By Jason Chlapek
Cove Leader Press
For the first time this season, the Copperas Cove football team will play away from Bulldawg Stadium Thursday night.
The Bulldawgs will face Round Rock Westwood at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kelly Reeves Stadium, 10211 Parmer Ln., Austin. Both teams come into Thursday’s game with 1-2 records and both are coming off of losses – Cove lost to Hutto, 64-21, and Westwood suffered a 29-26 setback at the hands of Buda Johnson.
“(Westwood) is a good team that has lost some close games,” said Rodney Southern, Cove Head Coach.
The Warriors operate offensively out of a spread look. According to Southern, Westwood will utilize an H-back into their running schemes.
Two players have taken snaps at quarterback for the Warriors – Cooper Waits and Alex Smith. Waits has 270 yards and three touchdowns passing, while Smith has thrown for 290 yards and a score.
Weston Franz (23 catches, 319 yards, 2 TDs) and Maps Mehls (13 catches, 186 yards, 2 TDs) are the top receivers. Kameron Hill (29 carries, 112 yards) is the leading rusher.
Wesley Marconette (46 tackles, 6 tackles for losses, sack) is the Warriors’ defensive leader. Westwood’s base defense is 4-2-5.
Cove will welcome the return of senior quarterback Craig Davis III. Southern said Davis, who sat out against Hutto last week because of a leg injury sustained in the Bulldawgs’ 42-35 loss to Round Rock Cedar Ridge, is “good to go.”
In Davis’ absence last week, Cove struggled in the passing game. The Bulldawgs completed just six of 13 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns – both going to Treyton Callum.
Cove received a spark from KJ Zeigler and backup quarterback Luis Nieves in the running game. Zeigler ran 23 times for a team-high 90 yards, while Nieves gained 84 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
“(Luis) did well considering the circumstances,” Southern said.
Last week, the Bulldawgs struggled against Hutto’s air attack. Hippos quarterbacks Micah Antoun (254 yards, 4 TDs) and Ethan Carlson (134 yards, TD passing) combined for nearly 400 yards through the air with Oklahoma-bound Jaiden Fields (7 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs) and Dylan Owens (5 catches, 143 yards, 3 TDs) making up the majority of those yards.
With Cove playing on Thursday, the Bulldawgs lose a day of practice. Southern said his team’s Wednesday practice will be treated like a Thursday practice.
Thursday’s game will be the final nondistrict game for both the Bulldawgs and Warriors. Cove opens District 12-6A play at Temple and Westwood faces Cedar Ridge in the 25-6A opener – both game take place Sept. 25.
“We need to be more consistent defensively and get off the field on third down,” Southern said. “We also need to convert opportunities on offense.”
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