Announcing the MaxPreps Dallas Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank

We know that coaches play a vital role in their community that is often under appreciated. To honor the tremendous work that coaches provide, we've teamed up with Comerica Bank to recognize a Football Coach of the Week in the Dallas area!

Every coach knows that their responsibilities do not begin and end with the game clock. Commitment to the time-honored principles of preparation, dedication, team above self, hard work and perseverance will not only be rewarded on the scoreboard, but more importantly, they are rewarded in life - now and throughout the future - for each athlete trusted to our care. This notion isn't just a slick piece of marketing - it is a guiding principle for MaxPreps. Founder and CEO (and former coach), Andy Beal, shares his conviction below:



We need your help. We are looking for high school football coaches in the Dallas area who are worthy and deserving of the special recognition for their work with young people on and off the field. We're not just looking for a coach who wins a big game... we're looking for men who's impact and influence extend beyond the field - on to the campus, inside the classroom and throughout the community.



To nominate, please send the following to coachoftheweek@maxpreps.com:
Coach name:
His school:
Why he is deserving:

The winner of the Coach of the Week award  will be announced on MaxPreps every Wednesday this season, so be sure to get your nominations in by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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By all accounts, 2012 was to be a rebuilding season for the Allen Eagles football team.

With only two offensive and three defensive starters returning, there were holes to fill.

The graduation of quarterback Alec Morris (Alabama) and running back Jonathan Williams (Arkansas) meant Allen had to find a way to replace the loss of a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher.

"This team really wasn't very good in the spring,'' said Allen coach Tom Westerberg.

But when fall came around, so did the Eagles. Against a Class 5A Division I playoff bracket loaded with landmines, it was Allen that ended up holding the state championship trophy.



For his masterful work in guiding Allen to its second state title in five years, Westerberg was selected as Dallas Area Coach of the Year presented by Comerica Bank.

"The thing about this group is they played as a team,'' said Westerberg, in his ninth season as Allen head man. "It was not a team of stars.''

The Eagles finished No. 5 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings.

Allen put a cap on its 15-1 season with a 35-21 victory over Lamar (Houston) in the state title game played Dec. 22 with 48,379 fans in attendance at Arlington's Cowboys Stadium.

Lamar was the third unbeaten team Allen faced in the playoffs.

"It wasn't our best game,'' Westerberg said afterward, "but Lamar had something to do with that.''



Allen defied logic by winning with a quarterback that was too young (15-year-old sophomore Kyler Murray) and a running back that, on paper at least, was too small (5-8, 170-pound Marcus Ward).

In the championship game, Murray was turnover free. He rushed for 143 yards and two scores and threw for 49 yards and another score. For the season, Murray, the son of former Texas A&M quarterback Kevin Murray, threw for 2,004 yards and rushed for 1,370 yards. He threw for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 25.

Ward's 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the clincher in the championship game. He rushed for 117 yards and two scores, giving him 1,537 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns for the season.

Allen's defense sacked Lamar quarterback Darrell Colbert four times for 55 yards in losses.

All season, Allen's defense specialized in coming up with a key turnover. In the championship game, it was a hit by Mayomi Olootu that caused a Lamar fumble. Cameron Hartsfield picked up the loose ball and returned it 57 yards to the Lamar 7 to set up a touchdown.

In the previous week's state semifinal against DeSoto, linebacker Tay Evans' 39-yard interception return of a screen pass was the defining play in a 51-36 Allen victory.



Comparisons can be drawn to this year's team and Allen's 2008 state champion. Each finished with a 15-1 record, the lone setback coming near midseason in a non-district game.

The Eagles jumped into the spotlight on opening night, blanking defending Class 5A Division I state champion Carroll (Southlake) 24-0 in the debut of Allen's lavish $60 million Eagle Stadium.

Allen proved the opener was no fluke when it went on the road the following week to defeat eventual Class 5A Division II state finalist Cedar Hill, 37-20.

After losing at Coppell, 27-24, to fall to 4-1, Westerberg put quarterback duties in the hands of Murray full-time and returned Oliver Pierce to his more familiar position of wide receiver. The Eagles didn't lose again.

Allen surged to the District 10-5A title with a 5-0 record that included only one close game, a 35-34 win over Plano in the regular season finale.

In the playoffs, Allen routed Richardson 63-14 in the bi-district round and followed it up with a 42-28 elimination of undefeated Mesquite in the second round.



Round Rock Westwood (Austin) was the next victim, 56-24, setting up a Region II final against Skyline (Dallas), a team that made it to the state semifinals the previous year. Allen prevailed, 37-17.

DeSoto was rated No. 1 in the nation going into the state semifinal. Allen jumped to a 21-0 lead on the way to a convincing victory.

Westerberg, a Texas A&M grad owns a 102-16 record at Allen. Seven of his nine seasons have produced at least 10 wins. With two state titles, the coach is now in the enviable position of being able to compare state championship teams.

"The 2008 team was the first one to get it done,'' said Westerberg, "but this year's team is special, too.''{PAGEBREAK}


John Walsh never lost faith in his Guyer (Denton) Wildcats — not when they started the 2012 season 0-2 and not when trailing by 16 points in the third quarter of the Class 4A Division I state championship game.

"I have confidence in my team,'' Walsh said. "I'm always confident, even when we lose. We just needed a couple of stops.''

Guyer got those stops and outscored previously unbeaten Georgetown 34-7 in the final 18 minutes of a 48-37 victory Saturday afternoon at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

For guiding Guyer to 14 straight wins and its first state football championship, Walsh was selected as Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.



Guyer's start in the championship game was fine. The Wildcats went in front 14-7 in the early moments of the second period. But Georgetown scored the final 16 points of the first half for a 23-14 lead at the break and got another touchdown in the opening four minutes of the second half. Guyer trailed 30-16.

"I didn't do a good job of play calling,'' Walsh said. "We began the game running the ball and then we started doing things we don't normally do. That was on me.''

Junior quarterback Jerrod Heard, a Texas commit, put Guyer back on track by rushing for four of his five touchdowns in the second half, part of his 143-yard rushing day. He also threw for 189 yards and two scores.

The defense did its part, twice stopping 15-1 Georgetown cold on fourth-and-1 runs and setting up a touchdown when Connor Allen, the game's defensive MVP, forced a fumble from Eagles quarterback Jake Hubenak.

"When the defense makes stops like that … it was huge,'' Walsh said. "When you stop a team when it needs only one yard, it makes you feel you can definitely stop them when they have to go 70 yards.''

Guyer was tabbed as a state title contender when it dropped from Class 5A to 4A in the University Interscholastic League's biennial realignment last January.



