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Cooper comes up short in bid for perfect season

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – In a quest to complete their perfect season with a state championship, the Cooper Jaguars were stymied offensively in the second half, falling in defeat for the first time all season to the defending KHSAA Class 5A state champion Bowling Green Purples, 37-20.

Two heavyweights met with one goal in mind: the king of them all, state champions. Cooper was looking for its first undefeated season in school history, and Bowling Green was attempting to win back-to-back KHSAA Class 5A state titles.

Early on in the first half of the contest, it was apparent that these were two evenly matched teams, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Cooper’s strengths were on display early, as Ryker Campbell picked off Bowling Green’s Deuce Bailey. It was Campbell’s fourth straight game during the postseason with an interception.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Cam O’Hara flashed his brilliance with a beautiful pass to Isaiah Johnson, who streaked open in the back corner of the endzone for the catch and the touchdown.

Bowling Green’s offense shook off the early turnover quickly, driving straight down the field using the short passing game. They capped off their drive with a 3 yard touchdown run from Bailey. Impressive blocking from the Purples offensive line allowed the quarterback to stroll into the endzone virtually untouched, even after having to corral a bad snap.

Cooper looked to answer back quickly with a drive of their own, but it came to a screeching halt around midfield. On first down, O’Hara rolled out to his left, attempting to find an open receiver down the field, but the Purples knocked it out from behind. Thankfully for the Jaguars, they recovered their own fumble.

There is a saying in football, however — “Ball don’t lie” — and it rang true on the very next play. O’Hara struggled to handle the ensuing snap, and the Purples recovered the ball.

After the wild sequence of events that saw Bowling Green with the football, the Cooper defense held in their own end of the field, forcing the Purples to attempt a field goal. Bowling Green kicker Braden Widener had been money all season, and he continued to be solid, nailing a 35 yard attempt to give Bowling Green a 10-6 lead.

Continuing with the theme of the contest, O’Hara and the Jags offense answered resoundingly with a 10+ play drive, capped off by a 32 yard touchdown throw to Jaiden Combs, who broke free from the slot and hauled in the pass one-handed en route to the endzone.

Cooper had retaken the lead, but that didn’t stop Bailey and his Purple’s offense from coming up with yet another response, driving down the field, using both his legs and his arm to great success. After the Jags defense held strong once again, forcing a Bowling Green 4th down, Wideman was perfect from 41 yards away, giving the Purples a 13-12 lead.

It was at this point that both teams’ respective defensive units started to flex some muscle, as both offenses were forced to punt the ball away as the final minutes of the first half clicked away.

Adjustment wise, Bowling Green took an ultra-aggressive approach to containing O’Hara and the Cooper offense, sending blitzes on seemingly every single snap; and it worked.

When the first half had reached its conclusion, the game was as advertised: a one-point affair with neither team willing to back down in any aspect of the contest; rock-solid in all four phases.

The second half painted a different picture, as Bowling Green turned up the heat defensively, and Cooper had no answer for the blitzing Purples. Bowling Green racked up a whopping 7 sacks of Cam O’Hara, for 57 yards.

In a game where the winner would be decided by whose offense would flinch first, the Purples defense answered the call and stymied the Jags offense for majority of the second half.

Self-inflicted wounds also plagued the Jaguars in the second half, including another O’Hara fumble that set Bowling Green up with prime field position. Bailey and company took advantage for the Purples, driving straight down the field, where Bailey took it from 14 yards out to give Bowling Green a two score advantage.

The tough sledding continued for Cooper. O’Hara was under pressure constantly, throwing the vaunted Jaguars offense out of rhythm. The Purples began to pull away, utilizing a dominating presence at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Bowling Green’s offense was humming by the tail end of the third quarter also. This time, Jaxson Smith took it in for a 3 yard score. The Purples running attack was too much for the Jaguars to handle.

Cooper made some more noise in the fourth quarter, setting up a 12 touchdown catch by Austin Alexander after a 53 yard catch-and-run by Ryker Campbell. It was too little, too late, however.

When the final whistle was blown, Bowling Green had once again bested Cooper, winning their second straight state title. Bailey was promptly named game MVP for his impressive effort, which compiled 80 yards and three touchdowns rushing, plus 133 yards passing.

Additionally for Bowling Green, Montravion Graham had 88 yards rushing, while Trevy Barber had 99 yards receiving. Jaxsen Smith also added 79 yards and a touchdown rushing. Braden Widener went a perfect 3/3 on field goals, and was only called upon to punt one time.

O’Hara managed to throw for 252 yards and three touchdowns despite being sacked six different times, a valiant effort in the final game of his High School career.

Jaiden Combs had 72 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches, while Isiah Johnson had 89 yards and a score himself. Austin Alexander was quiet for the majority of the game, but the highly touted senior talent still racked up 29 yards and a touchdown on just three receptions.

While their bid for a perfect season fell just short, Cooper once again showed that it is among the states best in Class 5A, and will look to rebound next season, with the help of quite a few returning starters.

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Bowling Green: 7-6-14-10-37
Cooper: 6-6-0-8-20

SCORING PLAYS
C: Isaiah Johnson 13-yard pass from Cam O’Hara (Eyler Tibbs kick failed)
B: Deuce Bailey 2-yard rush (Baden Widener kick)
B: Baden Widener 41-yard field goal
C: Jaiden Combs 32-yard pass from Cam O’Hara (Eyler Tibbs kick failed)
B: Baden Widener 31-yard field goal
B: Deuce Bailey 14-yard run (Baden Widener kick)
B: Jaxsen Smith 3-yard run (Baden Widener kick)
B: Deuce Bailey 6-yard run (Baden Widener kick)
C: Austin Alexander 12-yard pass from Cam O’Hara (2PT conversion)
B: Baden Widener 26-yard field goal

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