A&M Consolidated defeats Copperas Cove in final second, 44-41

The varsity football players of A&M Consolidated High School line up to face Copperas Cove for the first game of the season on Aug. 30, 2013.

by Nicole Farrell, senior editor

A note for Copperas Cove: look both ways before Derrick Dick crosses the field.

In last night’s game against Copperas Cove, home field advantage meant little, with a memorable back and forth game, the teams coming to ties throughout the game.

Consol started strong, with senior running back Brandon Jackson rushing for a touchdown with about nine minutes remaining in the first quarter. Junior kicker Daniel Zivney then made an extra point, bringing the score to Consol 7, Cove 0. With back and forth yardage gain, Consol took the field goal option on fourth down and brought the score to 10-0 with less than six minutes remaining in the first quarter. With only 19 seconds remaining in the quarter, senior quarterback Kobe Miller threw to senior wide receiver Kerry Thomas for a touchdown, bringing the score to a neat 17-0.

The second quarter began with Cove possession and Consol turned on a solid defense. Cove began pushing up the field in the second quarter, rushing a 5-yard touchdown, and with a completed field goal, brought the score to 17-7 with Consol still in the lead.

A tough third quarter began, Cove starting off with a 35-yard pass for a touchdown with about ten minutes remaining. The gap was closing with Cove only trailing by 3 with their field goal—Consol 17, Cove 14. Consol continued to keep Cove down when Miller threw a 15-yard pass to senior wide receiver Corey Dukes, bringing the score to 24-14 at the end of the third quarter.

Consol started with a strong defensive line in the fourth quarter, forcing Cove into the field goal option. This brought Cove up to 17, but Consol still had the lead with 24. Cove tackled for a Consol fumble, and began a long push down the field, resulting in short 5-yard pass for a Cove touchdown, tying up the game at 24-24. With less than four minutes remaining, Consol rapidly advanced and Jackson ran 25 yards for a touchdown on the fourth down. Cove threw a 63-yard pass in reply, tying up the game once again at 31-31.

With the ball on the 40 yard line, junior running back and wide receiver Derrick Dick tried for a run but was promptly shut down by Cove, bringing Consol back to the first-and-10. Cove retrieved the fumble and gained the lead with a touchdown, 38-31.

A pass interference by Cove gave Consol 15 yards with 43 seconds remaining. Dukes received Miller’s pass for a touchdown, 38-38. Cove took the field goal with two seconds remaining and seemed to have ended the game with 41-38.

Consol took a time out with one second remaining. Cove kicked off, with Jackson running into Cove on his left side. Jackson quickly tossed a lateral to Dick, who pressed forward, then doubled back, totaling 70 yards to run over to the Consol sideline, defense clearing a path for a touchdown—Consol 44, Cove 41.