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North Crowley holds off Coppell in Texas high school football playoffs: Live updates recap

North Crowley defeats Coppell, 35-24, in a 6A Division I Regional playoff game

Bob Lundeberg

North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr.
North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. / Photo by Michael Horbovetz

Fresh off a historic victory over Permian, North Crowley (12-0) takes on Coppell (12-0) in the Regionals round of the Texas high school football playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield. 

TEXAS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD | TEXAS FOOTBALL BRACKETS

The Panthers, ranked fifth in the SBLive/SI Top 25, routed Permian 72-14 in the Area round. The 58-point loss was the worst in postseason history for the famed West Texas program. 

Coppell also picked up an easy victory in the Area round, taking down Lake Highlands 38-10 last week. 

Saturday’s winner advances to the quarterfinals for a date with Allen (13-0).

Keep up with the North Crowley vs. Coppell game with live updates, in-game analysts and big play highlights.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

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North Crowley vs. Coppell Recap

First quarter

Underway: Coppell begins the game at its own 28. 

Uniforms: Coppell is wearing all black and North Crowley is in white jerseys with black pants. 

Coppell on the move: Senior quarterback Edward Griffin scrambles for a first down, giving Coppell a new set of downs at the North Crowley 44. 

Touchdown Cowboys: On third-and-one from the 5, Omarion Mbakwe goes up the middle for an easy touchdown. That was an impressive drive for Coppell, which leads 7-0 early in Mansfield. 

Touchdown Panthers: On North Crowley’s first play from scrimmage, Kevin Moore catches a trick-play pass from Quentin Gibson for a 75-yard touchdown up the right sideline. Coppell 7, North Crowley 7. 6:54 remaining in the opening quarter. 

Interception Panthers: Griffin is picked off near the goal line by Aaron Bradshaw, who returns it to the 45. Huge early play in this one.

Interception Cowboys: Coppell gets it right back with a Matthew Neitzel interception. Wild plays early here in Mansfield. 

End of quarter: Coppell 7, North Crowley 7. Cowboys will have a first-and-10 at the North Crowley 38 when play resumes. 

Second quarter

Touchdown Cowboys: Omarion Mbakwe punches it in from the 2 for his second touchdown of the day. Coppell 14, North Crowley 7. 11:13 to go in the half. 

Panthers marching: Colorado commit Quentin Gibson makes a ridiculous catch through double coverage to set North Crowley up with a first-and-10 at the Coppell 34. 

Panthers fumble: Coppell's Titus Roberson recovers a North Crowley fumble at the 23. 

Cowboys punt: North Crowley, trailing 14-7, takes over at its own 34 following a Coppell three-and-out. 

Touchdown Panthers: UNLV commit Cornelius Warren runs it in from 11 yards out, but the PAT is blocked. Coppell 14, North Crowley 13, 6:40 to go in the half. 

Technical difficulties: The NFHS Network live stream has frozen. Hopefully, it will be up and running soon. And just like that, it is back!

Cowboys on the move: Edward Griffin escapes pressure and completes a nice pass for a first down at the North Crowley 40. 

Touchdown Cowboys: Omarion Mbakwe runs over a North Crowley defender on a six-yard touchdown run. It’s the third score of the game for the senior back. Coppell 21, North Crowley 13, 2:44 remaining in the half. 

Mbakwe update: The uncommitted senior is up to 14 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns. 

Panthers timeout: North Crowley, facing a third-and-goal from the 2, takes its first timeout with 25 seconds to go in the half. 

Touchdown Panthers: Cornelius Warren scores from two yards out. North Crowley opts to go for two, and Warren also runs in the two-point conversion to tie the game. Coppell 21, North Crowley 21, 19 seconds left in the half. 

Halftime: Coppell 21, North Crowley 21. Panthers will get the ball to start the second half. 

Halftime

North Crowley leaders: Cornelius Warren has two touchdowns on the ground. He is at 10 carries for 74 yards overall. Kevin Moore caught a 75-yard trick-play touchdown pass from Quentin Gibson. 

Coppell leaders: Omarion Mbakwe has done most of the damage, running it 14 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Edward Griffin is 9 of 13 passing for 85 yards with no TDs and a pick. 

Second-half Panthers: North Crowley, ranked fifth in the SBLive/SI Top 25, was also locked in a 21-21 halftime tie with Byron Nelson two weeks ago. The Panthers won the second half 35-0. Will North Crowley have the same second-half spirit today?

