Wichita Falls Rider, Abilene Cooper meet in District 2-5A DII showdown

Wichita Falls Rider and Cooper have played some thrilling football games, yet it’s a series that never was played any later than the second week of the season.

They were usually wild, memorable games but with little on the line. That all changes come Friday when the two meet in the District 2-5A Division II opener at Memorial Stadium.

It’s the first time they’ve met since opening the season against each other from 2010-15. They split the series 3-3 in that span, including a game that was stopped with 4:13 left in the fourth quarter because of lightning with Rider leading 21-7 at Shotwell Stadium.

Game Preview:Abilene Cooper, Wichita Falls Rider clash in epic District 2-5A Division I football opener

“We like playing good teams, and Abilene Cooper has always been good,” Rider coach Marc Bindel said. “Good athletes. Well-coached. I think it’s weird that we’re both in the same district, because we were playing those guys for so long as season openers. They always seemed to be classic games.”

Aaron Roan, an assistant before taking over as Cooper’s head coach in 2018, remembers those games against the Raiders well.

“It’s been a while now, but starting off the year, I always felt like for our program it was a good matchup and test to see where we’re at,” Roan said. “That’s a very good football program. I thought they could expose some things that we could get better at.”

This is a game many circled on the calendar as the one that would likely settle the district title.

Wylie, which probably is playing its best football since making the leap to Class 5A in 2018, likely ill have a say in that, too, but there’s no doubt this is a big one between two programs used to playing deep in the postseason.

“It’s always better to start out 1-0 in district, especially against such a good opponent like Abilene Cooper,” Bindel said. “I think for both teams this is a really big game."

Raiders have been region powerhouse

Rider (3-2) is ranked No. 8 in the state. The Raiders come into the game on a two-game losing skid with losses to former district rival Lubbock-Cooper (17-14) and No. 1 Class 4A DI Stephenville (43-42).

Rider’s last four games have come down to the wire, including a 30-24 win over Decatur in overtime. A week later, Rider intercepted a pass in the end zone on a play from the Raiders’ 2-yard line to preserve a 28-24 victory over Lubbock Coronado.

“We’ve played some good teams,” Bindel said. “We’ve had opportunities. The last four games we’ve played have all been fourth quarter (or) overtime games that could have gone either way. Situationally, I feel like we’re prepared for district.”

Rider returns nine starters on offense and seven on defense from a 12-2 squad that only lost to Lubbock-Cooper – once in district and once in the playoffs.

The Raiders have won 10 or more games three times in the past four years, and only one team has beaten them in district in that span – Lubbock-Cooper.

“I think they’re very explosive,” Roan said. “I think they’ve got a lot of team speed. That’s the first thing that sticks out. They do a good job up front, too. I think their defensive front is really active.

“They’re very consistent and execute well. About what you expect from those guys. They’re very, very talented, and their staff does a good job. It’s going to be a tough matchup, but one we’re looking forward to.”

This a Rider program that dominated its district with Lubbock-Cooper the previous four years. They even met in the region final each year during that span with Rider winning in 2018 and 2020. Aledo beat Rider in the state semifinals each time.

Lubbock-Cooper, which beat Rider in the region finals last year before losing to eventual state champion South Oak Cliff, moved up to Class 5A DI this year and plays in District 2-5A DI with Abilene High.

Coogs step in for Pirates

While one Cooper moves out, another moves in with Abilene Cooper taking the Pirates place.

Abilene Cooper has made the playoffs a school-record 15 consecutive years – going three rounds deep eight times in that stretch.

The Coogs (2-3) are coming off a 56-38 loss to Odessa Permian after thrilling wins over San Angelo Central (41-38 in overtime) and Coronado (33-28 on a late TD pass). They’ve lost to Keller (34-16) and Abilene High (14-10).

Both Keller and Permian are undefeated.

“Very athletic. Their defense is really good,” Bindel said about the Coogs. “They’ve got guys who can run to the football. Their secondary stands out as super athletic. Their defensive line is big and quick. It just seems like all 11 guys they put out on the field really run to the football. Offensively, boy, they’ve got some skilled guys. Their quarterback is a dangerous weapon with both his arm and legs. They really like to throw the ball.

“The stuff they do on both sides of the ball are really, really tough. You’re going to have to bring your ‘A’ game. They have the strategy and the schemes, but they also have the athletes and talent to be really successful in our district. It’s going to be a good matchup.”

Is another Cooper up to the challenge?

Roan knows his team faces a big test.

“Rider is a very talented football team,” Roan said. “They’re a tradition-rich program. They’ve made deep runs in the playoffs for years. Folks around the state of Texas know about Rider football. We know it’s going to be a tough challenge – one we’re looking forward to and seeing how much better we’ve got since the last game we played.”

So, what does the Coogs need to do win?

“I think if we can limit big plays, make them earn it offensively,” Roan said. “Protect the football. Be consistent, move the chains, offensively, to go score points. I think if we do that, we’ll have a chance to be successful.”

Both coaches expect the first meaningful games between the two programs to be a good one.

“I think it’s cool that (the rivalry) gets to be renewed, and obviously there’s more on the line than pride and getting better,” Bindel said. “It’s a chance to be 1-0 in district against a really good opponent. It’s probably going to be another crazy one like it always is.”

Coogs vs. Raiders thrillers

Rider 36, Cooper 35 (2011)

At Wichita Falls, Rider scored twice in the final 3:58 to rally from a 28-0 third-quarter deficit and spoil Todd Moebes’ debut as the Coogs’ head coach.

Future Ohio State quarterback T.J. Barrett capped the comeback by running for the game-winning two-point conversion in Marc Bindel’s debut as the Raiders head coach.

What’s remarkable is the Raiders scrapped the spread offense and switched to the single wing in mounting the comeback.

Cooper, which missed a 37-yard field goal as time expired, turned the ball over at its own 37 to set up Rider’s game-winning score.

Cooper QB Clayton Nicholas, who suffered a nasty blow in the first quarter, didn’t play the final quarter, and future University of Texas receiver Lorenzo Joe stepped in at quarterback as a sophomore.

Cooper 43, Rider 36 (2012)

At Shotwell Stadium, Kerry Sims scored the game-winning TD, a 3-yard run, with 32 seconds left in the contest.

It was his fifth touchdown of the night.

K.V. Hazlett also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD for Cooper.

It was Joe’s debut as the Coogs’ starting QB.

Rider 39, Cooper 36 (2013)

At Wichita Falls, Chase London threw a 76-yard TD pass to Davon Allison for the game-winning score with 48 second left in the game.

The teams combined for 27 points in the final 1:52. At one point, the teams traded TD passes – and the lead – in an 11-second span.

Joe hit Denver Gravitt for a 66-yard TD pass for a 36-32 Cooper lead with 1:10 to play.

The outcome wasn’t decided until all-state kicker Zach Lehr missed a 44-yard field goal with six seconds left. He actually made the game-tying kick, but Rider called a timeout before the snap. He missed on the second attempt.

Cooper 38, Rider 32 (2015)

At Wichita Falls, Cooper’s Devin Johnson ran for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and Rider’s T.J. Vasher came down with Willie Cherry’s 15-yard pass just inches out of the back of the end zone as time expired.

(Cooper leads the all-time series 5-3 since the first meeting in 1996, though they are 3-3 since 2010)

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Cooper plays Wichita Falls Rider in district football opener