News

Team Preview: Coppell Cowboys

by
Adam Ogburn
August 5

Coppell Cowboys

Head Coach: Antonio Wiley (2^nd Season)

Last Season: 9-2; 6-1 in district (Lost to McKinney in bi-district)

Coppell Key Players and Storylines

Antonio Wiley made inroads in his first year at Coppell as the Cowboys made the playoffs after missing out in 2021. Their nine wins were the most in a single season since 2017.

The Cowboys hope to build off that success this season. The Coppell coaching staff noted that the gains made in the weight room this offseason should help them be more physical on the field this fall.

Six returning starters on each side of the ball should also help the Cowboys in 2023. They’ll boast plenty of experience especially at the skill positions.

Last year’s starting quarterback Jack Fishpaw has graduated, but the Cowboys believe junior Edward Griffin is more than prepared to flourish in the starting role. They think he could be a hidden gem.

He’ll have two extremely talented receivers at his disposal as well in Luca Grosoli (652 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and North Texas commit Baron Tipton (488 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns).

That’s not all either as speedy Ayrion Sneed (288 receiving yards and three touchdowns) is another receiver the Coppell coaching staff is expecting to threaten opposing defense. He was part of the Coppell 4X100 team that set their high school’s record at the Texas Relays.

Texas Relays Day 2-4x100m Relay. Finished 5th with a time of 41.05. They broke their own record they set in the prelims! pic.twitter.com/O6K1TxqSPW

— Coppell Track & XC (@coppelltrackxc) April 1, 2023

Defensively, Coastal Carolina commit cornerback Zach Cody (32 tackles, zero touchdowns allowed), another member of the 4X100 relay team, and safety Weston Polk (67 tackles and three INTs) will be two of the players the Cowboys rely upon to patrol the secondary.

In the front seven, defensive tackle Varun Ravilla and linebacker Amari’a Wiley both return after earning all-district honors a year ago.

The Cowboys coaching staff said they still have a couple of question marks heading into the season at certain positions. However, based off Wiley’s success at Wichita Falls Hirschi, where he led the Huskies to the state semifinals in 2021, expect the Cowboys to be in position to challenge for their first playoff victory since 2017 this fall.