Weatherford vs. Coppell

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Roos Stadium

Type: Non-district

Last year's result: Coppell 49, Weatherford 6

Coppell Cowboys (3-0)

Last season: 8-4 overall, 3-2 District 6-5A, D-I area finalist

Last week: Beat Highland Park, 41-20

Players to watch: LB Jared Parham (6-3, 230, 4.6), FS Nick Johnston (6-2, 180, 4.6), OL Taylor Townley (6-2, 230, 5.0).

Weatherford Kangaroos (2-1)

Last season: 1-9 overall, 1-5 in District 3-5A

Last week: Beat Aledo, 28-27

Players to watch: QB/FB Mitchael Rucker (5-10, 180, 4.6), S/WR Dakota Abernathy (6-3, 215, 4.5), DL Cory Matlock (6-1, 240, 5.0), MLB Derek Ogg (6-1, 200, 4.6), RB Colton Kamper (5-10, 195, 4.6).

Game notes: Coach Kenny Wheaton will try to get the Roos grounded this week after the high-emotion win over county-rival Aledo, Friday. Considering Coppell's convincing 41-20 victory over Highland Park, the Weatherford kids are most likely aware that defending home turf will be another big challenge this week.

WHS played a turnover-free game against the Bearcats, with only miscue being a fumble that they recovered. The Roos look to continue flawless ball control, using their tandem of slotbacks, Colton Kamper and Trooper Reynolds, who combined for 88 yards last week, and workhorse fulback Jaren Gentry, leading WHS rushers with 124 yards on 25 carries. The recurring theme for Weatherford, with their ball-control running game is to keep the defense off the field. If they can repeat winning the turnover battle and do a little better job on special teams, a close contest at home works to a WHS advantage.

Coppell trots in their third coach in as many years for the 2009 season and, thus far, it seems to be working out fine for the new field general, Joe McBride. Though the Cowboys took a hit on the offensive side of the ball, returning just three starters from last year, they have been efficient enough to beat their three opponents this year, including Highland Park,with a scoring margin of 124-37.

The defense returns just five last-year starters, but are big and fast at the critical spots of linebacker and safety. A strong receiving corps will test the Roos defensive backs and will have a full-time quarterback in Hayden Hawk, who shared time with the senior QB of the 2008 season.



Millsap at Venus

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Venus High School

12 Bulldog Drive

Venus, TX

Type: Non-district game

Last year's result: Millsap 52, Venus 32

Venus Bulldogs (3-0)

Last season: 1-9, 0-5 in District 12-3A

Last week: Beat Maypearl, 13-6

Players to watch: RB Julio Rodriguez (5-8, 170, 4.7), RB Cody Worrell, RB Zach Murray

Millsap Bulldogs (2-0)

Last season: 5-5, 1-4 in District 9-2A

Last week: Beat Muenster, 22-12

Players to watch: RB/WR Chris Hicks (5-11, 170, 4.6), DE Robert Martinez (5-11, 225, 4.9), RB Mat Callan (5-10, 170, 4.6), OT/DE Kyle Gooch (6-2, 225, 4.9).

Game notes: The Bulldogs dry out and wash last Friday's mud off the uniforms this week, traveling to Venus after enjoying two home wins to begin their 2009 campaign. Millsap's big, active lines on both sides of the ball have paid big dividends thus far. The D-line, led by Kyle Gooch, held Muenster to just seven first downs and 35 rushing yards. Gooch was also a scoring threat in the contest with the Hornets. He recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score and trapped the Muenster quarterback behind the goal line for a safety.

The Bulldogs' offensive front cleared the way for quarterback Zeb Littlefield to run for nearly 100 yards and offered good pocket protection, as the junior quarterback threw for 185 yards while completing 67 percent of his passes.

Millsap looks to continue its winning ways against Class 3A Venus in hopes of building momentum toward the start of its district schedule in three weeks.

Venus is deep at the running back position in trio Julio Rodriguez, Zach Murray and Cody Worrell, and will likely keep fresh legs rotated into the backfield to neutralize Millsap's sizable defensive line. Coming off a disappointing 2008 season, Venus has already topped last year's wins and will try to make Millsap its next victim.

In the battle of the Bulldogs, if Millsap can shut down the running game, it should be interesting to how Venus answers.