No other area prep football team was on fire in the opening quarter more than Signal Mountain Friday night.
With an aggressive and determined offensive line taking over early, the Eagles struck quickly with junior playmaker Bo Cooper leading the way to a 28-point first quarter in a 45-29 road win over McMinn Central.
Cooper showcased his versatility in Signal’s new wing-T offense as the 5-foot-10, 160-pound playmaker produced three of his four touchdowns in a span of just eight minutes in the opening period. His first score was his longest on a 25-yard connection with senior quarterback Cash Keene for a touchdown.
“On my touchdown catch I ran a 15-yard out and was well covered, but Cash made a great throw and put it where I could get a hand on it,” said Cooper, who led an offensive attack that totaled 498 yards, including 220 in the first quarter. “Next thing I know, I was in the end zone celebrating with my teammates.”
Cooper’s monster showing landed him Times Free Press Player of the Week honors as he carried the ball 13 times for 137 yards and three touchdowns and added four catches for 87 yards and a score. He also totaled six tackles at cornerback, where he helped hold an all-state quarterback in Ayden Plemons to less than a 50% completion rate.
“The whole team came out ready and focused,” Signal Mountain head coach Mark Mariakis said. “Bo would be the first to tell you, our offensive line did a fantastic job all night creating holes and staying on blocks to give him a chance to do what he did.
“Bo is an athlete with the ball in his hand. He has good speed, vision and hands out of the backfield. His skill set allows us to do a lot with him. He can carry the ball and make sharp cuts and also run good routes. Being a strong baseball player too, he has great hand-eye coordination.”
Keene was sharp in the win as he completed 67% of his passes for 200 yards and 20 yards per completion, while the Eagles’ backfield also had another 100-yard rushing performance from senior Garrett Wilson, who rushed 11 times for 120 yards and two scores.
As one of the main difference makers on both sides of the ball, Cooper is excited about the direction of the Signal Mountain program in 2024.
“Coach Mariakis has really brought discipline and a strong culture to Signal Mountain football,” said Cooper, whose favorite players are former Georgia Bulldog stars Ladd McConkey and D’Andre Swift. “We are all playing for each other.
“The wing-T is really exciting because we have great options in the run game and a quarterback who can spread the ball around. It’s a lot of fun to run behind a line that makes holes like they did on Friday night, too.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.