Copperas Cove to take on Temple in rescheduled game set for Thursday
by SEAN HANEY
Cove Leader-Press
With bad weather looming, Copperas Cove’s varsity football game that was scheduled for Friday night has been rescheduled for Thursday night.
Cove travels to Temple to battle it out in a district game and the final game of the season for the Bulldawgs.
Last week, Temple was on a bye week, but the week before they squared off against Harker Heights which was a low scoring defensive game as Harker Heights came out on top 13-9. The Dawgs also faced Heights last week.
Temple has a record of 6-3 (4-1 in district). They are currently in second place in the division, with Harker Heights right ahead of them. With Coach Scott Stewart, the Wildcats have emerged as yet another top team in this district. Last year they were 9-3 overall and 7-0 in district games so just a little hiccup for the Wildcats this season.
Some key players to watch for in this matchup are LB Taurean York, WR/DB Mikal Harrison-Pilot, DB Naeten Mitchell, QB Reese Rumfield, OL Jeremiah Mungia, LB/DB Zion Moore, DL Ayden Brown, OL Eindre Sauls, DB Damarion Willis, QB Luke Law, OL Agustin Silva, DL Jaylon Jackson, RB Deshaun Brundage, WR Tavion Flowers.
Harrison-Pilot is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. Rumfield has 1,930 yards with 27 passing touchdowns. Rumfield is heading into his junior season and has already proven that he can throw the ball. He is looking to lead this team yet again and prove why the Wildcats can play at high level.
On the defensive side of the ball, York had 141 tackles last year with 17 tackles for losses, Mitchell had 73 tackles with three interceptions, Moore had 68 tackles and two interceptions. Defense is no weakness for the Wildcats.
Last week the Dawgs took on the Knights of Harker Heights at home for their senior night and last home game of the season. They lost 55-0 for their first shutout loss of the season. QB Micah Cassone went down with an injury last week so his status for Thursday’s game is questionable. On the season Cassone is 49-110 with 565 yards, seven touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and two interceptions. With junior QB Gabriel Rodriguez down with a broken hand, fellow senior QB Blaine Butler will be the backup going into Thursday night’s game (Possibly starter depending on Cassone’s injury).
For the Dawgs traveling to Temple, they still have their top two receiver targets, Demetrius Pearce and Trishstin Glass. When one gets contained, the other breaks free.
For the first couple of games, it was Glass getting contained letting Pearce break free. For the past couple of games, Pearce has been the one getting contained letting Glass break free.
Pearce has 32 receptions for 525 yards with five touchdowns. Glass has 35 receptions for 465 yards and six touchdowns.
The Dawgs’ defense is led by senior Kevin Pontious with 76.5 tackles with six tackles for losses. The Dawgs have eight interceptions, 9 forced fumbles with three recoveries.