TEX BOYS: Coppell Wins 2nd Straight Division II State Title

Senior attackman Hayden Hawk and junior attackman Trent Dennington each registered a co-game-high four points to lead unbeaten Coppell to a 12-2 victory over Houston Christian in the Texas High School Lacrosse League Division II state championship game Sunday morning at Highland Park High School.

Hawk scored a game-high four goals and Dennington finished with a goal and three assists, as Coppell (17-0) won its second straight Division II title. Coppell has won 21 straight games dating back to last season.

“It started with guys buying in and doing what it takes to win every game,” Coppell head coach Jared Venia said. “We have a bunch of guys that can step up on any given day. We played very well together as a team. I demanded a lot from these guys, and we’re seeing the fruit from their labor.”

Junior middie Tyler Landis scored three goals, junior attackman Preston Allison added a goal and an assist and freshman middie Tommy McClennehan, freshman middie Henry Busch and sophomore middie Ryan Lambert all had a goal to round out the offense for Coppell.

Defensively, junior defenseman Sam Johnston picked up eight ground balls, Dennington had seven ground balls and Hawk gathered five ground balls. Senior defenseman Payton Porter was named the game’s defensive most valuable player.

Houston Christian, which is in just its second year as a full varsity program and third year overall, finished the season 20-2. The Mustangs had their 15-game winning streak snapped.

The game was close for one half before the Cowboys ran away with it in the final 24 minutes. Coppell led 4-2 at halftime before reeling off the game’s final eight goals.

“We possessed the ball extremely well,” Venia said. “The defense played extremely well. We rode and out-ground-balled them like crazy.”