Cooper holds off Clovis

WOODROW - The stark reality for first-year Lubbock-Cooper coach Chip Darden is that the Pirates have a long way to go to be the team they are capable of being. Five turnovers have a way of showing that.

But reality also tells Darden his team is not that far off from reaching its potential, and it's a lot easier to clean those things up when you've won four of your first five games and have a bye week to get ready for the District 3-5A Division II slate.

The No. 7-ranked Pirates used a stout defense that rendered Clovis's offense one-dimensional and overcame three interceptions and two fumbles to outlast the Wildcats 48-28 Friday at First United Park-Pirate Stadium.

"The turnovers and penalties have got to be cleaned up or we're not going to end up on the good side of a lot of games," Darden said. "But I'm never going to be disappointed with a win, and I think the kids battled hard. One thing we did was came out with some emotion and played hard. We have some things to clean up, and that's what the off week is for and hopefully we can do that and get ready for district."

The Pirates go into the bye week 4-1, the only blemish a four-overtime loss at Frenship. Otherwise, Cooper has done pretty much what it has desired against a tough non-district schedule.

Against Clovis, Cooper's running game helped overcome quarterback Cooper LaFebre's three interceptions, one that was returned 34 yards by Ernesto Acuna for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that kept the Wildcats (3-3) within two scores. The Pirates pounded Clovis to the tune of 275 rushing yards, and LaFebre, to his credit, also had a touchdown run and threw for two scores.

Cooper's defense set the tone early, forcing two Clovis punts and a turnover in the first three series. That allowed the Pirates to take an early two-touchdown lead and never look back.

The Pirates held Clovis to just 35 yards rushing and were able to survive some big plays by the Wildcats passing game with a couple of interceptions of their own, one that Antonio Mendoza returned 15 yards for a touchdown to seal the win with 6:20 to play. Junior Jeston Webskowski, who scored on a 2-yard run in the third, was held to 24 yards on 17 carries.

Acuna had offensive and defensive scores for Clovis, hauling in a 4-yard pass from Harris late in the first to put Clovis on the board and the 34-yard pick-six in the fourth. Harris also completed a 77-yard touchdown to Blake Muscato.

Thanks to the running game, the Pirates were able to find enough rhythm to overcome their miscues, which not only included turnovers but also 10 penalties, including three holding calls in a four-play span that thwarted another potential scoring chance early in the second quarter.

Cooper distributed the rushing load, with four players carrying at least seven times and no more than nine. Isaiah Johnson led the way with 127 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, while Jacob Dennis chipped in with 78 yards and a touchdown on just four totes. LaFebre and Nehemiah Martinez combined for 78 rushing yards on 16 carries.

The Pirates took a 20-6 lead at halftime and answered each time Clovis threatened to get back into the game. Johnson's final carry might have been his biggest as he broke off a 65-yard touchdown scamper straight up the gut to put Cooper up 34-12 after the Wildcats had taken advantage of a bad punt snap and short field to make it a two-score game.

The Wildcats open District 2/5-6A play Friday against Sandia, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Leon Williams Stadium.