Cove to take on University for homecoming
By SEAN HANEY
Cove Leader-Press
Tonight, the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs take on the Waco University Trojans. The records are the same for both teams who are sitting at 1-2.
The Trojans have already improved from last season when they were 0-10 (0-7 in district). Just like the Bulldawgs, the Trojans lost their game last week, 29-28 against Arlington Heights. The key players to watch for this week are DB Dantrell Degrate, RB Mekhi Sandolph, OL Ty’Eric Bernal, OL Paul Monrial, OL Johnzay Fullbright, RB Naje Drakes, LB Jaylin Petty, DB Micah Henderson, LB Matt Marquez, DL Edgar Marquez, QB J.D Manghane, LB Jamarcus Rutledge, WR Marcus Chandler, DB Jeauan Harris, OL/DL Erique Rangel, TE Dremarkus Rutledge, and WR/RB Adrian Pina.
On the season so far for the Trojans, QB J.D Manghane is 36-62 passing attempts for 553 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. RB Sandolph who last year had 83 yards and four touchdowns, has 58 carries for 336 yards and five touchdowns this year. WR Smith has 11 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns. For the total yards the Trojans have 553 yards passing and 644 yards rushing, averaging 399 yards per game.
With having only nine wins since 2014, Trojans head coach Kent Laster expects to see the program turn around since installing a new method in 2021. DB Degrate who had 71 tackles last year and 18 total this year takes on the reins for the defense this year. To help him keep the defense standing LB Petty, DB Henderson, and DL Marquez, all of whom have been starting since they were sophomores.
For the Bulldawgs, who just lost to Manor 42-15, they are looking back and have their 2nd win in one season for the first time since 2019.
On the season so far, QB Gabriel Rodriguez is 25-55 on completions with 298 yards passing for three touchdowns, and one interception, along with 23 carries and 33 yards rushing with two touchdowns. RB Craig Brown has 51 carries for 309 yards this year, averaging 5.8 yards a carry.
For receiving yards, there are two players who have been standouts for the Bulldawgs.
Those two are Trishtin Glass, who has seven receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown, and the other receiver is Demetrius Pearce, with eight receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Dawgs defense is led by Kevin Pontious who on the season has 21.5 tackles, 17 of which are solo. On the season the defense has four sacks, four interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.
Pontious said last week that they needed to “have discipline. We just got to grind more. We had a little bit of iffy practices this week. You can’t have that. We’ve got to have super focus on our jobs and work as a team, just everything basic.”
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Bulldawgs stadium.