Copperas Cove, Lake Belton scrimmage at Bronco Field

By Tony Adams

Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Bulldawgs and Lake Belton Broncos have been conditioning on their respective fields and in the weight room since the official start of fall tryouts on Aug. 12.

On Thursday night at Bronco Field, they put what they had learned over the past two weeks on the field.

The teams endured the 105-degree temperature and 113-degree heat index, and played eight scripted drives, four on offensive and four on defense.

The Bulldawgs scored on their initial drive with their number one offense against the Bronco first string defense. The score came on the second play from scrimmage, Malik Cuthbert hauled in a pass and raced 70 yards down the left sideline.

“I thought our kids came out with a ton of great energy, which was a key” Copperas Cove head coach Tony Johnson said. “I was really proud of our kids. They really worked hard to get to this point. It has taken them three years to get to the point that they believe. They are not quite there yet.”

“With playing with a new defense, we have some things that we have to clean up,” Lake Belton head coach Brian Cope said. “We were up against three division one receivers. We gave up one touchdown on a mistake that was corrected one the very next play. I am proud of our coaching staff for the quick adjustment. I also thought we forced them out of the run game, which was a good thing.”

Eli Mascarenas and Davion Peters moved the sticks through the air on the Broncos first drive, navigating Lake’s first-string offense against the Cove first-string defense. The Broncos’ ground attack took some time to figure out the Dawgs’ system but managed to use Zion Harness and Kellen Scarborough in tandem to work the ball up the middle.

“Offensively, we sputtered at first,” Cope said. “We began to move the ball well. Ironically, in an eight-minute period, you tend to run out of time once things get going. I thought the kids played with great attitude and effort. We got better at running the back down hill, which is something that we needed to see improve from the spring.”

The teams combined for six touchdowns each before playing in a live 15-minute period.

Mascarenas began the period with three completions, one which was completed to Peters for 26 yards.

The Broncos settled for a 41-yard field goal by Tommy Stephens with 11:25 left in the scrimmage.

Cuthbert’s 32-yard pass reception helped Cove down to the Lake 47.

However, two incompletions were sandwiched around a seven-yard pass play. The Dawgs turned the ball over on downs with 1:54 to go.

“The offense played well, but the defense was the question coming in tonight,” Johnson said. "We had some holes to fill from graduation. They played hard and did very well. Our strength is in the back end in our secondary. Our middle linebackers were excellent.”

Copperas Cove will host Ellison to start the 2024 campaign on Friday night.

“You’ll see a high-energy, fast-paced team if we stay healthy,” Johnson said. “You will have the chance to see explosive plays and will have the opportunity to see explosive defensive guys flying around.”