CHAMPIONS!

The Cooper Cougars are undisputed champions of District 4-4A.

The Coogs left no doubt, routing Plainview 48-3 on Friday at Shotwell Stadium, completing a 5-0 run through district play.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Cooper coach Mike Spradlin said. “I’m so proud of our guys. They bought in. They deserved it.

“A lot of people maybe thought we were caught up in the moment. We wanted to win this thing outright. We didn’t want to share that thing with anybody, and we knew that put a target on us. Boy, I thought our guys responded.”

Quarterback Ryan Heslep threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns, including 263 yards and four touchdowns in the first half.

“I came out real motivated because their coach in their newspaper said I reminded them of Pampa’s quarterback, but I wasn’t very accurate,” Heslep said. “That motivated me. I think 260 (yards) in the first half and five touchdowns overall is pretty accurate."

Heslep, who left after throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the night on the first series of the second half, completed 17-of-21 passes with no interceptions.

Cooper’s defense held the Bulldogs (2-8 overall, 0-5 district) to 205 total yards and recorded two sacks.

Cooper, 7-3 overall, opens the Class 4A Division I playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lowrey Field in Lubbock, most likely against Dumas.

Cooper had to run only 15 plays to score on its first five possessions for a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter.

“I like that,” Spradlin said. “Boy, Davon (Riddick) went off early, and Ryan did a great job executing our offense. (The offensive line) did a good job up front. They (Plainview) blitzed. I knew they’d bring the house every down. Our guys did a good job picking the stuff up. A great game for us going into the playoffs.”

The Coogs needed only three plays to cover 36 yards on their first possession, culminating in a 20-yard TD run by Riddick.

he next time Cooper touched the ball, the Coogs needed six plays to cover 76 yards. Heslep threw a 5-yard TD pass to John Harvey.

Heslep would come back to throw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Riddick to cap a three-play, 88-yard drive.

Then just before the end of the first quarter, Cooper recovered a fumble at the Plainview 6-yard line. One play later, Heslep threw a 6-yard TD pass to Reese Williams, as the Coogs to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter.

Tommy Bowman capped the scoring in the first half with a 40-yard TD pass from Heslep with 9:41 remaining before the break. Bowman had both catches on the two-play, 70-yard drive.
Cooper opened the second half with a six-play, 80-yard drive. Alford Cooper caught a 42-yard TD pass from Heslep, pushing the Coogs’ lead to 41-0.

Plainview’s lone points came on Gustavo Molina’s 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Kendrick Powdrill closed the scoring with a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

“We got a chance to play a lot of guys,” Spradlin said. “It was a great night for us. A great way to wrap up the district and get ready for the third season.”

Plainview 0 0 3 0—3
Cooper 28 7 6 7—48

Joey Richards