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Mesquite Horn dominates favored Copperas Cove, 48-14

STEPHENVILLE - Jakeem Grant and Wyllyam Stokes looked at each other.

"Let's do it."

Both Grant and Stokes, within full view of a dejected Copperas Cove crowd, did matching backflips as the stands cleared after Mesquite Horn's 48-14 win in the Class 5A Division II bi-district game at Tarleton State Memorial Stadium.

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"Saving it for a big occasion," Grant said of the backflip.

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Big occasion, indeed.

Grant - a 5-7, 160-pound Tulsa commit - led Horn to its first playoff win in school history, scoring five touchdowns.

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Grant rushed for 141 yards and added 41 yards receiving. He scored four first-half touchdowns, as Horn didn't punt until the third quarter.

"He makes us look really smart as coaches," Horn coach Rodney Webb said. "When we can get him the football in space, he makes us look like geniuses."

Grant scored his first touchdown on a 37-yard run three minutes into the game.

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But Copperas Cove looked every bit the state power on its following possession, answering with an eight play, 60-yard drive. Texas A&M commit Will Randolph had a punishing 23-yard run on the drive.

Copperas Cove, which advanced to the state finals in 4A in 2006 and 2007, and made the state semifinals in 2008 in 5A, was seen by many as the prohibitive favorite.

Instead, Horn dealt Copperas Cove its worst loss since 2002.

"We expected to win," Horn quarterback Collin Strahan said. "But honestly, I didn't expect the score to be 48-14. They are a great team.

"Coach Webb said it after the game, 'Nobody beats Copperas Cove like that.' I guess that just goes to show how good we are."

Horn outscored Copperas Cove, 28-0, in the second quarter, bottling up its running game. Meanwhile, Grant ran wild. He scored on a 59-yard sweep, a 15-yard screen and a 14-yard sweep in the period.

Horn will play the winner of today's Rowlett-Jesuit game.