By Brice Cherry

Tribune-Herald youth sports editor

Five days after the Colts and Patriots played the Super Bowl that will never happen, Waco High and Copperas Cove treated fans to a game worthy of the 4A state championship.

And it’s a shame they can’t meet again.

Fullback Bronshae’Keon Dugas rumbled 25 yards up the gut in overtime to put the finishing touches on the fourth-ranked Lions’ epic 27-21 victory over the No. 7 Bulldawgs at Waco ISD Stadium, clinching the District 16-4A title for Waco High.

Now, both teams will go their separate ways, as the Lions (9-1, 5-0) will enter the playoffs in the 4A Division II bracket against Ennis next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Waco ISD Stadium. Cove (8-2, 3-2), meanwhile, is the district’s Division I entrant and will face Waxahachie Saturday at 1 p.m., also at WISD.

But the two teams depart with no small measure of respect for one another.

“I thought it was a game fitting of two great programs,” Waco High coach Johnny Tusa said.

“The key for us is we’ve lost nothing, besides the district title,” Cove coach Jack Welch said. “We’re both moving on to the state championship playoffs and we’ve both got a chance.”

Behind its usual dominating defense and a carniverous rushing attack that chewed up the clock in the first half, the Lions roared out to a 14-0 lead by halftime.

Senior Jarred Salubi shook free for a 57-yard run on the first play of Waco’s second possession, setting up his own nine-yard TD run six plays later.

Then the Lions played a pretty game of keep-away from the explosive Cove offense on their next possession, putting together an 18-play, nine-minute drive that culminated with Clarence Willis’ one-yard scoring plunge.

Waco High upped its lead to 21-7 after three quarters, but couldn’t keep Cove’s Robert Griffin bottled up forever.

With 7:30 to play, Griffin appeared to score when he dove for the end zone after a 12-yard scamper, but the ball popped loose and Waco’s Terrance Adkism recovered in the end zone and returned the ball all the way out to the 32.

“We thought that was a touchdown,” Welch said. “The official saw the ball come out of his hands, or he thought he did, so we’ve got to go with that and move on.”

Cove refused to go away, rising up defensively to give the ball back to the amazing Griffin, who cut the lead to 21-14 on a sweet eight-yard jaunt with 2:01 to play.

The Bulldawgs forced another quick three-and-out by Waco, then manufactured a wild-and-wooly final scoring drive that included a 17-yard wide-receiver pass from Daniel Cabral to Griffin.

On 4th-and-goal from the 10 with three seconds left, Griffin kept his team alive by sprinting through the Lion D into the end zone.

“Griffin makes chicken salad without chickens, and it’s never over with a guy like that,” Tusa said.

But the Lions pesevered in overtime after Cove missed a 47-yard field goal try, setting up Dugas’ final heroics.

“What a way to end the season, and what a way to win the district title,” Tusa said.

For more on this game, log on to www.wacotrib.com.

Waco High 27, Copperas Cove 21 (OT)

Copp. Cove 0 0 7 14 0 — 21

Waco High 7 7 7 0 6 — 27

First quarter

Waco High—Jarred Salubi 9 run (Ernesto Guevara kick), 2:02

Second quarter

Waco High—Clarence Willis 1 run (Guevara kick), 2:43

Third quarter

Copperas Cove—Donel Morrison 2 pass from Robert Griffin (Michael Roell kick), 5:49

Waco High — Bronshae’Keon Dugas 66 run (Guevara kick), 4:44

Fourth quarter

Copperas Cove—Griffin 8 run (Roell kick), 2:01

Copperas Cove—Griffin 10 run (Roell kick), 0:00

Overtime

Waco High — Dugas 25 run (game over)

Copperas Cove Waco High

First Downs 22 14

Rushes-Yards 43-182 42-267

Comp-Att-Int 12-21-0 2-4-0

Passing Yards 126 36

Total Yards 308 303

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-35 4-60

Punts-Avg 3-36.3 4-28.3

Individual Stats

Rushing

Copperas Cove — Robert Griffin 16-85, 2 TDs; Troy Vital 20-75; William Wright 7-22

Waco High —Jarred Salubi 21-123, 1 TD; Bronshae’Keon Dugas 11-128, 2 TDs; Clarence Willis 9-19, TD; Toylon Clark 1-(-3)

Passing

Copperas Cove —Griffin 11-20-0, 109 yards, 1 TD; Daniel Cabral 1-1-0, 17 yards

Waco High — Willis 2-4-0, 36 yards

Receiving

Copperas Cove — Donral Roussel 1-5; Vital 2-3; Josh Boyce 4-65; Donel Morrison 3-30, TD; Cabral 1-6; Griffin 1-17

Waco High — Denzel Mitchell 1-22; Kyle Carter 1-12