But Guyer opened the season with a 54-28 loss to Cedar Hill and the following week Heritage (Colleyville) followed suit, 54-38.

"After that second loss, we stayed in the locker room a good 30 minutes and called each other out, myself included,'' Walsh said. "What we decided was the seniors have to take this thing over. In any year when a team I coached has gone far, it had senior leadership. When a team hasn't done well, it didn't have senior leadership.''

Since taking his lumps to the tune of 1-19 in Guyer's first two seasons of varsity football in 2006 and ‘07, Walsh‘s teams have gone 60-4 over the last five seasons.

The Wildcats have reached at least the state semifinal round in four of those last five seasons. In its only previous state title appearance in 2010, Guyer lost to Steele (Cibolo) for the Class 5A Division II title, 24-21.

Guyer's quarterback in that game was the coach's son, J.W. Walsh, who now plays for Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt freshman has played in nine games this season and has thrown for a team-leading 1,478 yards and 11 touchdowns.

John Walsh and wife Amber also have two daughters, Samantha and Maggie.



Walsh grew up in Merkel, a few miles from Abilene, and played receiver at McMurry University. He was an assistant coach at Brownwood before tackling the task of building a program at Guyer.

"We've been close the last five years,'' Walsh said. "To finally get it done is refreshing. We've been good enough a couple of those years but just didn't finish.

"There will be a lot of celebrating over the next few days.''{PAGEBREAK}

Joey McGuire is definitely the kind of coach that sees a glass half-full, even if only a swallow remains.

But the Cedar Hill Longhorns' head man needed all the positive thinking he could muster this fall when his team got off to a 1-3 start. Worse, one of his star players was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the second game of the season.

Cedar Hill righted the ship, put together a playoff run and on Saturday earned a berth in the Class 5A Division II state championship game with a 31-28 victory over Westlake (Austin) in a state semifinal played in Waco.

For all these accomplishments, McGuire was chosen as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"We're right where we expected to be,'' said McGuire. "We just went a different way to get there.''



Cedar Hill will face Texas' top-ranked team, 15-0 Katy, in the title game set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

"It's been a crazy year with the ups and downs, but very rewarding,'' McGuire said.

The low point occurred in the second week, a 37-20 loss to Allen on Cedar Hill's home turf. Not only did Cedar Hill lose the game, but also the services of running back Jared Rayford to a season-ending knee injury.

"It was tough to see a guy like Jared that has been with us every day have to miss his senior season,'' McGuire said. "He was a leader for us.''

In succeeding weeks, Cedar Hill lost two more games -- 40-21 to Washington (Miami) and 48-35 to DeSoto in the District 5-5A opener. A Longhorn program that had made the playoffs in seven consecutive years was suddenly reeling.

"As a coach, you have to keep the kids believing in what you are doing,'' McGuire said. "We made a few changes, primarily on defense, and we started playing better. We actually played pretty well against DeSoto and at that point our guys started understanding that we could be a good team.''



The Longhorns closed the regular season by winning five of six and entered the playoffs with a deceiving record of 6-4. In postseason play, Cedar Hill took care of Copperas Cove (35-28), Ryan (Denton) 48-35, Arlington 49-14 and unbeaten Midway (Waco) 49-34 to set up the semifinal with Westlake.

With Cedar Hill and Westlake tied at 28 late in the fourth quarter, Longhorns kicker Brooks Ralph kicked a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds for the win.

In the first half Ralph missed on field goal tries of 46 and 39 yards.

"He had the distance on the first one, but pushed it a little left,'' McGuire said. "The second one, he didn't get a good foot into it. I told Brooks at half that he would have another chance because that was the kind of game it was. And I told him I wanted him to do what he's been coached to do and think only snap, hold and kick.''

Cedar Hill owned a 14-point lead before Westlake rallied to tie with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The key play in the Longhorns' 47-yard drive for the winning field goal was a 21-yard pass from Damion Hobbs to Quincy Adeboyejo on third-and-11 at the Cedar Hill 38.



Cedar Hill got a big lift from converted linebacker Bobby Jackson, who rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yarder that broke a 14-14 tie.

McGuire said Jackson had been a running back until his junior year. Because the Longhorns had Laquvionte Gonzalez and Rayford, Jackson was moved to defense. He got into a few playoff games as a running back this fall, but last week all of his practice reps came at running back. He has only 29 carries this season.

Gonzalez (1,415 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns) and Adeboyejo (1,230 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns) are Texas A&M commits. Quarterback Hobbs, committed to Arkansas State, has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,569 yards and 27 touchdowns.

For McGuire, the state championship game is his second at Cedar Hill.

The Longhorns completed a 16-0 season in 2006 by routing Cypress Falls (Houston) 51-17 in the Class 5A Division II state title game in San Antonio's Alamodome.

"I guess because I'm older, I appreciate the chance to play in another state final even more this time,'' McGuire said.



His record at Cedar Hill is 93-32 since taking over in 2003. McGuire has never had a losing season.

Katy, a six-time state champion, has outscored its foes this fall 794-182.

"If we listen to most people, we'd just check in our helmets now,'' McGuire said. "Not too many give us much of a shot. But I'll promise this — we're going to show up at 4 o'clock on Saturday and give it everything we've got.''{PAGEBREAK}
The hiring of Chris Gilbert as Lancaster football coach in the spring of 2011 jump-started a program that desperately desired to step up among the elite in the Dallas area.

Aside from going three rounds deep in the 2000 playoffs, Lancaster was too often a quick out in the years when they did manage to reach postseason.

In Gilbert's first season last fall, the Tigers went to the second round of the playoffs.

And look at the Tigers now.

Lancaster (13-1) will face 12-2 Rider (Wichita Falls) in a Class 4A Division II state semifinal 2 p.m. Saturday at Justin's Northwest ISD Stadium.

The Tigers earned a shot at the fifth round by holding off Poteet (Mesquite) 21-13 for the Region II title on Friday.

For his team's play in that game and throughout the season, Gilbert was chosen as Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"Everybody, players and coaches, are 100 percent behind what we‘re doing,'' said the Dallas native. "This is a great bunch of kids that gives our staff a chance to coach them. Last year, we were new here and we had to fight them a little bit. But this season has been great.''

Gilbert made three stops as an assistant coach before becoming head coach at his alma mater, South Oak Cliff (Dallas) seven years ago. From his three years heading the Golden Bears and two at Terrell, Gilbert saw the Lancaster program through the eyes of an opposing head coach. He believed Lancaster possessed enough talent to contend for a state title.

