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Cooper gets past Highlands, back to state finals

Cooper QB Cam O'Hara (photo by Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

UNION, KY – After a tightly contested first half, the Cooper Jaguars forced multiple turnovers by the Highland Bluebirds to flip the field position – and score – to their advantage as they thoroughly defeated Highlands 61 to 23, sending the Jags to the KHSAA Class 5A state championship game. 

When the first half ended, the undefeated Jaguars found themselves trailing to their arch-rival Highland Bluebirds 17-7. The halftime adjustments for Cooper worked, and then some. Highlands found themselves struggling to keep control of the football, turning it over three separate times. 

Cooper went on a 30+ point unanswered scoring run to open the second half, and they never looked back. Senior tight end Austin Alexander caught a fourth-down touchdown pass from junior quarterback Cam O’Hara. 

Junior tailback Ryker Campbell had two different rushing touchdowns, including one from 5 out in the second half to give Cooper their first lead of the evening. After Campbell’s go-ahead touchdown, Highlands’ junior quarterback Rio Litmer fumbled the football back to the Jaguars.

Cooper quickly took advantage, as O’Hara hit his senior wideout Jaiden Combs for a 61-yard catch-and-run to bust open the scoring in the Jaguars favor. 

Highlands had to act fast, but got bit by the turnover bug again; the Bluebirds fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the ball right back to the Cooper offense. The Jaguars, who trailed ten at halftime, had gained all the momentum before the third quarter had even ended. They took quick advantage of the Highlands fumble once again: Austin Alexander caught his second touchdown of the evening to put the Jags up 41-17. 

Alexander had a banner evening, also forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter. In all, Cooper scored a whopping 34 unanswered points in the third quarter, making their lead insurmountable for the visiting Bluebirds. 

Despite a few late touchdowns by Highlands, the Jags continued to score at will, rolling to the win 61-23. The undefeated 2024 Jaguars look to become the first team in Cooper High School History to go undefeated and also win the state title. Cooper will face Bowling Green in the state final in Lexington.

PHOTOS: Highlands at Cooper

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Highlands: 0-17-6-0-23
Cooper: 7-0-34-20-61

RECORDS: Highlands (11-3); Cooper (14-0)

UP NEXT: Cooper vs. Bowling Green (12-2); Saturday, December 7th – KHSAA Class 5A state championship

*Stay updated on high school football updates by following @TSFootball on X.

 

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