting better. There’s an enjoyment and a peace that comes with that.”

Welch knows a win would go a long way in building confidence for his young team, but showing vast improvement is more important than a notch in the win column.

“No matter our record, your 0-0 after this week so everything we do has got to prepare us for district,” he said. “That’s what counts. The record is what makes you feel good and we all want to win.”

Both the Dawgs and Buffaloes rely heavily on the run game, although junior quarterback Frank Harris has as many touchdowns through the air as he has on the ground. He has 500-plus rush yards for seven scores and over 500 pass yards and seven scores as well.

“The scariest thing about him is when he drops back to pass, if there’s an open hole, he’s running and it’s not pretty,” said Reb Brock, defensive coordinator for the Dawgs. “He can cover a lot of ground really fast. He carries the ball loose but he gets away with it because he’s really fast. He throws the ball pretty well too. He’s a left-hander and he puts it where he wants to.”

The Buffaloes, who run about 65 percent of their plays, will also rely on junior running back Kamren Baker.

The Bulldawgs have a fierce running attack of their own in the two-headed monster of senior Antonio Lealiiee and junior Kylan Herrera. Both backs are in the top five rushers in 12-6A to lead the top rushing offense in the district. The Dawgs have 130 more rush yards than the next 12-6A team but rank dead last in the passing game with 318 yards in three games.

Limiting the Buffaloes to one aspect of their offense is a key to victory for Brock.

“They’re talented across the board,” he said.” They’ve got good skill people, they have a good scheme and their line is big and strong. We’ve got to try and make them one-dimensional and keep (Harris) contained.”

Shamad Lomax, a team captain for the Dawgs’ defense knows his squad must come ready to play. The Dawgs are dead last in District 12-6A gainst the pass, surrendering nearly 300 yards per game and they’re second to last in run defense with 766 yards in three contests.

“We just have to come out relentless and play with great effort,” he said. “They’ve got a great quarterback, very athletic. We just have to contain him and wrap him up. If we do that, we’ll be all right.

They are playing some high-caliber offenses, though, which skews those numbers a bit.

Defensively, the Buffaloes use different looks in an attempt to keep their opposing offenses off balance.

“These guys do a good job,” said Tracy Welch, offensive coordinator for the Dawgs. “They’ll play a 30 (defensive front) pretty much the whole first half then they’ll come out in the second half in a 40. They’re letting you make your halftime adjustments, then they’ll come out in something different and they play both defenses well. 

“They’re hustling to the ball, trying to make plays, and trying to confuse your blocking scheme with different fronts.”