"I didn't think the program was that far away,'' Gilbert said. "I was told early in my career not to take a job at a school where football isn't important. And it is important in Lancaster. But I didn't expect to get results this fast.''

Gilbert credits the Lancaster administration for making changes that his predecessors didn't have — better alignment with the middle school and class schedules for his coaches that allowed for more interaction with players during the off-season.

Gilbert's major on-field change was to open up the offense with more passing.

A dramatic 26-21 win over John Tyler (Tyler) in the second game of the season provided a springboard. The Tigers secured the victory with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. It remains the only loss for Tyler, which has a Class 4A semifinal game of its own against Guyer (Denton) in the Division I bracket.

"After Tyler, we knew we could compete with the big boys,'' Gilbert said. "Especially the way we won it, having to fight right to the end. Those kinds of wins make a difference.''



Following Lancaster's only defeat, 17-0 to Red Oak, the Tigers responded in Week 9 by blasting then-undefeated Ennis, 51-14.

Lancaster began its playoff run by overpowering Jacksonville, 34-2, and followed it up with a 41-16 ousting of previously-unbeaten Lovejoy (Lucas).

In the 36-29 third-round victory over Prosper, Lancaster had to come from behind in the second half. Daeshon Hall's catch of a 9-yard touchdown pass from Demarcus Ayers put the Tigers ahead for good.

Against Poteet, junior Nick Harvey scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard run late in the third quarter for yet another comeback victory. The Tigers defense thwarted a desperation drive by the Pirates at game's end.

"Those final few seconds were agonizing,'' Gilbert said. "I was so happy when that clocked showed zeroes.''

Harvey, a Texas A&M commit, often comes up with the key play. He leads the team in receiving and scoring, is the No. 3 rusher and the No. 2 passer.



"We use Nick for everything,'' said Gilbert. "He plays some cornerback and safety, returns kicks, runs the ball and catches passes. We have a lot of good football players and they make me look good.''

Two other Tigers have made college commitments: Hall, a defensive end, to Washington and Ayers to Washington State as a receiver. Gilbert expects more seniors to receive scholarship offers.

"One of the great things about a long playoff run is the opportunity for players to be seen by more colleges,'' Gilbert said. "Players can expand their highlight tapes.''

Standing between Lancaster and the state title game at Arlington's Cowboys Stadium is Rider.

"At this stage in the playoffs, any team you play is going to be passionate,'' Gilbert said. "We've been going at it this season for a long time and we're close to the end now.

"Playing this deep is new to us. But we're well aware of the fact that there is no guarantee we will ever get this kind of chance again, so we better make the most of it.''{PAGEBREAK}

Week 14 winner: Mike Hughes

The deepest playoff run in Plano West's school history lives on for another week thanks to the Wolves' remarkable 55-52 victory over Lufkin Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.

And even if Plano West coach Mike Hughes' hair got a little grayer, that's not a high price to pay, right coach?



"My hair is already gray. It was falling out after that,'' Hughes said. "That was one of the wildest games ever.''

For pushing the right buttons in the Class 5A Division II regional playoff victory and keeping a storybook season alive, Hughes was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

The highs and lows on the Wolves sideline were dramatic.

Twice in the game, Plano West owned a 24-point lead, the last time two minutes into the third quarter at 48-24.

But Lufkin reeled off four consecutive touchdowns to go in front, 52-48, with 3:28 remaining.

"It looked about as bleak as it could get,'' Hughes said. "Our offense had two bad series and both were in the fourth quarter.''



Lufkin's defensive adjustments at halftime were causing difficulty. Trailing for the first time, Hughes said the Wolves "got on the same page'' with adjustments of their own.

The result, with the season on the line, the Wolves drove 75 yards to retake the lead. Outstanding sophomore running back Sotonya Jamabo scored on a 1-yard run with 1:12 remaining.

But it still wasn't over. Lufkin moved smartly into field goal range at the Plano West 12 with three seconds remaining. A field goal would send the game into overtime.

Twice Lufkin lined up for the field goal. Each time, Hughes burned a time out.

"I was trying to freeze the kicker,'' said Hughes, "but I think I froze the holder because he bobbled the snap a little.''

The timing was disrupted enough for the 29-yard attempt to miss wide right, setting off a Plano West celebration.



Hughes, in his 11th year at Plano West, deflects the credit to his players and his coaching staff for a playoff run that few could have predicted.

After seven games, Plano West was 3-4 overall and 0-2 in District 10-5A. But the Wolves (9-4) haven't lost since. Their winning streak is at six.

"We are peaking at the right time,'' Hughes said. "The guys get along well, they enjoy practicing, it just seems like everything came together at the right time.''

Hughes said his players realized they could play with anybody after a 49-35 loss to Mesquite in the fourth non-district game.

"We've grown up a lot,'' Hughes said. "I can see the improvement every day in practice.''

Jamabo gets a lot of the credit, and for good reason. After a 162-yard, three touchdown rushing day against Lufkin, his season total has grown to 1,620 yards and 24 touchdowns.



"I tell people by the time he's a senior, Jamabo has a chance to be the best running back in the country,'' said Hughes. "He's 6-2 and 195 pounds and is an Eric Dickerson- or an Adrian Peterson-type runner.''

Jamabo has good company in the Wolves backfield. Quarterback Travis Korry has thrown for over 2,000 yards and running back Auston Anderson has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Korry threw for 250 yards and Anderson rushed for 145 yards and two scores against Lufkin.

The Wolves are averaging 38.6 points and 481 yards per game.

Plano West is making its sixth playoff excursion under Hughes. The deepest previous run was the area round by the 2004 team that went 10-2. Once in the playoffs, the Wolves have been unlucky with first-round draws, twice being paired against Cedar Hill. Four of their playoff eliminations have been decided by four points or less.

"We've been close to getting over the hump,'' said Hughes, coaching in his 31st year in Plano. "We've worked really hard at it.''

The Wolves this season finished in a tie for second place in District 10-5A with Boyd (McKinney), a district won by Allen. They avenged an earlier loss to Lake Highlands (Dallas) with a 42-35 victory in the bi-district round and followed it up with a second 10-point victory over South Garland this season in an area playoff triumph, 37-27. Jamabo scored five touchdowns in that game.



Racing to the field to give Hughes a hug after Plano West's latest playoff success was wife Carolyn. One of the assistant coaches on the Plano West staff is Blake Hughes, the younger of Mike and Carolyn‘s two sons. Blake, who played for his dad at Plano West, coaches the safeties.

Plano West meets Westlake (Austin) for the Region II title in Class 5A Division II. Game time is 2 p.m. Saturday in a return trip to Waco ISD Stadium.

