Friday, September 18, 1998

Cougars facing tough battle against No. 8 team

By JEFF WALKER

Staff Writer

Things can't get much worse for the Cooper football team. After dropping their first game Thursday at Waco High, 24-10, the Cougars learned their opening-week victory over Killeen High was stripped because of an ineligible player.

To cap off the week, Cooper must face the eighth-ranked team in the state, North Mesquite, as the school celebrates homecoming at Shotwell Stadium.

Head coach Randy Allen said team morale is good despite the early-season obstacles.

"Some teams start the season like a house on fire and some need to face adversity before becoming a solid unit," he said. "It's a young season and we're still having some kids get some experience under fire. We're going to compete and play as well as we can. We know what we've got to do when you play this type of competition."

The Stallions lost five players from last years squad to graduation who are playing collegiate football, including one to the University of Colorado, one to Louisiana Tech and one to Memphis University.

They do, however, return five players to a defense that has allowed just 52 yards per game through the first two weeks.

"We got some guys that play real well together," N. Mesquite head coach Buster Leaf. "Our tackles and linebackers have played real well in controlling the line. They play good team defense, run to the football well and make the plays."

The Stallions are led by linebacker Josh Buhl (6-2, 195) and tackles Corey White (6-3, 265) and Dustin Loren (5-11, 285).

"Their defense is great, they're very fast," Allen said. "We thought Waco's defense was good, but (North Mesquite) is better."

In opening the season with two straight wins, N. Mesquite held Flower Mound Marcus to 10 first downs and 110 total yards in a 21-7 season-opening victory. The Stallions came back and limited Dallas Carter to -1 yards of total offense the last week in their 31-6 romp over the Cowboys.

The Cougars will have to overcome a few injuries if they are going to be successful against North Mesquite.

Linebackers Somdy Vorasane and Paul Mock are out with knee injuries, while cornerback Lee Haggerty is sidelined with a fractured wrist.

"I've found out through the years that when a team experiences injuries they play better than expected," Allen said. "The new guys want to show they can play and the rest of the team picks it up a bit to help them adjust."

Replacing Vorasane and Mock on defense will be junior Josh Adams and senior Vincent Puluscio, while seniors Josh Nunn and Adam Riddle are expected to pick up the slack at cornerback.

Riddle, Mark Rau and Luke Harrison have been the primary targets for quarterback Dowell Loggains, who has completed 20 of 44 passes for 286 yards in two games. The trio has combined for 326 yards on 20 receptions.

Where the offense has struggled has been on the ground. Carl Bloom and Sebastian Mata have gained 133 yards on the ground.

"We have to block and tackle and play fundamentally sound," Allen said. "We need to still find a balanced attack. We need to run when they think we're going to throw and throw when they think we're going to run. This is a great opportunity for us to show how we've improved. When you get a team like North Mesquite in here you get statewide attention."

Jeff Walker can be reached at 676-6711 or sports@abinews.com

North Mesquite (2-0) vs. Cooper (0-2)

-- Where: Shotwell Stadium

-- When: 7:30 p.m.

-- Radio: KYYD 1340 AM

-- Last week's scores: Waco High 24, Cooper 10; N. Mesquite 31, Dallas Carter 6

-- Last meeting: First meeting.

-- Injuries: Cooper: Linebacker Somdy Vorasane (knee), linebacker Paul Mock (knee), cornerback Lee Haggerty (wrist) out; N. Mesquite: None.

-- Scouting N. Mesquite: The Stallions are ranked eighth in the Associated Press high school poll and fifth in the Dallas area. North Mesquite has jumped out to a 2-0 start thanks to its defense. The Stallions, who are led by linebacker Josh Buhl, are averaging just 52 yards allowed per contest. While giving up just over 100 yards through the air, the N. Mesquite defense has held opponents to minus-12 yards on the ground through two games - one of which came against Flower Mound Marcus, the team that knocked Cooper from the playoffs last year, 38-14.

-- Scouting Cooper: While the Cougars play one of the toughest non-district schedules in the area, the team still needs to add balance on offense to gain momentum heading into district action. The team has proven it has the weapons through the air with Dowell Loggains at quarterback and Mark Rau, Adam Riddle and Luke Harrison on the receiving end. Carl Bloom and Sebastian Mata have carried most of the rushing load for Cooper, but the duo needs to dominate more to keep the opposing defenses off-balance.

What the coaches are saying

"We've got to stay balanced on offense if we're going to beat Abilene Cooper. We haven't thrown the ball much up to this point because of the weather, we've been playing a lot in heavy rain."

North Mesquite head coach Buster Leaf

"What we have to do against North Mesquite is realize it's going to be a close game. With their speed on defense we have to be satisfied with moving the ball down the field because it's going to be hard to break long runs and long passes."

Cooper head coach Randy Allen