[HHellBird]

I would love nothing more than to see my Cooper Jaguars bring back the state title, but if I had to pick the winner I would pick BG.

BG has been one of the top 2 teams in the state all year long and have done nothing to sway that opinion thus far.

With that said, what Cooper has done this year is incredible. For those that don't know the what they have accomplished so far, I will give you the short version.

The school is only 5 years old, it didn't replace other schools in the area, it was an additional school added. Which meant for the first couple years any senior that was districted to Cooper could opt out and remain at their current school which meant the varsity football team was made up primarily of Freshman and Sophomores and they played in 6A. They only won 6 games in their first 3 years combined. They never won a district game nor had they ever beaten any of the other 3 schools in the county.

Last year they were moved to 5A and started making school history, they not only won their first district game, but went undefeated in district. They lost their first ever playoff game last year.

This year they went 9-1 in the regular season and finished with a district record of 3-1 which tied 2 other teams in the district,although the other 2 teams had a worse overall record, because of the tie breaker rules Cooper was given the #3 seed in district, even though the #1 and #2 seeds had worst season records. So in only their 5th season Cooper had to go on the road throughout the playoffs.

They started on the road against Anderson Co who averaged over 37 points a game and shut out the higher seeded AC 48-0. The next week they had to face #1 seed South Oldham and handed them a loss for the second time this year. Then the Jags for the third week in a row had to go on the road as they faced another #1 seed in undefeated team in Franklin Co. Who averaged 59 points a game the entire season. Cooper prevailed and held FC to under 30 points for the first time all season. They won their very first regional championship in school history.

Last night they had to for the fourth time in four weeks had to go on the road again, a 4 hour bus ride to Harlan Co. As they played one of the toughest defenses they have faced all year and came out victorious to win a trip to face Bowling Green in the state finals.

In KHSAA history, no team who finished the season with a 9-1 record has ever had to play 5 playoff games on the road and this team in only their 5th year in existence has done just that.

Yes, I am a little proud of what they have accomplished this year, and no matter if they win or lose this Saturday, all the new friends we have met this post season from all the great fans of the teams we've played, just know that we are going to Bowling Green for not only us, but for you all too. Great fans at Anderson Co., south Oldham, Franklin Co, and the great folks of Harlan Co. Last night, we are playing for all of you folks also. You all have been so kind to us when we visited your facilities for these games and we will do our best to win this game for all of us.

I don't think I'd want it any other way, another game on the road against a higher seeded team. Cooper has no superstars on their team, they haven't won any individual awards, no D1 recruits, just a team full of kids that love eachother and play as one unit. They have had one of the best defenses in the area yet still were overlooked by many. They were not even ranked as one of the top teams in the area Pre season, yet here they are about to play for the State Championship. So no matter what happens, this team has become the model to which all other Cooper teams in the future will be measured.

Good luck Jags, One Team, One Dream


We are Cooper