"Westlake is a lot like us,'' said Hughes. "They are 9-4, just like we are, and they seem to be peaking at the right time. Defensively, they are really good.''{PAGEBREAK}

A 10-win season at any level of football has long been a benchmark of success.

Argyle coach Todd Rodgers is averaging 10 wins per season and, because the Eagles remain alive in the 2012 playoffs, that number could still climb.

Rodgers recorded his 100th victory as a head coach in Argyle's 42-14 elimination of Melissa in a Class 3A Division II area playoff Friday night.



In recognition of the milestone, Rodgers was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

Following win No. 100 Rodgers was presented with a plaque inscribed with all 100 wins, dating to his first season at the school in 2003.

"A lot of people have had a huge part in the success we've had,'' said Rodgers. "I knew this job had potential 10 years ago, but I couldn't have anticipated this.''

Argyle has qualified for the playoffs in nine straight years, missing only in his first season. Even then Argyle had a chance with a 5-5 campaign, but missed out because of an 8-6 loss to Gunter in Week 10. Rodgers still remembers the score of the game.

Rodgers' grooming for the Argyle job came in a nine-year stint as an assistant coach at Marcus (Flower Mound). Most of his work was done on the defensive side, but he also served one year as offensive coordinator.

Que Brittain's Marcus Marauders were a Class 5A Division II state finalist in 1995 and state champion in 1997.



"Coach Brittain was a great influence on me,'' Rodgers said. "I loved the way he did business. He gave a world of power to his assistant coaches and let them coach. I've tried to do the same thing.''

Rodgers, 47, and wife Carrie have three children: Emily, a 20-year-old who attends Oklahoma State; Cooper, 16, a sophomore quarterback for the Eagles and 11-year-old Lanie, a fifth grader.

Argyle, located south of Denton, went 1-9 in its first varsity football season in 2002. Rodgers was hired the next year.

Under Rodgers, Argyle's record is 100-29.

Argyle has twice made it to the state championship game, losing in the 2005 Class 2A Division I finals to Newton, 28-20, and last season in the Class 3A Division II title game to Wimberley, 21-14.

Prospects this fall were tempered by heavy graduation from last year's team and a small senior group of only nine players. Only seven starters returned from a 14-2 club.



After a 31-14 loss to West Texas power Wylie (Abilene) in the season opener, the Eagles grew up quickly. Their winning streak has reached 11. In eight of those wins, the Argyle defense has held opponents to no more than eight points.

"I guess I was somewhat pessimistic about what we could achieve due to the number of exceptional players we graduated,'' Rodgers said. "We anticipated some early bumps in the road, but we looked really good in our two scrimmages. Because we were inexperienced, we tried to simplify things. The kids have really good retention and they've been in our system since the seventh grade, so that is a big help.''

Argyle's most productive skill players, like the majority of starters, are underclassmen.

Nick Ralston, a 215-pound sophomore running back, has rushed for 1,656 yards and 23 touchdowns. He had 159 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff win over Melissa.

"He's a really good football player,'' said Rodgers. "Nick surprises some people with his speed.''

Junior quarterback Brandon Boyzuick has thrown for 1,838 yards and 19 touchdowns. His favorite target is fellow junior Ian Sadler with 46 catches for 969 yards and 12 scores. Sadler also has 344 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rusher.



Friday's Region II semifinal at Mesquite Memorial Stadium will be against a familiar opponent, 11-1 Gilmer, a state champion in 2004 and 2009. It will be the third-straight season for the teams to meet in the playoffs. Argyle has won the previous two, 41-14 in 2010 and 51-35 last season. But that's not a comfort to Rodgers right now.

"East Texas teams are always well coached and they get great support from their fans,'' Rodgers said. "I'm not sure there is a better group of coaches in the state than District 16-3A in East Texas. When you play one of those teams, it definitely has its challenges.''

It goes without saying an Argyle win would be a great way to start a new plaque.{PAGEBREAK}

Growing up as the son of a football coach helped guide Mike Fuller to the position he now holds — head football coach for the Heritage (Colleyville) Panthers.

"There's something special about growing up in a field house,'' Fuller said. "I've been close to high school football for as long as I can remember.''

Fuller learned his lessons well. Heritage (10-1) defeated Hebron 50-24 Saturday night in Arlington's Cowboys Stadium to advance to the second playoff round in Class 5A Division II.



In recognition of the bi-district victory, Fuller was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

In his own playing days at Arlington High in the 1980s, Fuller was a quarterback.

Not surprising then that a trademark of Fuller teams through his years at Heritage and earlier in a stint at Coppell is excellent quarterback play.

Fuller calls current Heritage senior Cody Thomas the best quarterback that he has coached. Against Hebron, the University of Oklahoma pledge completed 32 of 43 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns.

For the season, the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder has thrown for 3,779 yards and 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

"He's incredible,'' Fuller said.



In the third game of Fuller's senior season in 1987, he suffered a broken collarbone. But the most disappointing night of his football career also produced the moment when Fuller knew he wanted to become a coach.

His arm was in a sling when Arlington coach Mike O'Brien asked Fuller to stand nearby on the sideline and perhaps offer suggestions in play calling.

Fuller noticed when his replacement faked to the tailback and ran the bootleg that no defender was assigned to the tailback. If the tailback were to continue to run down the opposite sideline, he would be all alone. The play wasn't in the playbook, but during a timeout the suggestion was acted upon. Once implemented, it worked.

"That's the moment I realized the influence a coach has on a game,'' Fuller said. "I wanted to be a coach.''

In the spirit of being the best teammate possible, something Fuller preaches to players now, he returned from his long injury absence and was able to help Arlington in its playoff run as a receiver.

Now he looks at the injury as a blessing in disguise.



"If I hadn't gotten hurt, I probably wouldn't have gone to Abilene Christian and that's where I met my wife. Every year a senior player of mine is injured and goes through disappointment. That's the worst part of coaching. I'm able to tell my story, give some perspective and let them know it is not the end of the world.''

Fuller and his wife of 20 years, Holly, have two children, Autumn (13) and Roman (10).

Dave Fuller, Mike's father, was an assistant coach for some of the top programs in North Texas including Southlake Carroll, Grapevine, Arlington and Grand Prairie. He was a staff member of several state championship teams.

He came out of retirement last spring as a "consultant'' for Heritage.

"It was great getting his input,'' Fuller said.

Mike Fuller's younger brother Trent is in his second season as head coach at Lamar (Arlington). Lamar is also in the Class 5A Division II playoff bracket.



