Photograph: Tylon Cooper, Eunice Bobcats (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Tylon Cooper is a mismatch for most cornerbacks and that became apparent again on Friday night.
Cooper caught three touchdown passes for 132 yards as Eunice High defeated Jennings 39-14 in a game that featured one of the state’s oldest high school football rivalries.
Eunice head coach Andre Vige credited the route-running ability of Cooper and the passing of quarterback Josh Brown for providing the Bobcats with a first win of the season.
Vige said he anticipated the Bobcats’ passing game wound experience a productive night against the back end of the Jennings defense.
“We thought (Cooper) could have a big game and a lot of that depended on how well (quarterback Josh Brown) could get the ball out there. (Brown) did a great job throwing and (Cooper) was able to beat both of the players who were matched against him in the secondary,” said Vige.
Brown completed 11-of-15 passes for 199 yards.
Cooper, Vige said, has been improving during his three varsity seasons and has developed into one of the area’s top pass receiving threats.
“Tylon has just kept getting faster and stronger all the time and he and (Brown) work well together,” said Vige.
Meanwhile the Jennings offense was kept away from the end zone until the mid-third quarter.
How It Happened
Eunice bolted to a 27-6 lead by the third quarter.
The Bobcats led 21-0 at halftime after Cooper scored on a 32-yard reception and Hayden Darbonne caught another scoring pass from Brown, who passed for four touchdowns.
Jennings reduced the lead to 15 points after ReJohn Zeno scored on a 56-yard run.
Cooper later caught another 32-yard throw from Brown and Eunice added a third quarter score with a 24-yard reception.
Analyzing the Situation
Vige said he was proud of the way the ‘Cats rebounded from a 26-12 loss to Church Point last Friday night.
“I really wasn’t that concerned about how the team would react. Our guys were down after (the Church Point game) because they felt that we gave the game away. They were ready for (Jennings). It’s a great rivalry and it was a good night (climatically) since there were no weather delays,” said Vige.
Eunice is at home again this Friday night in a non-district game against Avoyelles.
“Avoyelles brings a lot different deal to prepare for. They don’t punt and they do a good job of running the ball downhill with a big back that can really punish you,” said Vige.
