Cove 32, Heights 14: Dawgs-Knights game halted after 3rd quarter skirmishes Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 7 2009 05:40 AM By Angel Verdejo
Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE – Two fights put an end to a regular-season finale that was almost canceled altogether in reaction to the shootings at Fort Hood on Thursday.

Copperas Cove and Harker Heights pushed their game back one day to Friday and moved to Bulldawg Stadium. School district officials decided Friday morning to play the game, but instead of what should have been a meaningless game to end the regular season, a pair of on-field altercations forced game officials to call it off midway through the third quarter.

Both coaches said leading up to Friday night that the game itself was trivial in relation to the events at Fort Hood, but the final score – a Cove 32-14 win – became even less relevant.

With a 5:43 remaining in the third quarter and the Dawgs holding an 18-point lead, Harker Heights running back Deandre Jones ran for 4 yards on first down and was tackled by Nik Greene. As the two hit the turf, pushing and shoving ensued between numerous players from both teams for a second time. Many Harker Heights players standing on the sidelines came onto the field, as did a few from Cove's sidelines, while coaches from both schools tried to separate the teams.

After both teams went to their respective sidelines, officials met and decided to end the game. They then met with both head coaches, who spoke one last time at midfield before speaking to their teams.

The first altercation occurred with 9:32 left in the third quarter after Cove's Brandin Byrd ran on first down. Pushing and shoving ensued before four players were ejected (three from Harker Heights and one from Cove) and the teams were both given personal-foul penalties that canceled each other out.

Once the game was called, the Knights met briefly before leaving the field and boarding their buses. After the game, Harker Heights head coach Mike Mullins and junior defensive end Vladamir Gray were seen speaking to two police officers by the locker rooms. Cove assistant coach Kevin Wilburn was also seen speaking to an officer as he walked off the field.

"What happened I think is emotions got away," Cove coach Jack Welch said. "I really thought that our kids did well and I think it's uncharacteristic of Harker Heights. I've watched them play this year; I've watched them on film.

"They hustle. They play hard. I'm very impressed with their coaches and coaching staff, and I just think it was a matter of emotions getting away from you."

Welch said part of the high emotions was likely in dealing with the shootings Thursday that left 13 dead and 27 wounded. There was a moment of silence before the national anthem and both the American and Texas flags were flown at half-staff. A second moment of silence was held just before the third quarter and halftime ended with the Cove marching band playing Taps.

In addition, Harker Heights essentially didn't need to play as the Knights were already out of playoff contention.

"You've got to understand a little bit of that with what happened (Thursday)," Welch said. "They're sitting there battling and you have nothing to play for but your last ballgame.

We responded too and we have to make sure we don't retaliate. You can't ever retaliate."

The District 12-5A playoff teams were set last week, with Cove (8-2, 5-2) taking the district's runner-up spot in the 5A Division II playoff bracket due to Belton's win Friday over Bryan. Had the Tigers lost, the two would have flipped postseason spots (Cove has the head-to-head advantage).

Cove will face 11-5A's Tyler John Tyler (9-1) in the bi-district round. The two will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tyler's Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, as Cove lost the coin flip in determining game location. Had Mesquite won (the Skeeters lost 29-24 to Mesquite Horn), the Dawgs would have play Tyler Lee on Friday in Waco.

The Dawgs used a three quick first-half to take control of the game, answering a Harker Heights' opening drive that went 84 yards on 11 straight runs. Running back Kerry Sloan ended the drive with a 1-yard score, his first of two touchdowns.

Sloan ran for 122 yards in the first quarter and finished with 139 yards. He stayed on the ground following the second score, but later jogged off the field.

Down 7-0, Will Wright ran 63 yards on Cove's first offensive play for the tying touchdown. The Knights were called for a personal foul and Cove kicked off from the Harker Heights' 45-yard line. Cove kicked it onside and Orlando Thomas recovered the loose ball.

Four plays later, quarterback Cody Vaughn found Thomas across the middle on a screen and the shifty sophomore ran out-maneuvered the Knight defense for a 25-yard score.

Cove needed just one play for its third score. The Knights (2-8, 2-5) were at the Cove 9-yard line, but quarterback Greg Haynes was pressured and threw an errant ball as he was being tackled. Dustin Walker caught the ball and raced 85 yards untouched for the score and 20-7 Cove lead.

"I honor the officials' decision," Welch said. "I think we had the game pretty much in control, point-wise, so what would be the advantage of playing a game when the emotions are already high? I think the officials made a good decision and, again, I respect coach Mullins and we were in mutual agreement. We knew what had to happen and we just move on."

Contact Angel Verdejo at averdejo@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7564.