Should Heritage defeat 11-0 Midway (Waco) in an area playoff Saturday in Midlothian and should 6-5 Lamar beat 11-0 Abilene in an area playoff Friday at UT-Arlington's Maverick Stadium, Heritage and Lamar would face each other in the third round next week — brother vs. brother.

"We've talked about it and we'd be so excited to play each other,'' said Mike Fuller. "We scrimmaged each other this year, but we've never played each other in a game.''

As for Heritage‘s opponent this week, Midway has an outstanding quarterback in Kramer Robertson, who recently signed a baseball scholarship with LSU. Robertson is the son of Baylor University women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey.

Fuller said Thomas and Robertson are good friends by way of summer baseball.

"Midway is a very talented team, but something else comes across with them,'' said Fuller. "They just believe they are going to win. We've played teams just as talented that didn't have that kind of belief.''

Midway was a Class 4A Division I state finalist a year ago.



Fuller's record at Heritage is 52-17 and he believes this year's team is special. Six times it has come from behind to win.

"We've probably been more physical on defense with some past teams,'' said Fuller, "but this group does not get rattled.''{PAGEBREAK}

In the often-nomadic profession of high school coaching, Mike Wheeler was looking for a job in the early 1990s where he and wife Charlotte could establish roots and raise their two young daughters.

Wheeler, then 33, made the fateful decision to accept the football head coaching job at Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas).

Now, 21 years later, he is still prowling the sideline at Dallas Christian and there is absolutely no regret.

Daughters Sarah (age 27) and Merideth (22) didn't have to change schools growing up. Both are out on their own now.



Wheeler has enjoyed great success coaching Dallas Christian to a 198-56 record and four Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state titles.

The Chargers completed a 10-0 regular season and nailed down the TAPPS Division II District 2 title with a 45-16 win over Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill) on Friday and look like a strong contender for yet another state title.

In recognition for guiding his team to a perfect regular season, Wheeler was selected as the Dallas area coach of the week presented by Comerica Bank.

"I've been very fortunate to be able to stay in one place so long,'' Wheeler said. "I'd seen so many coaches come and go, putting their kids through changes, and we didn't want to do that. Other opportunities came along, but Dallas Christian is a great place.''

Wheeler said this year's team is special because of the large number of seniors -- 21 in all -- that have grown up together since elementary school. Heavy graduation from the 2008 team, the most recent of Wheeler's state championship teams, allowed several current seniors to get their feet wet at the varsity level four years ago.

"These seniors have known good times and bad and they've stayed together,'' Wheeler said.



Quarterback Alex Craig (6-6, 205 pounds), a senior in his second season as fulltime starter, has thrown for 1,719 yards and 22 touchdowns. In the Chargers most recent win, Craig recorded 316 passing yards and four touchdowns.

"I look at Alex as the dark horse of his recruiting class,'' Wheeler said. "He's finally gotten to the point where his feet have caught up to his body. Alex has made a lot of progress.''

Running back D'Andre Cannon has topped the 1,000-yard rushing barrier and scored 24 touchdowns.

Justis Nelson, a cornerback and receiver for Dallas Christian, has orally committed to Texas Tech. Nelson is one of six Chargers starting on both offense and defense.

"Resting players is always a concern when you have guys going both ways,'' Wheeler said. "I don't worry about rest as much at the skill positions, unless we are talking about a spot like tailback where there is a lot of contact. Rest is a bigger concern for linemen.''

Wheeler said he benefited from roles as an assistant under several excellent coaches during career stops in Oklahoma, his native Howe (Texas) and at Lakeview Centennial (Garland).



"I was on the staff of Bobby Watkins at Lakeview Centennial and from him I learned a coach has to be versatile," Wheeler said. "Once you get to the playoffs, you better be able to do more than one thing.''

Wheeler said he emphasizes defense and controlling the clock, but takes pride in adjusting the Chargers style of play to suit personnel.

In addition to the 2008 title, Dallas Christian won state under Wheeler in 1995, 1997 and 1998. His teams finished state runner-up five times.

The school demonstrated its appreciation to the coach and wife Charlotte (a teacher at Dallas Christian) earlier this year by naming the 3,000-seat stadium in their honor -- Wheeler Field.

And it is at Wheeler Field that Dallas Christian will open the TAPPS playoffs Friday night against Grace Prep (Arlington), a team the Chargers defeated 42-7 earlier this season.

"They've made a lot of changes since that first game,'' Wheeler said of his opponent. "You worry about mental focus in a situation like this. We need to go into it like a new game.''



At an age when some of his contemporaries are starting to think about retirement, Wheeler is not planning to step away anytime soon.

"I don't have a lot of hobbies,'' Wheeler said, "and I still have a passion for coaching.

"One of the first things I learned when I got into coaching and I've never forgot is that all this is not about me. It is about kids. You can't lose sight of that.''{PAGEBREAK}


It was anything but a typical start to the season for a proud Garland Owls football program.

Disastrous might be a better description. Four games resulted in four defeats — and most weren't close. The Owls were outscored 143-55.

But when District 11-5A games began in Week 5, Garland dug deep and found its stride.



A five-game winning streak has Garland right where it wanted to be all along, with a playoff berth and the district title secured going into the final game of the regular season.

In recognition of orchestrating the midseason turnaround, Garland coach Jeff Jordan was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"It was a growing process for us early and we were playing some very good football teams,'' Jordan said. "Even though our guys had been successful at the younger levels, we had to learn how to play at the Class 5A level. I'm really proud of the way they kept working and believing. I've told our seniors how much I appreciate them. Not every group could survive a start like we had.''

Jordan said he learned a long time ago that the correct approach is to keep the players built up when things aren't going their way.

"The biggest area is the mental side,'' Jordan said. "The players are being asked from the outside what's wrong and doubts begin to creep in for everybody. But when you win a few, they're bulletproof again and back on top of the world.''

Thrilling finishes have become a staple of Garland's run to the title.



In the district opener, the Owls defense held off a couple of late threats in a 30-23 victory over Lakeview Centennial (Garland). A week later, a 7-yard touchdown run by Jaharrad Haskins with 2:27 to play carried the Owls to a 26-21 victory over Rowlett.

The following week, Garland cut it much closer when it edged Sachse 23-21. Ja'Taveon Green's 3-yard winning touchdown run came with eight seconds on the clock. Garland's rally followed a Sachse go-ahead touchdown with 1:54 remaining.

In a 34-25 win over South Garland, Green filled in at quarterback because of an injury and completed 6-of-7 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Operating from the Wildcat formation, Green carried the ball 29 times for 155 rushing yards and two scores.

