COPPERAS COVE BULLDOGSHead Coach: Jack Welch (71-50-1)
1998 Record: 10-3 (3-2 in district)
Playoffs:Defeated Lamar 27-24, defeated Nimitz 38-7, lost to Lee 43-17
Lettermans Lost: (20) DE Howard Hodges, OT Guillermo Morrison, DB Charles Tillman, LB Fale Tii, RB Brian Harrison, QB John MacDonald
Returning Starters: (12) RB Vontez Duff, LB T.J. Hollowell, LB/FB Aaron Mickens, OL Stephen Metcalfe, Zeke Brandon, K Bryan Mickan, DB/WR Gary Wright, OL Rano Sasa, LB Fred Fears, DL Paul Malorine, OL Ian Siverly, WR Jason Mathenia
Outlook: Copperas Cove made the playoffs for the first time in 40 years and this season are ranked #8. This season they are the team to beat district 8-5A. Why? RB Vontez Duff tore it up as a junior with 1,714 yards on the ground on 236 carries and scored 20 TDs. He even passed for three TDs on halfback option, including the very first play from scrimmage against Westwood in last year's opener. In the first two playoff games he gained 399 yards on 51 carries and scored 5 TDs. All in all, he accounted 2,256 yards on 301 carries with 26 TDs. The Bulldogs have more weapons besides the elusive Duff. Also returning are FB Aaron Mickens, TE Zeke Brandon, WR/DB Gary Wright, WR Jason Mathenia, and OLs Rano Sas, Steven Metcalfe, and Ian Severly. All these all district mention players are coming off three rounds of playoffs and are eager to play. The Bulldogs average 376.1 yards per game and could be even better if QB Nathaniel Foreman or B.J. Cox can replace John McDonald's 969 yards, 10 TDs. All he has to do is get the ball in the hands of top notch performers Mathenia and Brandon. With the passing game opening up the run game for Duff, Cove shouldn't have any offensive woes this season. LB T.J. Hallowell is the bright star on the defense that recovred 19 fumbles, picked of 7 passes, average 200.1 yards per game. Hallowell had 61 tackles, 11 for losses, and 3 sacks. The Cove aslo specialize in punts and kicks, as they put speedy DB Gary Wright to return kicks. Last season, Cove block three of Killeen's punts.
Strength: Running backs, Recievers, lineman, defense. Cove has it all. The 10 wins last season were a school record and this season the Bulldogs are strong, faster, more experience than last season and are a serious contender for the state title in December. Cove even has a great special teams that can block kicks if needed.
Weakness: There aren't any. Unless Foreman or Cox can't get the ball in the hands of his recievers, he can always hand it off to Duff.
1999 PREDICTIONS
District 8-5A
1. COPPERAS COVE
2. Waco
3. Temple
4. Ellison
5. Killeen
6. Leander
Schedule (4-1 in district, 9-2 overall)
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Sept. 3 | vs Westwood | 7:30 | W 42-14 |
| Friday | Sept. 10 | vs LBJ | 7:30 | W 55-6 |
| Friday | Sept. 17 | at Midway | 7:30 | W 38-14 |
| Friday | Sept. 24 | vs Georgetown | 7:30 | W 20-16 |
| Friday | Oct. 1 | at Austin High | 7:30 | W 17-7 |
| Friday | Oct. 8 | vs Leander (HC)* | 7:30 | W 42-10 |
| Friday | Oct. 15 | vs Ellison* | 7:30 | W 27-6 |
| Friday | Oct. 22 | at Waco* | 7:30 | L 24-7 |
| Friday | Oct. 29 | vs Temple* | 7:30 | W 14-7 |
| Friday | Nov. 5 | at Killeen* | 7:30 | W 38-6 |
PLAYOFFS
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Nov. 12 | at DeSoto** | 8:00 | L 39-13 |
**- at Maverick Stadium in Arlington, TX
