Coppell football gets its shot at superpower Euless Trinity

With three state titles since 2005, the Trinity (Euless) football team casts a large shadow. This year, that shadow has provided some cover for a team from a school only 12 miles away.

But this week, Coppell (13-0) gets its chance to steal the spotlight from Trinity (13-0). It can also steal the hopes of Trinity repeating as Class 5A Division I champion when the teams meet Friday in a regional final.

"They're a fantastic team," Coppell quarterback Joe Minden said of Trinity. "Everybody in the nation knows about them."

As for Coppell, well … People are learning.



Last week Coppell had to drive 300 miles west for a third-round matchup with Midland. But Midland got pummeled at its home stadium, losing to Coppell 49-7 in a game that was a mismatch from the start.

Coppell had 285 yards in the first quarter alone. By halftime, Coppell was up 42-7 and Midland had only two first downs. Midland's only touchdown came after a long kickoff return let it start a drive 23 yards from the end zone.

So how good is Coppell?

That question will be answered Friday night at Southlake Carroll, the site of the Trinity-Coppell regional final. Trinity can certainly expect an inspired effort from Coppell, which is having its best season in more than a decade.

"Our kids are so passionate," Coppell coach Joe McBride said. "They just want to get everything out of this season that they can."

More top stories of the last week from around the Dallas area.



MESQUITE POTEET'S AMAZING RUN CONTINUES
Poteet (Mesquite), which was a combined 1-19 in the previous two seasons, advanced to the 4A Division II Region II final with a 45-21 win over previously undefeated Highland Park. It was the first time Poteet has beaten Highland Park in their 15 matchups since Poteet opened in 1990. Running back Steven Hicks rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns for Poteet (11-2).

DALLAS-AREA 5A TEAMS GOING STRONG IN PLAYOFFS
Euless Trinity (13-0), Coppell (13-0) and DeSoto (11-2) are still alive in the 5A Division I playoffs, and Guyer (Denton) (11-2), Carroll (Southlake) (10-3) and Horn (Mesquite) (9-4) are contenders in 5A Division II. That gives the Dallas area six regional finalists for the first time since 2006. Trinity was the only local 5A state semifinalist last year, but the Dallas area is guaranteed at least two semifinalists this year and could have four.

WYLIE AVENGES LOSS, ADVANCES TO REGIONAL FINAL
In its second game of the season, Wylie lost to West Mesquite, 24-22, on a field goal with nine seconds left. But Wylie took charge early when the teams met again in a rematch. Wylie (10-3) led 31-10 early in the third quarter and held on for a 38-30 victory. Nico Ramirez threw three touchdown passes for Wylie, which two years ago advanced to the 5A Division state final. "When we play together," Wylie coach Bill Howard said, "we feel like we can do anything."

TOP PERFORMERS
Among the outstanding efforts last week:

* Collin Strahan, Mesquite Horn: The senior quarterback passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown in a 43-27 victory over Leander.

* Jermaine Merdock, Wylie: The senior receiver caught eight passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 9-yard run in Wylie's 38-30 victory over West Mesquite.

* Jonny Paramore, Ryan (Denton): The senior outside linebacker made eight tackles and had two interceptions, including one he returned for the clinching touchdown of Ryan's 19-10 win over Hewitt Midway.

LOOKING AHEAD
* In a rematch of a nondistrict game earlier this season, Stony Point (Round Rock) (13-0) takes on DeSoto (11-2) in a 5A Division I regional final. Stony Point won, 46-29, at DeSoto in September, but DeSoto's defense is playing much better now. The winner plays the Trinity-Coppell winner.



* District rivals Denton Guyer and Southlake Carroll meet in a 5A Division II regional final. Guyer piled up nearly 600 yards of offense when it beat Carroll, 28-14, in the first matchup this season.

* Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth) (14-0) and Prestonwood Christian (Plano) (11-2), a pair of North Texas teams, will battle Saturday for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division I football championship. They'll each need to travel south more than 150 miles to the site of the game in Killeen. Nolan beat Prestonwood, 24-21, earlier this season.

NEWS AND VIEWS
Coppell senior running back Cam McDaniel (5-10, 185) has orally committed to Notre Dame. McDaniel, who has rushed for 1,859 yards and 31 touchdowns this season, was visited Monday morning and offered the scholarship by Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. McDaniel accepted on the spot, according to The Dallas Morning News. "He's very passionate about the game of football," Coppell coach Joe McBride said of McDaniel. "He's very driven to succeed." … Many considered 8-5A the best football district in the state this year, but all of its playoff teams – Allen, Flower Mound, Flower Mound Marcus and Plano – were eliminated in the first two rounds. Now three rounds into the playoffs, a pair of Dallas-area districts have three teams still in the playoffs. District 7-5A has Coppell, Denton Guyer and Southlake Carroll in the running, and District 11-5A survivors are DeSoto, Longview and Mesquite Horn.

Matt Wixon is the high school sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He can be reached at mwixon@dallasnews.com or on Twitter @mattwixon.