"Over the years, we've won a lot of close ones,'' Jordan said. "We sell our kids on finding a way to win in the fourth quarter.''

Last week's district title clincher, a 33-14 defeat of Naaman Forest (Garland), deviated from the script. The Owls had this game wrapped up in the third quarter. Running back E'Lon Green (no relation to Ja‘Taveon) rushed for 123 yards and four touchdowns to lead Garland.

Jordan, in his 12th season, is the longest tenured Garland High head coach. His teams have qualified for the playoffs 10 times. Before becoming the top man, he was an assistant at Garland for 13 years.



Jordan credits his predecessor, Joe Martin, as a big influence on his career. Jordan was defensive coordinator on Martin's 1999 Garland team that won the Class 5A Division II state title.

"Joe taught me a whole different way to relate to football and it changed fortunes for me,'' Jordan said.

Important support for Jordan comes from wife Shannon and two daughters, Abby, 21, and Carly, 15.

In his high school playing days, Jordan was a defensive lineman at Amarillo High. He was a walk-on at Texas A&M and a member of the Aggies' 1985 Southwest Conference championship team.

Jordan is a member of the Garland Sports Hall of Fame and has worked as an in-house scout for the Dallas Cowboys for the last 25 years.

Garland (5-4, 5-0 in District 11-5A) can post a second straight unbeaten district record with a win over North Garland (1-8, 0-5) on Thursday. Garland carries a 20-year winning streak versus North Garland into the game.



For Jordan and his team, the old saying has never had more meaning: It's how you finish — not how you start. {PAGEBREAK}


Before taking the field against the No. 2-ranked Class 4A football team in Texas, Red Oak coach Mike Shields talked to his players about the rare opportunity that awaited them.

"I told our guys you don't get many chances to get to play a team like Lancaster with that kind of rating,'' Shields said. "And how big a win could be for us.''

Apparently, his Hawks were paying attention.

Red Oak dominated the Lancaster Tigers in the battles up front and scored a 17-0 upset Friday night before an approving home crowd at Billy Goodloe Stadium.

For his role in orchestrating the upset, Shields was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.



With Friday's stunner, Red Oak (5-3, 4-1 in District 15-4A) moved into a tie with Lancaster for second place in the district standings. Ennis (8-0, 5-0) is the district leader.

"It was a big win for us,'' Shields said. "We played well on both sides of the ball. Offensively, we were able to run the ball and chew up the clock. The defense got us two turnovers that gave our offense a shot.''

Defensive lineman Josh Fisher, a 6-foot, 265-pound senior, knocked the ball free from a Lancaster ball-carrier with a big hit for one turnover and also pounced on a fumbled exchange by the Tigers.

"It's hard to single out any player in a game like that because so many played well, but Josh made some big plays,'' Shields said.

Offensively, senior running back Cameron Bausley (5-10, 180) had his number called 32 times and responded with 117 rushing yards, putting him the over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

"I would describe Cameron as a guy that keeps the chains moving,'' Shields said. "He runs inside and he may not break a lot of long runs, but he allows us to control the ball.''



Bausley and the Hawks did their job of playing keep-away so well that Lancaster had only two possessions in the second half.

"One thing that helped us in the game is the fact that we've had a good record against Lancaster over the years. That made a difference in confidence for our kids,'' Shields said.

Shields and his wife of 22 years, Maria, have two daughters, Sierra, 18, and Parker, 6, along with son Colton, 16, who is a junior deep snapper and reserve receiver for the Hawks.

When Shields accepted the head coaching job at Red Oak in 2007, the Hawks had gone 3-27 the previous three seasons. The playoff drought stretched 22 seasons.

All of that changed in Shields' first season when Red Oak went 10-3, advancing three rounds in the playoffs.

"When we came here, we had to instill confidence,'' Shields said. "I remember one of our players asked me if we were going to have all new coaches like they had been having every year. So our coaching staff needed to be stable and confident because if anything went wrong, with a 3-27 record in three seasons, they could put their heads down. We had a great group of seniors that season.''



Shields' record in six seasons at Red Oak is 36-27. Since that 2007 breakout year, Red Oak has made the playoffs two more times.

"Now our kids expect to be in the playoffs,'' said Shields.

Red Oak now needs one victory in either of its final two games to wrap up a post-season berth. The Hawks play at Waxahachie on Friday and host Seguin (Arlington) on Nov. 9.

"We preach to our guys not to worry about anything except the game at hand, that all we have to do is win one game,'' Shields said. "Because when you start a season in an eight-team district, it makes it difficult if you think you've got to go 7-0.'' {PAGEBREAK}


An unbeaten season is alive and well for Mesquite after back-to-back wins over chief rivals the last two weeks.

The Skeeters are 8-0 (4-0 in District 12-5A). The last season Mesquite reached the eight-win plateau was 2001 when it went 15-0 and won the Class 5A Division I state title.



For his part in leading Mesquite's impressive 2012 charge, Robbie Robinson was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"It's been a great ride so far,'' said Robinson, coming off a 56-10 rout of rival North Mesquite on Friday. "What makes it more special is how far we've come to get to this point.''

Don't look for Robinson and a corps of seniors to let success go to their heads.

It was only two seasons ago, in 2010, that Mesquite suffered through a second consecutive 1-9 season, going 0-5 in district play. A hard-boiled group of present-day seniors remembers first hand.

That season Robinson promoted his top sophomores to the varsity for a very simple reason.

"They were the best players we had,'' Robinson said. "We had to bring them up. We took some lumps, but also learned some valuable lessons.''



Somewhat overlooked was another encouraging sign in 2010. Even with the promotion of elite players in the 2013 class, the other sophomores that remained on the junior varsity produced a district championship.

"We knew we had a special class,'' Robinson said.

Mesquite took many by surprise in 2011 by going three rounds deep in the Class 5A Division I playoff bracket. Along the way, Mesquite knocked out Belton and Garland before elimination at the hands of The Woodlands. Not a bad run for a team that finished fourth in a talent-laden District 11-5A.

Last season's 7-6 record proved a springboard to this fall. But the Skeeters knew North Mesquite wouldn't be impressed going into the annual showdown.

The Mesquite-North Mesquite game is the oldest rivalry in the city. By winning, Mesquite saw its series advantage grow to 23-19-1.

Mesquite senior quarterback Alex Cooper threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a pair of scores. The Skeeters' defense allowed 2-5 North Mesquite only 145 yards and intercepted two passes.



Mesquite was coming off a 56-41 victory over Horn, the other Class 5A Mesquite school.

