by Austin Coats, sports editor
In their season opener, A&M Consolidated football lost 62-38 to the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs. The Tigers looked determined to take a lead at many points in the game, but Copperas Cove always had an answer to their threats.
The Tigers scored on the first drive of the game with a field goal from senior Daniel Zivney. The drive started with three consecutive incompletions from sophomore Mason Hickson. Zivney was able to convert a fake punt into a first down, though, and the offense took advantage of initially poor defense, with a 34-yard reception and 18-yard run from junior Rodney Jernigan, until the Bulldawgs solidified in the red zone to hold the Tigers to a 3 point lead.
Copperas Cove quickly struck back and took the lead on a 29-yard pass after a 36-yard gain the previous play. The Tigers then broke a 75-yard touchdown pass from Hickson to Jernigan, as Jernigan easily broke away from his coverage before the catch and glided safely into the end-zone. A 34-yard gain on a QB keep and 22-yard touchdown pass put Bulldogs back in front. Shortly after, Copperas Cove forced a Consol punt and fought down the field for another touchdown and the first quarter ended 21-10 in favor of Copperas Cove.
Consol regained some ground in the middle of the 2nd quarter after a rushed punt from Zivney miraculously landed on Cove’s 1-yard line. A three-and-out forced a punt from Cove, which landed out of bounds at the 14-yard line, giving Consol immaculate field position. With a 9-yard touchdown pass from Hickson to Zivney, Consol shortened the score to 21-17.
Copperas Cove made a field goal later in the 2nd quarter, and despite a late attempt to find the end-zone from Consol (bolstered by a 40-yard reception by Jernigan), the half ended 24-17.
Copperas Cove was first on the board in the second half with a field goal and looked keen to score on their second drive, but junior Michael Armantrout came up with an interception and had an open lane for an easy touchdown return. A fortunate turnover happened again when a Copperas Cove receiver fumbled just before crossing the goal line later in the 3rd quarter, only for Consol’s senior Jonquil Gin to hop on it in the end-zone for a touchback. Consol ended up punting and Cove scored a touchdown with a 52-yard pass on the ensuing drive, starting the fourth quarter 41-24.
On Consol’s next drive, though, the Tiger’s cemented their longing to stay in the game. After protesting a no-call on the previous play, Derrick Dick exploded through the middle of the Cove defense on a slant route, caught a great pass from Mason Hickson unguarded, and outran his pursuers to the end-zone for a 63-yard touchdown. Having gone down 48-32, Dick scored again in exactly the same fashion — this time from 45 yards – and brought the score to 48-38. A 30-yard run from Cove virtually sealed the game, but they added one last touchdown as an exclamation mark.
A&M Consolidated will try to come back from this loss as they take on Richmond Foster Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
