The following article appeared in the McAlester News-Capital on October 30, 2009. A link to the McAlester News-Capital can be found on the Useful Links page in the News category.

Josh Copeland is a Warrior

By JAYSON KNIGHT
Sports Writer

October 30, 2009 11:30 am - Josh Copeland and his team, the Haileyville Warriors, have played all away games this season and have endured minimal support in the stands on their side of the field. Josh Copeland doesn't complain though, "It's difficult but we manage to do it. There were quite a few [fans] at the Savanna game. More than I was expecting to see."

With a respect for leadership, Copeland says, "The reason I stayed in Haileyville is because of the coaches. They have always been there for me."

Copeland carries a demeanor that you wouldn't expect from such a dominant playmaker. From being a ball-hawk who punishes any and all he should find in his path and a runner that does the same, the back is as thoughtful as he is diabolical.

He mentioned his favorite play of the season as, "a sixty-yard, bubble screen pass from Cody Irish to Dominic Herring against Pocola while I was on the sideline. Dominic is a very fast guy. I'm thunder, he's lightning."

Since we want to hear of favorite plays that he's in for, Copeland says, "I like running out of the wildcat. And playing quarterback, especially out of the wildcat."

If Copeland could have one play back from this season, he says it would be, "a pitch I fumbled against Savanna. I could have sealed it up instead of going into overtime."

His favorite teammate in his opinion is, "Our whole defense. They're like my left hand. If I can't be somewhere I'm needed, I know someone else will be. I depend on them the same way they depend on me.

Even with Copeland's respect of his fellow defenders, Herring had this to say, "We wouldn't have much of a defense without him. He's our leader, he's our guy. I'm a junior and I know nobody's ever going to fill his place."

The senior linebacker has attended football camps twice a year for the last two years at Northeastern State University. Working out at both individual and team camps, Copeland says that NSU is his most-considered option.

After his senior year, Copeland plans to, "Go to college and major in Law Enforcement," he said, "I want to be a state trooper. I like the benefits and I can always tackle someone if I need to."

Copeland is continuing his education despite teenage fatherhood. He says his free time is spent with his one-year-old, Kenya Reace Copeland. The linebacker says, "She's a year old, but it seems like it's just been a couple months."

The star football player is also a star basketball player with "nothing but As and Bs," he says. This weekend in Gore, the Haileyville Warriors are going to have a chance to step up into the playoff spotlight. With Josh Copeland roving from sideline to sideline, the Pirates of Gore will have to run away from his side of the field. Thirteen tackles per game is a scary number and that's without seeing him hit. Since the Pirates have this information, there is sure to be scampers and runs away from his side of the field. This ruthless, unrelenting beast will attempt to make sure even that doesn't work.

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