High School

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. 

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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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