See-Saw Battle Tilts Away From Grand Saline, Cooper Wins, 49-28

Grand Saline’s season finale turned into a contest of which defense would make a stop first. Neither defense did. The Indians eventually stopped themselves, while Cooper scored on five second half possession to take a 49-28 win.

The Cooper Bulldogs had two rushers with more than 100 yards, and totaled 351 yards on the ground. Quarterback Tye Hughey added 112 passing yards for a total of 463.

The Grand Saline offense continued to improve throughout the season, and Friday night was no exception. The Indians gained 328 yards, including 237 through the air, but it was not enough to counter touchdowns runs of 73, 2, 16, 45, 8, and 11 yards.

The two teams traded touchdowns through the first three quarters, and the fourth quarter opened with Grand Saline holding a 28-27 lead.

Cooper scored three times in the fourth though, including the finals touchdown with one second remaining.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring when Chris Ballard (8 carries, 113 yards, 3TD’s) went 73 yards on Cooper second possession.

Grand Saline answered with an 11-play, 65-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown by Taylor Phelps to begin the second. Phelps connected with Greg Evans (10 receptions, 109 yards) for gains of 17, 18 and 5 yards on the drive, and an interference call on a pass to Evans ion the end zone gave the Indians the ball on the two.

On Cooper’s next drive, Montrel Roberts (10 carries, 120 yards, 3 TD’s) finished a 56-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run. After the kick, Cooper led 14-7.

Grand Saline was forced to punt on their next possession, but Michael Martin boomed a 57-yard punt, pinning Cooper inside their own 10. A big defensive play by Emilio Solis then helped force a punt from the 17, and a heads up play by Phelps resulted in a punt return for a touchdown.

The Bulldog punt hit at midfield, but took a Grand Saline bounce and rolled to a stop near the 40-yard line. Cooper failed to touch the ball dead, and Phelps scooped it up and was 10 yards downfield before the Bulldogs knew what happened. Phelps picked up some blocking along the way and returned the ball 40 yards for a touchdown. The kick was wide, and the score was 14-13.

Cooper threatened again before the half, but with 15 second left, a bobbled snap on a field goal attempt resulted in an interception by Toby Palma, and the teams went to the locker room with a one-point game.

Grand Saline punted its’ initial possession away, and Hughey returned the kick 50 yards to the Indian 22. Three plays later, Roberts scored form 16 yards away, and after the kick, the score was 21-13.

The Indians answered by moving 62 yards in five plays. Phelps hit five different receivers, including a gain 31–yard catch-and-run touchdown by Michael Martin (6 receptions, 74 yards). Phelps ran in the two-point conversion for a 21-21 tie.

Cooper then scored on the second of five consecutive second half possessions. The six-play drive ended Ballard scoring on a 19-yard reception. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the touchdown resulted in a two-point try from the 18. The pass was short, and Grand Saline trailed 27-21.

The Indians would take the lead on their next possession. Phelps was 5-of-5 passing on the drive, hitting Evans for gains of 20 and 11, and Martin with gains of 4 and 26. Martin finished with a three-yard touchdown run, and the Saulo Galvan kick gave Grand Saline a 28-27 lead with 1:15 left in the third.

The fourth would be all Cooper, though, as the Bulldogs scored 22 unanswered points, including the final touchdown with one second remaining.

The Indians finished the season with a 2-8 record. Cooper finishes 4-5.