Facing off with a 10-1 North Richland Hills Birdville team in its area-round playoff, Cooper’s game plan Friday will be a familiar one. The Cougars will look to establish the running game on offense and stop the run on defense.

That’s been the preferred mode of operation for coach Aaron Roan’s squad all season, and when it’s accomplished those two things, a winning result has usually followed.

This week, though, the the second half of that equation will present an enormous challenge as few have slowed a Hawk running attack that comes in averaging more than 200 yards per game and features a 1,600-yard rusher in junior Laderrious Mixon. But it’s a challenge the Coogs are accepting head on.