Coppola Doesn’t Just Run, He Runs Them Over

Robby Coppola is not billed as a persuasive orator but he nonetheless changes an opponent’s view in almost every game he plays.

“Some guys are looking out their ear holes after Robby hits them,” Calabasas football Coach Larry Edwards. “He’s a no-nonsense running back.”

Coppola (pronounced Cuh-POLE-uh), a starter at tailback and linebacker, leads the Coyotes (8-3) into a Southern Section Division X quarterfinal against St. Bonaventure (9-1-1) Friday night at Ventura High.

The 6-foot, 190-pound junior has rushed for 1,724 yards and 19 touchdowns in 221 carries.

He leads Calabasas with 119 tackles and has an interception.

Coppola bench-presses 340 pounds and put on 20 pounds of muscle after last season, when he carried 151 times for 823 yards and nine touchdowns.

A glutton for contact who seems to accelerate not just through holes but into would-be tacklers, Coppola’s throttle is forever set on full-speed ahead.

“Hits hurt more if you’re only going half speed,” Coppola said. “You have so much adrenalin going that it doesn’t hurt anyways.”

At least not until after the game, when Coppola admits his body sends him a different message.

Skinned knuckles, bruised legs and smacked shins all make their presence known.

“I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and roll over on my smashed fingers or something and remember I was just in a game,” Coppola said.

Coppola knows he could save himself some pain if he would run around defenders and not over them, a skill he’s struggling to learn.

“I’m trying to get used to the idea of being more elusive,” he said. “But I’m used to not avoiding people.”