Dawgs fall on homecoming 49-7
By STEVE MCWHORTER
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Bulldawgs hosted the district-leading Weiss Wolves (6-0) for the annual Homecoming games. The home side was full, the mums were Texas-sized, and the Bleacher Creatures were extra excited for Friday night football. Bryce Smith and Kalei Camacho were named the Homecoming King and Queen prior to the start of the game.
Copperas Cove fell 49-7.
Coach Johnson reflected on the game.
“That’s a really well-coached offensive football team. It looked early on like it would be a shootout but we had too many busts offensively. Guys that made plays last week were running the wrong routes, they don’t see signals. No excuses – we have to fix it. We can’t be really good one week then turn around the next week and not do very good.
“We left our defense on the field too much against a potent offense like that and we’re in trouble.”
The Bulldawgs started their first drive from their own 21-yard line. After getting a first down the drive stalled and the Bulldawgs punted.
The Weiss Wolves started their drive at midfield and marched down the field efficiently, leaning heavily on the run game, scoring a touchdown with 8:09 left in the first quarter bringing the score to 7-0.
Copperas Cove began the next drive with a 17-yard pass from Micah Casson to Trishstin Glass for a first down.
After an incomplete pass, Malik Cuthbert rushed the ball up the middle for a 55-yard TD run. The successful extra point by Christian Luna tied the game at 7-7.
Weiss moved the ball well with a first and goal from the Copperas Cove 5-yard line. A run up the middle was stuffed for no gain, followed by an incomplete pass to bring up 3rd and goal. A fumbled snap was recovered by the Weiss quarterback and thrown for an incompletion in the back of the end zone. A false start pushed the Wolves to the 10. The quarterback kept the ball and was swarmed by the Bulldawg defense, turning the ball over on downs.
The Bulldawgs started the drive from their own 8-yard line. Three quick plays brought out the punt team as the first quarter wound down.
The Wolves began their next drive in excellent field position at midfield and scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass, moving ahead 14-7.
Copperas Cove began their drive on the 33-yard line. A holding call on first down put the Bulldawgs at 1st and 20. The Bulldawgs could not overcome the swarming Wolves defense and had to settle for a three and out.
On the next drive Gilbyrt Hall sacked the Wolves’ quarterback for a loss. Weiss recovered and scored another touchdown bringing the score to 21-7 with 6:30 left in the first half.
The Bulldawgs failed to move the ball and punted to the Wolves. Weiss, aided by some pass interference calls, scored another touchdown with two minutes left in the half.
Copperas Cove had to punt on their next drive and stopped Weiss, going into halftime down 28-7.
The Wolves took the opening drive of the second half down the field but fumbled in the Copperas Cove end zone resulting in a touchback and Copperas Cove starting from their own 20-yard line.
Copperas Cove began the next drive with an 18-yard gain on a sweep by Malik Cuthbert followed by a 9-yard gain by Arthur Miller to bring up 2nd and 1. A dead ball penalty by the offense made it 2nd and 16. The Bulldawgs could not make up the yardage and setup for a punt. The snap went wide and the Wolves tackled kicker Demetrius Pearce on the 10-yard line, turning the ball over on downs.
The Wolves started the drive on the Copperas Cove 10-yard line. A sack by Xavier Taclibon gave the Dawgs a chance to stall the drive but a 17-yard touchdown pass brought the score to 35-7.
The Wolves intercepted the ball at the Bulldawg 40-yard line and ran it back to the 2-yard line. Xavier Taclibon was responsible for another sack for a 7-yard loss but the Wolves competed another touchdown pass bringing the score to 42-7 with 4:30 left in the 3rd quarter.
Copperas Cove started their next drive at their own 27-yard line. An interception on 3rd and long gave the Wolves the ball at their own 25-yard line. The Bulldawgs forced a punt, taking over on their own 35-yard line.
Micah Casson completed a 10-yard pass to Demetrius Pearce for a first down. Copperas Cove could not sustain the drive and punted from midfield pinning Weiss at their own 8-yard line. Weiss mounted a 92-yard drive for a touchdown.
Copperas Cove turned the ball over on downs on their next drive after going for a first down on 4th and 5.
Weiss began on the Copperas Cove 46-yard line. The Bulldawg defense stiffened and managed to get a turnover on downs, led by a 6-yard tackle for loss by Cameron Tuiasosopo.
Copperas Cove took over in their own territory. A 22-yard run by Freeman led to a first down. Two more runs by Freeman gave Copperas Cove another first down with :25 left in the game.
The Bulldawgs travel to Waco next Friday to take on the Midway Panthers.