"We had the disadvantage of playing our two biggest rivals in consecutive weeks,'' said Robinson. "North Mesquite is still probably our biggest rival because of the history, but Horn is a big rival, too.''

Mesquite's smallest margin of victory so far is 14 points, coming in a 34-20 victory over 6-1 Bowie (Arlington) in the second game of the season and in a 49-35 win over 3-4 Plano West in the fourth game.

The Skeeters have gotten superb play from Cooper, who has a 76 percent completion rate while throwing for 2,374 yards and 17 touchdowns thus far.

"Alex is a basketball player too,'' said Robinson. "He hasn't gotten a lot of football recruiting attention. I'm surprised the scouts aren't all over him, the way he is playing.''

Rashard Higgins is Cooper's top target with 54 catches for 942 yards and six touchdowns.



The only Mesquite player so far with a college commitment, defensive back Anthony Canady (Rice), is close to coming back but remains out with a broken leg he suffered at the 7-on-7 state football tournament in July.

Robinson said the most pleasant surprise so far is the way linemen on both sides of the ball have stepped up and played well.

Robinson is a Mesquite High alum and settled in as a defensive assistant coach from 1989 until 2008 when he was tabbed for the head coaching position. The University of Texas graduate had a high school assistant coaching stop at Plano East and a stint as strength coach in the Jim Wacker regime at TCU before returning to Mesquite.

On Friday, Robinson and the Skeeters continue their drive for the District 12-5A crown with a home game against 1-6 Lee (Tyler).

Said Robinson: "I'm very blessed to work with a great group of coaches on this staff as well as a group of kids that love to play hard.''{PAGEBREAK}


Highland Park (Dallas) coach Randy Allen had a decision to make. And not much time to think about it.



Hank Howard's third touchdown run of the game with 52 seconds remaining had brought his Scots within a point of Poteet (Mesquite).

Conventional thinking is to send on the kicking unit and play for overtime. But Allen chose instead to attempt to win the game at that moment with a two-point conversion.

Quarterback Jet Tuma's successful conversion run put Highland Park on top and the Scots held on for a victory by the narrowest of margins, 20-19.

For his decision that ultimately paved the way for a crucial win, Allen was selected as the Dallas Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"I've been on both sides when going for the two points worked and when it didn't,'' said Allen, coaching in his 32nd season. "There really wasn't much time to think about it. My main focus was getting the touchdown. If I had a lot of time to think about it, I might not have gone for two.

"Our offensive line wanted to go for it, but they always do,'' Allen said. "So did my offensive coordinator. But we didn't have a lot of plays I felt good about.''



The buildup to the winning play was anything but seamless.

"We went with an unbalanced formation and an option play, but we only had 10 on the field until our tight end came in late,'' Allen said.

Tuma later told Allen that he had to call the play out to the tight end and he was sure the Poteet defenders heard the call. Execution made the difference, even though the second half had been a struggle for the Highland Park offense.

"We got two or three really good blocks that gave us the room we needed,'' Allen said.

The coach had factors to weigh before pushing his chips to the middle of the table. The Scots failed on two extra-point kicks earlier in the game. One was blocked and the other missed. Fatigue was another concern, should the game go to overtime.

"Our defense had been on the field a lot in the second half. The kids were tired,'' Allen said. "And we were playing on the road with a chance to win right there.''



After taking the lead, Highland Park (5-1) still had to hold off a final chance for Poteet (5-1). Linebacker Chris Mitchell's interception with 28 seconds remaining sealed it for the Scots.

The win keeps Highland Park in a first-place tie in District 10-4A along with Friday's opponent, West Mesquite. Both are 3-0 in district games. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Highland Park's Highlander Stadium.

The victory over Poteet vaulted Allen over former Lamar (Arlington) coach Eddy Peach to No. 9 all-time in Texas high school coaching ranks with 310 wins (along with 77 losses and six ties). Four more wins will move him to solo seventh.

"I was fortunate to have some really great coaches in my career, men that made a big impact,'' Allen said.

He counts Tom Landry as a coach that was an influence on him. Landry died in 2000 and the following season Allen began his tradition of coaching in a fedora.

Before coming to Highland Park, Allen was a proven winner at three West Texas stops as a head coach -- Ballinger, Brownwood and his high school alma mater of Cooper (Abilene). He followed the legendary Gordon Wood at Brownwood.



Allen is in his 14th season at Highland Park and his teams have won at least 10 games in every season except 2004. His record as Scots coach is 157-18.

Allen said he asks himself one question when he considers how long he will continue to coach: "Is there anything else I can do and have this big an impact on young people? The answer so far is ‘No.'''{PAGEBREAK}


In its first season of football in a larger classification, Prosper (Texas) is indeed continuing to prosper.

The Eagles are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in District 9-4A following Friday's 38-36 come-from-behind victory over previously-unbeaten Centennial (Frisco).

For his team's victory and the way it has dealt with the challenge of jumping up a class, Prosper coach Kent Scott was selected as the Dallas Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"For six years we've known the day was coming that we'd be moving up at some point,'' said Scott, in his seventh year at Prosper. "We've done things to try and prepare ourselves.''



While Prosper was still in Class 3A, Scott scheduled non-district games against Class 4A schools. The Eagles added a second junior varsity team that played games against some Class 5A junior varsity programs.

"There really isn't a lot of difference in playing the top 3A schools and a Class 4A schedule,'' said Scott. "But in 3A after playing a top team, you might catch somebody on the lower end. Now it is tough every week.''

Texas public schools are classified based on enrollment. The Class 4A enrollment number is 990-2,064. Class 3A is 430-989.

Prosper's enrollment of 1,257 makes it the smallest in District 9-4A by almost 300 students.

"You always want to see how your kids respond,'' said Scott. "Centennial got 10 points up on us in the third quarter. Our guys battled back at that point. That's one thing about this group. They respond to a challenge.''

Brothers Torii Hunter Jr. and Money Hunter played big roles in the Prosper win. They are the sons of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who was part of the packed house at Prosper's B.W. Durham Stadium on Friday.



Torii Hunter Jr., a Notre Dame commit as a wide receiver, shined at cornerback against Centennial. He made a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and a possibly game-saving tackle on the game's final play.

Money Hunter, best known for his defensive play at safety, showed versatility by catching two of the four touchdown passes thrown by quarterback Davis Webb.

"Torii was up in the stands, supporting the team,'' said Scott. "I got a text from him Saturday. As good as athlete as he is, he's a better dad.''

Famous athletes are not unique in Prosper, a suburb about 35 miles north of Dallas. Among its nearly 13,000 residents Prosper can count Deion Sanders, Randy White and Major League pitcher LaTroy Hawkins.

