COLLEYVILLE -- Senior offensive tackle Jeffrey Hyde didn't think the Colleyville Covenant football team's current 17-winning streak would ever happen when he was a freshman.
In 2004, the Cougars went 5-5 and failed to make the playoffs.
ButHyde has watched Covenant transform into a TAPPS Division IV powerhouse that has advanced to the state semifinals and won a state championship since his freshman year.
Thanks to an explosive offense, the Cougars (4-0) won their first TAPPS Division IV state championship with a 13-0 record last season.
Only five starters return from that offense, but even with new starting quarterback Dillon Hess and Austin McCrary as the lone returning starter at receiver, Covenant hasn't slowed down.
"We definitely have a target on our back this year," said the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Hyde, who has committed to Texas A&M. "I love it. We get the trash-talking, but it's fun. Coach [Joel] Berry's offense is totally different. It's really user-friendly."
Senior receiver Derek Meadows played outside linebacker last season but has made the transition to offense look easy.
Meadows, who was a gymnast for seven years, said he relies on his speed and good balance. He had 291 yards receiving and three touchdowns after three games and added two 80-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns last week.
Even with only 33 players, Berry doesn't have anybody play both ways and always keeps expectations high.
"Theguys have created the attention over the last two years. That's what happens when you win," the third-year coach said. "We're exciting to watch. We take a formula and we continue to follow that formula. The main thing is a smart team is a hard team to beat."
Berry also said an even more effective offensive line has helped Hess transition better into the high-reward spread offense. Senior Sammy Brodner (6-5, 320), a transfer from Pantego Christian, is new to the line this season.
Covenant's average margin of victory is lower (7.25 average in four games this season vs. 18.3 average in 13 games last season), but the defense has enjoyed taking a more prominent role.
The Cougars needed a late defensive stand to hold off Southwest Christian 14-7 in their season opener and stopped Bullard Brook Hill at the 1-yard line with less than two minutes remaining to secure a 32-30 win Friday.
"It's fun to come out here and work hard and see the fruits of our labor," senior defensive end Caleb Cobb said. "We had a nondistrict team come out and scout one of our scrimmages. Everyone's gunning for us now."
