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Football: Coppell tops Flower Mound in midst of tragic week

By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com

Published: Saturday, October 20, 2012 1:09 AM CDT

FLOWER MOUND - Following a tragic week in which football was the furthest thing from the mind, Coppell's team managed to collect itself and lift the spirits of the school and community, winning in honor of fallen teammate Jacob Logan - whose missing body was found in Possum Kingdom Lake less than 24 hours before kickoff - Friday night on the road against Flower Mound, 27-18.

Logan, a team captain and inspirational leader, was reported missing last Sunday afternoon after jumping off a cliff into the lake. Two days later, Coppell students had another tragedy to cope with when a classmate committed suicide.

"It was hard getting out here," said Luke Jenner, Coppell senior running back. "Whenever it happened, it didn't even hit me until yesterday that [Logan] was really gone. Everyone was real emotional before the game but we knew we just had to do it for him and make him proud. All Jacob wanted to do was win state and all he ever did was go hard and give it his best. That's exactly what we wanted to do. We had a few stumbles, but otherwise we played our best."

Following the game, players from both Coppell and Flower Mound gathered at midfield for thoughts and prayers.

"The first thing I want to do is take my hat off to Flower Mound," said Joe McBride, Coppell head coach. "They honor us by coming out here and playing hard and not just laying down because they felt sorry for us. They came out and played their butts off and hats off to coach (Dane) Johnson and coach (Sam) Harrison.

"It was very tough to keep the emotions in check tonight. There was nothing more precious than our highs. Our highs were intimate and extremely loving and unbelievable. But let me tell you our lows were about as bad as you can get. I'm just so proud to have coached Jacob Logan for three-and-a-half years because he's made an impact on how I've lived my life."

The tragedy effected Flower Mound's preparation as well.

"It's real tough," Johnson said. "Your mind is on everything else and what it does is put the game back in perspective. The kids know there is so much and it helps us appreciate what we have.

"This was a hard-fought football game. That's what it's all about. But also, you know, they're hurting over there. We wanted to show them our support and encouragement and wish them the best."

Despite grabbing a 20-3 advantage early in the second quarter, Coppell had to fight throughout and nearly saw its lead evaporate late in the fourth quarter when Flower Mound's Connor Wanhanen - who capped a 95-yard scoring drive with a 9-yard touchdown run earlier in the quarter - found Cole McKeel on a swing pass for a 55-yard touchdown to cut the lead to two at 20-18 with a two-point conversion pending.

But the Cowboys got a stop on the conversion and put the contest away with some trickery on their ensuing drive.

Facing a third-and-8 at its own 27-yard line, receiver Cameron Smith broke loose for a 51-yard gain on a reverse moving Coppell to Flower Mound's 22-yard line with 4:15 remaining.

Moments later, looking a fourth-and-8 in the eye from the 18-yard line, Coppell again dialed up a reverse. Only this time it was a reverse pass and Henry Busch found Jenner all alone in the end zone for the final blow.

"They were great calls," Johnson said. "Crucial situations and both of them were trick plays. We try to teach our kids stay at home. Stay at home and be disciplined and we lacked it right there. But it was a great call and they executed and got us."

Jenner also contributed 24 yards on the ground, while running back Gavin McDaniel powered the offense with 19 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

While both teams picked it up defensively in the second half, the first half had plenty of offense but was marred with a combined five turnovers.

Flower Mound, in particular, moved the ball well but was unable to capitalize.

A lengthy opening drive that moved into Coppell territory stalled when a pass from Wanhanen to Brendon Ianeiro deflected in the air and was intercepted by Coppell's Chris Adkins.

The Cowboys quickly took advantage when a 40-yard reception to Smith from quarterback Colby Mahon set up a 5-yard touchdown pass on a fade in the back corner of the end zone to Busch.

Flower Mound also drove deep in Coppell territory on its second possession but had to settle for a field goal to cut the deficit to 6-3.

However, the Cowboys immediately responded when McDaniel took a toss and ran untouched down the sideline for a 75-yard score and 13-3 lead.

Flower Mound turned the ball over on its ensuing two possessions, the first of which set up a 7-yard touchdown run on third-and-short for McDaniel.

The teams would trade turnovers on three of the next four possessions before Flower Mound seized a little momentum heading to the break with a 25-yard field goal from Andrew Hitscherich as time expired in the second quarter.

"We played like our week was," McBride said. "We've been through hell and back in one week and because our kids love each other so much, we just kept battling and pulled it out. I'm so proud of them."

Mahon finished with 109 yards passing, while Smith had five catches for 82 yards to go with his key run.

"This was huge for us," Jenner said. "Everyone in the city was down. We lost Jacob and another kid in my grade and the whole city was hurting. But we were their beacon of light and we wanted to make sure we came out and made the city proud and our players proud."

Coppell hopes to continue to play in Logan's honor and put a tough week behind them at 7:30 p.m. Friday when it hosts Marcus.

"Jacob was a leader and mediocre was never OK with him," Jenner said. "He wanted the best in everything and made sure everyone around him was doing their best. And if you weren't, he would tell you that you weren't. He was a great leader."

Flower Mound looks to move to 2-1 in district at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hebron.

"I thought we did a lot of good things but we have to quit turning the ball over," Johnson said. "We did it last week and were able to come back but you can't keep spotting teams 20 points.

"The thing now is there are three games left and we're going to have to win two of them to get in the playoffs. And they're all going to be tough games. We're going to have to grow up and put this behind us. We can't take moral victories now."

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