Game of the Week: Lubbock-Cooper football opens district against determined Coronado squad

Coronado football coach D.J. Mann didn't mince words when describing Friday's game.

"Yeah, it's playoff time," Mann said. "We are in playoff mode right now. It's a must-win."

Such is the situation for the Mustangs, who dropped their district opener to Amarillo Caprock last week. Coronado's next opponent? A Lubbock-Cooper team that wants to replicate the success the Longhorns had with a big offensive line and bruising running game.

The Pirates (3-1) took District's 2-5A Division I first open week, so it will be their opportunity to avoid the same 0-1 start. With a district that includes six 2021 playoff teams, each game's importance is magnified.

"As you look at the three parts of a season, your non-district, district (and) playoffs, each time you move up you ought to have a different level of urgency," Lubbock-Cooper coach Chip Darden said. "There ought to be a little difference in practice, and I thought we saw that (Monday). I thought our guys had a little more energy about them. You can tell it was a big game coming up.

"So you definitely want them to feel that. You want them to know that it's a big game, but at the same time, it's a long fight."

The last time Cooper took the field, the Pirates' defense headlined a 17-14 home win over then-No. 2 Wichita Falls Rider. Cooper's on top of its game when the team gets that support to go with its rushing attack.

Quarterback Tyler Spruiell is the Pirates' leading rusher (59-403), with a bevy of backs behind him. They all benefit from a Cooper line that features multiple Division I talents.

"They remind you of playing against Allen, playing against Southlake (Carroll), playing against Katy," said Mann, a former Cedar Hill assistant. "If you know anything about Texas high school football, you know that those are phenomenal teams. (Cooper) is big. … It's going to be fun. Our kids are up for the challenge."

Along with containing the run, Mann said success for the Mustangs hinges on his offensive playmakers. Those skill guys, including receivers Surreal Garrett and Jaykel McCutcheon, have Darden's attention. He said it all starts with Jett Carroll, whom Darden called one of the best players in the area.

The Cooper coach added that the athletes are on both sides of the ball.

"It'll be a challenge," Darden said. "They've had a couple of losses that they played really well and had great chances to win and just kind of didn't go their way. That's the way it goes sometimes. Our last two (games) have been really close and it kind of went our way.

"They're playing good football. If some of the people look at the record, they're gonna be wrong about what type of team that they are, because they're a really good team."

Coronado at Lubbock-Cooper

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Pirate Stadium, Woodrow

Records: Coronado 1-4, 0-1; Lubbock-Cooper 3-1, 0-0

Radio: 97.7 FM and 100.7 FM

Coverage: Follow @byStephenGarcia and @annierice_photo on Twitter for live updates, with postgame analysis and images at lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Game of the Week: Lubbock-Cooper football hosts Coronado in district