QB Cooper takes to air in Viking loss

Jesse Cooper of Community fires a pass to Dustin Tapp for a 3-yard gain. (T-G Photo by Jasen Richardson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Purple and Gold (0-9, 0-6 District 9-A) established some of their running game in the District 9-A matchup and exhibited their air attack more than they have all season. The offense tallied 221 total yards.

Freshman quarterback Jesse "Coop" Cooper got to see first hand how to play in a passing game. He completed 16-of-31 attempts for 69 yards.

The Unionville crew found some rhythm in the second half with the aerial assault. Cooper threw to four different receivers, connecting with Dustin Tapp on quick arrows to the right for 32 yards and outs to Cody Pierce for 29.

Towards the end of the game, Cooper began to find some poise in the pocket. The decision-making process unfolded as he hit the receivers and got the pigskin away, when needed, to avoid being sacked.

"We said we were going to throw Coop to the fire and he responded well," Community coach Johnnie Frost said. "We thought he would give us the best opportunity to throw it, using (Trey Barnes) as a receiver, because it gave us more receivers with experience. It helps Coop get ready for more of the quarterback duties he is going to have to do next year, when he competes for the position."

Junior running back Lucas Burke has been working hard on finding the holes this season and reaped the rewards with 7:34 to go in the game. The Vikes were on their own 28-yard line when Burke found a hole and exploded up the middle of the field for an outstanding 71-yard run. This set up a 1-yard keeper by Cooper for Community's touchdown.

Burke led all running backs with seven attempts for 101 yards. Collectively the squad had 152 yards on the ground.

Lucas Burke (7) of Community locates a hole and hits it hard for a 71-yard run up the middle Friday night against Forrest. (T-G Photo by Jasen Richardson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We have been working really hard with Burke on the traps and on plays up the middle," Frost said. "He had not been visualizing and seeing the hole. He has worked so hard in practice to get better at it. Now he's got his head up and is hitting the hole hard. It's kind of a new position for him and he is greatly improving."

The Rockets (8-1, 4-1) took advantage of explosive special teams. Taylor Abrigo returned the opening kickoff 91 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown. Chapel Hill's special teams put up 12 points in the game and covered 224 yards compared to their offense's 184.

Quarterback Dane Leonard threw three passes for 54 yards, all of which set up Forrest for touchdowns. Running backs Levell Quezaire and Tyler Klaren each had two trips to the end zone. Forrest put up 51 points in the first half on a kick return, three rushing scores, a punt return, and safety, and played substitutes to a mercy clock in the second.

"Forrest is the best team we have played all year long," Frost said. "We knew coming in that their special teams was very good. I felt like our defense did a fairly good job. We made their offense drive the field on us. I told the kids they would return it to the sidelines. We neglected to spread out; we worked on trying to do that. We have gotten better on our coverage, but we had lapses tonight in that coverage."

Pierce had 85 all-purpose yards -- 46 on a kick return, 29 receiving, and 10 rushing.

On the defensive side of the gridiron, Ethan Hardin collected 8 1/2 tackles.

It was Senior Night as Albert Irwin, Pierce, Dewayne Blackwell, Trey Barnes, Justin Hampton, Tapp, Gavin Zealy and Philip Peart played their last home game.

Community travels to Clarksville Academy Friday night for their final game of the season. Kickoff