Cooper used big plays to keep momentum going

By AL PICKETT/Sports Editor

Irving Nimitz had one major problem Friday night at Shotwell Stadium. The Vikings couldn't maintain any momentum.

"Every time they came up with a drive or score, we came back with big play," Cooper coach Randy Allen said.

The Cougars' big-play machine, led by another outstanding four-touchdown performance by tailback Dominic Rhodes, rolled to a 38-18 victory over Nimitz to send Cooper (10-3) into the regional football finals for just the third time in school history. Rhodes has now scored 11 touchdowns in three postseason playoff games.

Three plays stand out as the difference in Cooper's impressive victory.

One, was Rhodes' 57-yard punt return. The second was Rhodes' 70-yard scoring play following a reception on a swing pass. And the third was a fumble caused by cornerback Peter Abrigg.

Each came at a most crucial time to swing momentum back in Cooper's favor.

Cooper was sitting on a 10-6 lead in the second quarter when Rhodes grabbed a punt at his own 43-yard line, cut right and raced 57 yards for a touchdown, increasing the Cougars' lead to 17-6 with 3:02 remaining before halftime.

"This dude came after me," Rhodes said. "I made a move and went to the outside and got a block."

It was clear sailing after the block which sprung Rhodes around the corner.

Nimitz answered Rhodes' punt return, however, with its best drive of the game, a 70-yard, 9-play scoring march which culminated with P.J. Traylor's 13- yard TD pass to Juan Carroll with 19 seconds to go. That cut Cooper's lead to 17-12.

After the Vikings' kickoff went out-of-bounds, Cooper took over at its own 30-yard line. Just enough time to put it in Rhodes' hands one more time.

Quarterback Michael Anderson hit Rhodes on a swing to the left side.

"They were just trying to get me in the open field so I could make a play - and I did," Rhodes said.

Rhodes broke a tackle about 10 yards downfield and then outraced Nimitz safety Melvin Richardson down the left sideline. When Rhodes crossed the goal line, only five seconds remained on the first-half clock. In one play, he had effectively stolen all of the momentum back from Nimitz.

The Vikings' last hope came late in the third quarter. Still trailing 24-12, Traylor and Carroll hooked up on a 38-yard pass play. But as safety David O'Shields was coming up to make the tackle on Carroll at the 20-yard line, cornerback Peter Abrigg caught Carroll from behind, forcing a fumble.

"We practice that every day," Abrigg said. "It's our takeaway drill. I wrapped my right arm around him and then hit the ball with my left hand."

The football caromed nearly 20 yards forward, where Melvin Barnes picked it up at the 3-yard line and returned it 29 yards to the 32.

The Cougars then went for the knockout punch after coming up with the crucial turnover. On the first play, Anderson connected on a 35-yard pass to Mark Rau streaking down the left sideline. Three plays later - on the first play of the fourth quarter - Rhodes raced 21 yards for a touchdown, running over a Nimitz defender at the 10.

That made it 31-12, and the Vikings were sunk.

"We were ready to cut the lead to 24-19 with a touchdown," Nimitz coach Mike Farda said. "And then we fumble the ball. That fumble and then their touchdown put the nail in the coffin. Just too many big plays."

Too many big plays, and each came at the most opportune time.