BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
MANSFIELD – The North Crowley defense shifted into another gear in the second half as the Panthers defeated the Coppell Cowboys 35-24 on Saturday in their Class 6A Division 1 regional semifinal game at Newsom Stadium.
North Crowley (13-0) will face Allen in the Region 1 final next week, most likely on Saturday. The winner of that game will head to the state semifinals.
Coppell (12-1) landed the first punch when the Cowboys marched downfield on the opening possession. 5-10, 200 pound running back O’Marion Mbakwe hurdled a defender and then later picked up a big gain to push the ball inside the red zone. Mbakwe capped off the impressive drive with the first of three touchdown runs in the first half.
But the Coppell momentum quickly died as North Crowley scored on the next play from scrimmage – a 75-yard touchdown off a double pass.
QB Chris Jimerson threw it to WR Quentin Gibson, who found a wide open Kevin Moore with nothing but green turf in front of him. The Panthers tied it at 7-7 with 6:54 left in the opening frame.
The Cowboys drove downfield again, but the drive ended when North Crowley’s Aaron Bradshaw picked off a pass attempt and returned it near midfield. But the Panthers gave it right back when Coppell’s Matthew Neitzel caught a pass that bounced off a North Crowley wide receiver. Coppell turned the interception into points when Mbakwe scored from the 6 for his second touchdown and the Cowboys led 14-7 with 11:13 left in the second quarter.
North Crowley got near the red zone, but its drive ended when Coppell’s punched the ball out on a run attempt and Titus Roberson recovered for the Cowboys.
However, North Crowley’s defense forced a three-and-out and the first punt of the day.
With the ball back on offense, it didn’t take long for the Panthers to get close when Warren rushed for 41 yards and Coppell added 15 on a facemask that put North Crowley at the Cowboys’ 12. Two plays later and Warren scored from the 11, but the extra point was blocked as Coppell continued to lead at 14-13 with 6:40 remaining in the second quarter.
Mbakwe’s amazing first half continued as he went into halftime with 125 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He scored his third from the 6 and Coppell led 21-13 with 2:40 on the clock.
North Crowley answered with 22 straight points – starting with Warren’s second TD of the day. Warren also got in on the conversion and it was tied at 21-all going to the break. The drive was highlighted by a 54-yard keeper from Jimerson, a 3-star prospect that committed to North Texas in the summer. In the third quarter, after another Coppell punt where Gibson gained 23 yards, Warren scored on the next play from scrimmage – a 40-yard run and the Panthers had their first lead at 28-21 with 8:50 left.
The Panthers’ defense started to heat up as they made back-to-back sacks on that Coppell drive and then one more on the next drive that forced another punt.
Kiante Ingram scored from the 7 and North Crowley extended its lead to 35-21 with 3:40 to play in the third.
Coppell got on the scoreboard in the second half when Joshua Lock picked up a 24-yard gain and then the Cowboys scored on a field goal to pull within 35-24 late in the third. But that would be it for them as the Panthers’ defense continued to shine in the second half – giving the Cowboys’ offense trouble. Coppell did manage to drive late in the game, but two sacks would end the match and send North Crowley to the regional final.
The Panthers rushed for over 250 yards led by Warren’s 200 on the ground.
Like North Crowley, Allen is also 13-0 after the Eagles beat Euless Trinity 22-21 on Friday night.
