Cooper's best catch comes after the game

Tears of happiness flowed at Finley Stadium after the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 31-28 win over The Citadel.

But family and friends of senior Blue Cooper weren't crying about football. Eyes watered because of something more important.

Cooper brought his girlfriend, Maci Gault, onto the field and asked her to look up at the video scoreboard. A slideshow of photos from their 1-year relationship played, a crowd gathered around, Cooper's dad handed him a small box and Cooper dropped down on his left knee. He looked into Gault's watering eyes to ask if she would marry him.

Among the tears, kisses and hugs, she looked back, said yes and kissed him again.

"It's been a pretty exciting day. I don't know what to say. I'm in shock right now, other than it's been a wonderful day," said Gault, the younger sister of UTC senior quarterback-turned-receiver Jare Gault, who had a career day with seven catches for 70 yards. "(Cooper) was so nervous, but he did so well."

They posed for pictures, with Cooper still in his pads and jersey and with Gault wearing his gold road uniform, until flashes were needed as the sun set behind Lookout Mountain.

"We were wondering why (Jare) was brought here, and now we know why," said Gault's mother, Sonya Horne. "It was for Maci to meet her husband."

They all had plenty to smile and celebrate even before Cooper jogged out of the postgame locker-room celebration. Cooper caught 14 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. He also surpassed Terrell Owens and Jeremy Grier for fifth place in Mocs career catches.

"Find what you play for and play for that," Cooper said. "I play for my teammates, my dad, and my girl."

Who now is his fiancée.