Webb's 1-yard touchdown run with 4:33 remaining stood up as the decisive score. It capped a 73-yard, seven-play drive after the Eagles fell behind, 36-32.

Webb, a Texas Tech commit, completed 20 of 36 passes for 196 yards and rushed 14 times for 60 yards.



Despite failing to force a Centennial punt, Prosper's defense came up with three turnovers to help secure the Eagles biggest win in the 4A ranks so far.

Scott's highlight at Prosper remains the 2008 Class 3A Division I state title when the Eagles went 14-1 and in the finals defeated La Vega (Waco) 17-10 at since-imploded Texas Stadium.

With a look ahead to what one day will be a move to Texas' largest classification, Scott scheduled Class 5A Keller for this season's opening game. Prosper was rewarded with a confidence-gaining 39-21 victory.

Now looking like the big kid on the 9-4A block, Prosper begins the second half of the regular season by hosting Wakeland (Frisco) on Friday.{PAGEBREAK}


Football hopes for Coppell (Texas), rosy at the completion of spring practice, turned uncertain leading up to kickoff of the 2012 season.

The Cowboys would be without a couple of contributors at key positions, dismissed for repeat rule violations over the summer.

But now at the midpoint of the regular season, any apprehension is long gone.



Coppell boasts a 5-0 record, its latest triumph Friday night's 27-24 overtime thriller over Allen (Texas), then No. 10 nationally in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings.

For his team's upset victory, and conviction to principle, Coppell coach Joe McBride was selected as the Dallas Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.

"Every place has its rules, its black and white boundary,'' said McBride. "I'm a guy that believes all kids need to have second chances. I consider myself a mentor to kids. We invest a lot of time and we care about them. But there is also a point where kids have to be held accountable to each other.''

From the outset, Coppell has focused on the task at hand this season. Coming into the Allen game Coppell had built a perfect 5-0 record.

Allen, however, represented Coppell's biggest test to date. Buoyed by the opening of its $60 million stadium this season, Allen's resume included impressive wins over defending Class 5A Division I state champion Carroll (Southlake, Texas) and Cedar Hill (Texas).

Coppell got off to a fast start and led Allen throughout the first half, only to fall behind in the third quarter.



Trailing by eight points in the fourth quarter, Coppell had to dig deep to drive 78 yards for a touchdown and make good on a 2-point conversion to reach overtime.

Colby Mahon's 35-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Smith with five minutes remaining brought Coppell to within two, 21-19. Luke Jenner added a conversion run to tie.

A Coppell goal-line stand limited Allen to a go-ahead field goal in overtime. When Coppell got its overtime chance the senior connection of Mahon-to-Smith found the end zone again, this time from 23 yards, for the game-winner that spurred a walk-off celebration at Coppell's Cowboys Stadium.

"I'm just so proud of the way our kids responded,'' McBride said. "It was a great game by both teams in a playoff-type atmosphere. We battled through a lot of adversity.''

Smith finished with six catches for 129 yards and Mahon, a transfer from Class 3A Bridgeport (Texas), connected on 11 of 22 throws for 165 yards.

Coppell, which climbed from No. 66 nationally in the Freeman rankings to No. 14, got a big lift from a 116-yard rushing performance by junior Gavin McDaniel, the younger brother of former Coppell star runner Cam McDaniel, now a sophomore for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.



"Gavin is unique in his own way from Cam,'' said McBride, "but he shares the same passion and effort. Both of them play the game with a lot of heart.''

When McBride took the reigns of the football program in 2009, he became Coppell's third head coach in three seasons. He has stabilized the situation and endeared himself to Coppell fans with a record that now stands at 35-7.

The Cowboys reached the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs in McBride‘s first season. They went a step deeper in 2010, going 13-1, losing to Euless Trinity in a memorable state quarterfinal.

Dogged by injuries in 2011 — including injuries to two quarterbacks — Coppell failed to make the playoffs.

McBride has earned the reputation for "defense first'' in an era of offensive-minded mentors. Coppell's defense is allowing only 10.5 points per game.

"I don't de-emphasize offense, but I'm a firm believer that defense wins championships,'' McBride said. "You've got to be able to stop people or it doesn't matter how many points you score.''



The strength of this particular Coppell defense is its front four led by defensive ends Solomon Thomas and William Udeh, a University of New Mexico pledge.

McBride and his Cowboys have an open week to bask in the glow before opening the District 5-5A schedule at Hebron on Friday, Oct. 12.{PAGEBREAK}


It was a long week for Bowie (Arlington, Texas) football coach Kenny Perry, but not too long for a victory, a truly hard-earned 38-36 win over previously unbeaten Skyline late Friday night.

According to the Arlington Voice, the Homecoming game lasted until 11:10 p.m. We're talking longer than four hours. And it didn't even go overtime.

For his team's upset victory, and Perry's overtime work, he was selected as the Dallas coach of the week presented by Comerica Bank.

"We just wanted a win," Perry told the Voice afterward. "I couldn't care less if the game went 24 hours."



It was a hallow win in some ways for Perry because his son and starting quarterback Keaton Perry wasn't in the game. He sustained a season-ending knee injury the week before.

But the Volunteers (2-1) rallied behind his replacement Tony James, only a sophomore, who accounted for 296 yards and all five of his team's touchdowns. His first scoring pass to Jordan Versey resulted in three celebration/unsportsmanlike penalties, though it didn't really seem to bother Perry.

"I told the players to go out and have fun tonight," he told The Voice. "They were playing for each other and we knew we were going to make this work."

They did despite nearly squandering a three-touchdown lead. Skyline came all the way back to 38-36 late, but Bowie knocked away a two-point conversion try with 2:08 left then ran out the clock for the emotional victory.

"I couldn't be more proud of Tony James and the way he played," he told the Voice. "We've been through so much this week, but now we're going back to what we've done the last six or seven years."

Winning wasn't always a part of Bowie's football tradition. Quite the opposite until Perry arrived.



In 2006, the Volunteers went 7-3 overall and 5-2 in district play - in second place behind eventual state 5A-II winner Cedar Hill. Bowie made its first berth in the playoffs.

He's now led Bowie to the playoffs four of the last six years. The Volunteers were the outright district champ in 2008 and co-champs in 2007 and 2009.

"He's a very high-energy guy and a terrific motivator whose players love to play for," said Dallas Morning News columnist Matt Wixon. "Arlington Bowie was a perennial loser before he got there and he's made it one of the top programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. They are always a scary opponent in the playoffs." {PAGEBREAK}