Kickoff coming: Both teams have returned to the field. Play should resume before long in Mansfield.

Third quarter

Panthers ball: North Crowley begins the second half at its own 31. 

Another Cowboys takeaway: Tyrell Roberson picks off Chris Jimerson Jr. First-and-10 Coppell at its own 39. 

Cowboys three-and-out: Griffin is sacked twice by a swarming North Crowley defense. Panthers take over at the Coppell 40 following a strong Quentin Gibson punt return. 

Touchdown Panthers: On the next play, Cornelius Warren goes up the middle for a 40-yard touchdown. North Crowley 28, Coppell 21. 

Cowboys punt: Griffin is sacked again on third-and-long. North Crowley defense looks locked in this half. Panthers, leading 28-21, will take over at the Coppell 46.

Touchdown Panthers: Make it three straight touchdowns for North Crowley. On third-and-goal from the 7, Kiante Ingram goes straight up the middle to the end zone. North Crowley 35, Coppell 21, 3:40 remaining in the third quarter. 

Mbakwe injured: Coppell’s Omarion Mbakwe walks off the field slowly after a six-yard carry. Mbakwe has all three of the Cowboys’ touchdowns. 

Cowboys on the move: Backup running back Joshua Lock pops two big runs and Coppell has it first-and-goal from the 8. 

Cowboys field goal: The drive stalls, but Bryson Patten connects on a 26-yard field goal to make it a 35-24 game with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter. 

End of quarter: North Crowley 35, Coppell 24. 

Fourth quarter

Key play: North Crowley is facing a third-and-13 from the Coppell 35 with 9:18 remaining. 

Turnover on downs: North Crowley runs for eight yards on third down, but the fourth-down play is stopped short of the line to gain. Coppell takes over at its own 25, trailing 35-24 with 8:45 to go. 

Cowboys marching: Griffin hits Tucker Cusano for a huge gain to the North Crowley 25. 

Fumble Cowboys: On first-and-goal from the 2, Coppell fumbles into the end zone. Thomas Cook falls on it for North Crowley. Huge swing in this game with 4:43 remaining. 

Big conversion: Cornelius Warren rumbles up the middle for seven yards on third-and-five. North Crowley, up 35-24, is close to putting this one away. 

Panthers punt: Coppell gets a stop and will take over at its own 42 with 1:04 remaining. Cowboys need a quick strike to have a chance at a miracle comeback. 

Final score: North Crowley 35, Coppell 24. Panthers advance to face Allen (13-0) in the 6A Division I quarterfinals. 

Pregame

Weather: It’s a beautiful day for football in Mansfield. We should be right around 60 degrees for kickoff with no rain in the forecast. 

North Crowley offensive leaders: Senior quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. (North Texas commit); Senior running back Daniel Bray (SMU commit); Senior running back Cornelius Warren (UNLV commit); Senior wide receiver Quentin Gibson (Colorado commit); Senior offensive lineman Henry Fenuku (Missouri commit)

Coppell offensive leaders: Senior quarterback Edward Griffin (182 of 237, 3,235 yards, 41 touchdowns, three interceptions, five rushing touchdowns, Baylor commit); Senior running back Omarion Mbakwe (158 carries, 919 yards, 13 touchdowns); Senior wide receiver Harry Hassmann (52 catches, 1,305 yards, 18 touchdowns, Arizona State commit); Senior wide receiver Tucker Cusano (59 catches, 1,046 yards, 17 touchdowns, Rice commit)

North Crowley defensive leaders: Senior edge rusher Jonathan Cunningham (Texas commit); Senior linebacker Ja’Brelle Asberry (four Division I offers); Senior cornerback Draden Fullbright (double-digit Division I offers)

Coppell defensive leaders: Senior defensive lineman Blake Isbell Coppell (62 total tackles (16 for loss), nine sacks, Texas State commit); Senior linebacker Weston Polk (86 total tackles (15 for loss), four sacks, Kansas State commit); Senior safety Alex Kraus (97 total tackles (nine for loss), four sacks, four interceptions); 

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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a freelance sports writer who has covered high school and college sports in the Pacific Northwest since 2009. He was inspired to write Finish, his first book, after spending four years on the Oregon State baseball beat for the Corvallis Gazette-Times and The Oregonian. He covers high school sports from a national perspective for High School On SI with reports on breaking news, trending topics and national polls.

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