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2019 Copperas Cove Leader-Press | Sports Spectacular Page 1 SPORTSPECTACULAR S AUGUST 27, 2019 Page 2 Copperas Cove Leader-Press | Sports Spectacular 2019 DR.COPPERAS BATTLE COVE & B DR.ULLDAWGS ELLIS FOOTBALL - VARSITY Coryell Health’s Ortho Team Coryell Health Orthopedics & Spine offers convenient, expert care in orthopedics and sports medicine close to home. Board certified orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Jacob Battle and Dr. Lance Ellis, work with people of all ages and abilities to develop individualized and comprehensive treatment programs – from injury prevention and evaluation to orthopedic surgery and post-injury rehabilitation. Orthopedic and Joint Replacement Surgery Minimally Invasive Procedures Spine Injections & Surgery Fracture Management Dr. Battle – Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Knee and Shoulder Replacement Dr. Ellis – Orthopedic Spine Surgery, Hip Replacement and Reconstruction WHERE YOU ALWAYS FEEL AT HOME Gatesville | Clifton | Copperas Cove | Waco | CoryellHealth.org 2019 Copperas Cove Leader-Press | Sports Spectacular Page 3 YEAR TWO HOLDS EXCITING POSSIBILITIES FOR ALVAREZ AND STAFF By TJ MAXWELL stuff but we’re excited about him. Cove Leader-Press We probably have four guys right now that are competing for two n a truncated first season for spots at guard.” Inew athletic director and One of the most anticipated head football coach Jack Alvarez, battles is that between junior the Bulldawgs defied expectations quarterback Russel Cochran and and predictions to earn a spot in sophomore Shane Richey where the 2018 playoffs. Cochran appears to have an edge, Alvarez and his team want to but not by much. do more than just get there this “Iron sharpens iron,” JACK ALVAREZ - AD/HC JASON HAMMETT - ASST HC BRANDON ALVAREZ - OC CODY MCCAULEY - DC year… they want to win at least Alvarez said of the quarterback one, and they think they have what it takes to do it. check my record. In the years that we’ve had quality competition. “They are both competing well. They With an always full stable of running backs, some receivers and quality quarterbacks, my teams have both have different qualities that are very positive. highly touted offensive lineman and receivers, along been very, very competitive.” We’re close. I think right now, it is what it seems to with two big elusive quarterbacks vying for the starting The 6-foot-3 Cochran or 6-0 Richey will be be as far as who’s ahead, but Richey is getting better job, Alvarez likes how his offense is shaping up. throwing to a pair of 6-3 receivers in Jaylin Smith and every day and Rusty’s getting better every day, too. “I’m excited about those possibilities,” said Jahmeel Rice on the outside. The starter will be the starter when it’s time.” Alvarez. “I think the throwing and the running is going He acknowledges, however, that the run game nor The competition does not stop at the quarterback to help each other. passing game would not be possible if not for a solid position, it goes across the board. “We’ve just got to make sure we can execute the blocking to open up both aspects and he likes their “We’ve got a real shot of having some good things we’re trying to do. You can have great receivers, chances there as well. competition at all spots,” said Alvarez. “It’s not just great quarterbacks and great running backs but, to “We like our possibilities there,” said Alvarez. “We quarterback that has a competition. That was the me, the key is execution. When you block it up, did feel like our center and tackles are pretty solid with difference last year, it kind of was what it was most everybody go to the right place? When a quarterback (Aaron) Shanahan and (McKenzie) Agnello. (Ethan) of the year. This year, our two deeps are competing makes a read, did he throw it to the right guy?” Swanner and (Ayden) Paquette have been playing at for jobs.” The combination of tall quarterbacks and tall tight end. That gives us three surface sides to block Four different running backs will be vying for time receivers is also going to help the offense, says Alvarez. with. We think that those two can be a positive for us. See Bulldawgs, Page 9 “It matters,” he said. “You can go back and (Coltton) Sherwood has been through some injury Page 4 Copperas Cove Leader-Press | Sports Spectacular 2019 BULLDAWGS CROSS COUNTRY RETURNS EXPERIENCED GROUP By TJ MAXWELL Cove Leader-Press ravis Boyce Jr. begins his second year in control of Tthe boys’ cross-country and basketball programs and he expects this cross-country season to be a successful one with the return of nearly the entire roster from 2018. “We’ve