21 to 7! Go COOGS!!
WOLFFORTH — The Cooper Cougars went into the Tigers’ den Friday night and knocked off the 13-time defending district champions on their own turf — and clinched at least a share of the District 4-4A title in the process.
Davon Riddick ran for a pair of touchdowns and Kendrick Powdrill added another as the Coogs fought off the Frenship Tigers 21-7 at Tiger Stadium to move within one victory of an outright district title.
“It’s real sweet, and it’s something our kids have had a goal to do for a long time,” Cooper coach Mike Spradlin said. “It’s something we set our in our sights when these kids were freshmen. This was our first group, this bunch of seniors, and I’m so proud of these guys. I can’t stand it. It’s a great, great victory on hostile turf.”
The victory also avenged a 16-10 loss to Frenship last season at Shotwell Stadium — the Coogs’ lone district loss since joining the district.
“Last year, we felt like we should have won the game,” Cooper quarterback Ryan Heslep said. “We just didn’t play very good. And tonight, we were motivated by that, especially coming to their place, because they came into (Shotwell) and took it from us.”
Now, Cooper (6-3 overall, 4-0 district) — which has a share of its first title since 2003 — can nab the title for its own with a victory over last-place Plainview at Shotwell Stadium.
“It feels good, but we don’t want to share it, Heslep said. “We don’t want to have the same record as anyone in our district.
We want to win it outright. It feels good for the moment, but we still have to go back to work and beat Plainview next week.”
Cooper’s defense had another great effort. The Coogs held Frenship (5-4, 1-3) to 120 total yards on offense, including 47 on the ground, and recorded six sacks for a loss of 47 yards.
“Wow, probably our best game of the season,” Cooper defensive end Quincy Moore said. “I can’t say enough about the job everybody did. It wasn’t just pressure or coverage. It was a group effort, and then the offense kept giving us motivation, putting points on the board.”
Cooper hasn’t allowed more than two touchdowns a game in district.
“It just keeps getting better and better,” Spradlin said. “I can’t say enough great things about the defense. Offensively, I’m a little frustrated. I thought we had a chance to really break it open, and we made some mistakes, didn’t execute in some areas. But those are fixable are fixable things.”
All but one touchdown came in the first half, as Cooper led 14-7 at the break.
Riddick — who ran for 106 yards on 15 carries — capped a six-play, 51-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.
Bobby Huey answered with a 25-yard touchdown run for Frenship, coming at the end of a quick three-play, 39-yard drive. The score was set up by a 36-yard kickoff return by Aaron Pool.
Cooper’s T.C. Robinson responded with a 53-yard kickoff return to the Tiger 43. Six plays later, Riddick scored from three yards out, and Ryan Lucas booted his second PAT to give the Coogs a 14-7 lead with 8:38 left in the half.
Cooper recovered an onside kick to start the second half, even though Spradlin said the Coogs weren’t trying for the onside kick — just pooching the kick. But Dalton Wilcox came up with ball just before it went out of bounds at the Frenship 37.
Five plays later and just one play after the Tigers had an interception negated by an offsides call, Powdrill ran 19 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
“It feels great,” Moore said. “Part of it is coming in here and beating this team, because we didn’t beat them last year. Part of it is just really winning that district championship. It’s really not about a one-on-one battle. Whoever’s in your way, you have to run them over to get the next game.”
Cooper 0 14 7 0—21
Frenship 0 7 0 0—7
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