Abilene Cooper football stuns Coronado with late tipped-pass touchdown

Chris Warren was nervous as he watched his pass float through the air, and for good reason.

The Abilene Cooper senior knew he was late on the throw, and he saw a pair of Coronado defenders waiting to snag the game-sealing interception to cap a 20-point comeback win.

Next thing he knew, Warren was watching Jaylen Parker take his only catch into the end zone.

After two defensive backs collided trying to break up the play near their 30, Parker grabbed the tipped ball and finished off a 64-yard touchdown that proved to be the difference in a 33-28 Cougars’ victory Friday at Lowrey Field.

"It was scary, for sure," said Warren, who threw five TDs to five different receivers.

The score with 48 seconds left provided a gut-punch to Coronado, which willed its way to a one-point lead after a dismal opening half. The Mustangs (1-3) tallied TDs on their first three possessions after halftime to make up a 27-7 deficit.

But Parker's improbable catch capped a three-play drive after Cooper (2-2) came up with its first stop of the half. Coronado proceeded to fumble on the first play following the kickoff, and the Coogs ran out the final 42 seconds.

The result summed up Coronado's non-district run, as the team has had stretches of greatness but only one win to show for it.

"We're one play away, man," Mustangs coach D.J. Mann said. "It seems like, for the last three weeks, we're one play away. But (district play) is a new season."

After two quarters, it didn't seem like the game would be decided in the final minute.

Warren, who finished with 334 yards on 22-of-32 passing, threw for four TDs in the first half as Cooper scored 27 unanswered points. He entered the day with three TD passes on the season.

Coronado found answers, limiting the Coogs to 15 second-half yards before the go-ahead drive. Even with the offense struggling, Cooper coach Aaron Roan had faith Warren would deliver.

"Chris is continuing to gain confidence," Roan said. "He's getting the ball where we need it to and operating our offense, moving the ball, getting first downs and giving ourselves opportunities to score. We've got to build on those things and continue to progress."

It was the second consecutive dramatic finish for the Coogs, who pulled out a 41-38 overtime win over San Angelo Central a week earlier.

But Warren wouldn't mind if future contests were a bit more anticlimactic.

"It was fun, but I don't like games ending like that," Warren said. "If I'm really being honest, it's fun and all, but … the games should not be that close at all."

NON-DISTRICT

Abilene Cooper 33, Coronado 28

Cooper 7 20 0 6 — 33

Coronado 7 0 7 14 — 28

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

COR — Jett Carroll 29 run (Christian Sanchez kick), 9:35

COO — Cameron Herron 53 pass from Chris Warren (Kamune Mrisho kick), 2:49

Second quarter

COO — Amante McGowan 21 pass from Warren (kick failed), 10:40

COO — D'Andre Ralston 16 pass from Warren (Mrisho kick), 5:40

COO — Malik Jackson 14 pass from Warren (Mrisho kick), 2:56

Third quarter

COR — Surreal Garrett 18 pass from Carroll (Sanchez kick), 5:19

Fourth quarter

COR — Russell Dills 5 pass from Carroll (Sanchez kick), 10:28

COR — Carroll 11 run (Sanchez kick), 5:12

COO — Jaylen Parker 64 pass from Warren (run failed), 0:48

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: (COO) 18; (COR) 20

Rushes-Yards: (COO) 27-42; (COR) 39-110

Passing: (COO) 334; (COR) 183

Comp-Att-Int: (COO) 22-32-1; (COR) 20-29-0

Punts-Avg: (COO) 4-36; (COR) 5-39

Fumbles-Lost: (COO) 0-0; (COR) 2-2

Penalties-Yards: (COO) 13-128; (COR) 9-80

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Cooper, Daniel Bray 11-24, D'Andre Ralston 3-13, Mikei Flye 5-9, Chris Warren 6-(-1), Cameron Herron 2-(-3). Coronado, Jett Carroll 10-38, Bricion Griffin 16-36, Demarion Finch 9-25, John Curry 1-8, Russell Dills 1-8, Cam Manahan 2-(-5).

PASSING: Cooper, Warren 22-32-1—334. Coronado, Carroll 19-28-0—158, Isaiah Vazquez 1-1-0—25.

RECEIVING: Cooper, Ralston 7-56, Herron 5-76, Malik Jackson 4-60, Flye 2-51, Bray 2-6, Jaylen Parker 1-64, Amante McGowan 1-21. Coronado, Dills 6-45, Jikiri McGrew 5-36, Surreal Garrett 4-56, Finch 2-8, Griffin 1-25, Jordan Kelley 1-7, Ted Gilmore 1-6.

RECORDS: Cooper 2-2; Coronado 1-3.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Abilene Cooper football stuns Coronado with late tipped-pass touchdown