got a really solid cross-country team this year,” he said. “I believe the boys will be a lot more competitive than we have in the past. I think I have quite a few guys that can make some noise for us.” Leading the pack is a pair of senior returners in Ahmad Pierce and Isaiah Sobers, along with fellow seniors James Ross, Joshua Guerriero, Leonardo Deleon-Ortiz, Deayra Corbin and Isaih Baker. “Ahmad came on really strong at the end of last year,” said Boyce. “He’s probably our top guy coming back. We also have senior Isaiah Sobers that we’re looking at doing some major things for us.” Boyce expects some underclassmen to make an COPPERAS COVE BULLDAWGS CROSS COUNTRY impact as well. “We also have a couple of surprise sophomores and athletes usually end up being very successful later on in The Bulldawgs have around a month and a half to get juniors that I think will shock some people,” he said. life because the dedication it takes to get up and run every ready to compete for that elusive team qualification. “They will help us compete and actually have a shot at day at 6 in the morning and leave for meets at 5:30 in the “It helps us that these kids do run track in the spring, getting out of district this year which could be a change for morning. The dedication it takes to just get up and run. and we do some things throughout the summer because us. We haven’t had that in a while.” You’re not playing with a ball. There’s really no other it is pretty quick when cross country season hits,” said Leading that younger group is junior Evan Thomas, objective but to just run so it takes a special kind of person. Boyce. “You pretty much need to be in shape from the who had the top finishing time at the season opening Temple To do something like that over a period of time does start because you only have a few meets to prepare for that Invitational. Juniors Colby Thomas, Connor Medrano, develop your character.” district meet that comes in the beginning of October. So, and Brennan Buzard; sophomores Ayden Seymour, Justin It also helps student-athletes learn what means to be a they do have to make sure they are mentally and physically Crook, Tyler Morrow and Sean Anderson; and freshman dependable teammate. set and ready so they can come in and compete.” Elijah Thomas fill out the cross-country roster. “You have to be the ultimate team player with the Cove competed this morning in the Pro-fit Invitational Boyce knows that dedication and work ethic is sport itself,” said Boyce. “Because, you want to compete at James B. Wilson Park in Temple and will travel to Waco required to excel in any sport but feels it’s really a necessity individually to get yourself to the best you can be with the this Thursday for the Midway Invitational at the HOT understanding that what you can do will also help your in cross-country. See LDCC, Page 10 “I think that goes across all sports,” he said. “Student- teammates get in that top five scores.” *Educator must teach within Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, or Erath Counties 2019 Copperas Cove Leader-Press | Sports Spectacular Page 5 LADY DAWGS CROSS-COUNTRY LOOKS FOR POSTSEASON RUN UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP By TJ MAXWELL being verbal. Her actions take us a long Barnes-Graham also knows that competitiveness.” Cove Leader-Press way. Those young kids are following in learning curve has to be a short one as The girls’ cross-country team her footsteps and I think that’s important.” there are just five more meets before the members are Honea, senior Livonna opperas Cove new head girls’ Honea finished second at the District District 12-6A meet on Oct. 17. Wallace, senior Amiyah James, junior Ccross-country and basketball 12-6A last year as a junior behind Waco “That’s where the mental toughness Breonna McCarthy-Reese, junior Jalyn coach Tiffney Barnes-Graham will have High junior Anna Garner and went on comes in,” she said. “You’ve got to push Ayala, junior Micah Sedillo, junior a little easier transition this cross-country to finish 95th out of 183 runners at the yourself now and work your butt off Angelica Montanez, junior Micah season thanks to four-year cross-country Region II-6A meet. because for those few weeks just to be Anderson, sophomore Leliana Perez, standout Madisen Honea who returns for prepared. This is the best sport to build See LDCC, Page 10 her senior season to lead a squad with a that confidence, mental toughness and mix of seniors and underclassmen. “She’s doing amazing,” said Branes- Graham. “She has put in so much work over the summer. I think she realizes this is her senior year and she has to give it all she’s got and that’s what she’s doing.