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5 Big Things: Why John Cooper wins their first Football Championship
The John Cooper School is in its eleventh year of playing football and the sixth at the varsity level. They will be playing in their third SPC (Southwest Preparatory Conference) Championship - after playing in it in 2018 and 2019 - today in Dallas.
This year the Dragons are undefeated in conference play and enter the game with an overall mark of 7-2 and here are 5 reasons John Cooper School will win its first-ever SPC crown.
COACH ERIK DEHAVEN'S SYSTEM IS IN YEAR THREE: The last time the Dragons were in the SPC Championship game was coach DeHaven's first season with John Cooper. The athletes were still learning his system and were ultimately defeated by FWCD (Fort Worth Country Day). Last year the Dragons were 6-1 in a shortened COVID year that had high expectations. This year serves as a bit of redemption for the year lost. With Coach DeHaven's defensive system in place, John Cooper has yielded very few points this year, giving up just 180 in nine games, while scoring 364.
HEALTH NUTS: Week 10 of the season was coincidently a bye week for John Cooper. This allowed an extra week of healing for the nicked-up Dragons. Saturday will be the first time in three weeks the Dragons will be back to full strength because of the week off.
MCKEEVER's EMERGENCE: Junior, Vaughn McKeever has spent two years learning the Dragon's offensive schemes. The maturation of McKeever had been noticeable as he has thrown for more than 2,000 yards and has accounted for 38 TDs for John Cooper. He has a stable of receivers, with six finding the endzone this year.
LONG-TERM MEMORY: The Dragons are hungry! Eight of the current seniors were part of the back-to-back runner-up seasons for John Cooper. To say this team is playing for the others is an understatement!
GOT BEEF: The offensive line is fully intact from last year, with one huge addition: Owen Woodside. The average size of 6-foot-2, 260 is massive for SPC 3A. This season, the second half has been simply dominated because of their size and experience. Look for the offensive and defensive lines to impose their will in the final 24 minutes of the game.
The John Cooper School (7-2) faces Cistercian (5-4), whom they beat back on Sept. 17, 47-21, in the SPC 3A Championship at 7 p.m. - CLICK HERE TO WATCH GAME (FloSports $$)
John Cooper School Volleyball & Football add Wins
Dragons Add Two Wins
10/13 vs. Duchesne • 3-0 W
10/15 vs. St. John's • 3-1 W
Coach Jennifer Peyton: Volleyball went 2-0 this week with a 3-0 win over Duchesne and a 3-1 win over St. John's. We face Episcopal at home on Tuesday at 5:30 a.m.
Next up for Dragon Volleyball:
Oct. 20 vs. Episcopal High School, 5:30 p.m.
VARSITY FOOTBALL
Dragons Are 3-0 For Season
10/16 at St. John XXIII • 41-0 W
Coach Erik DeHaven: The football weather finally arrived, and the Dragons kept rolling, moving to 3-0 Friday night defeating the St. John XII 41-0. The Dragons came out fast with a deep ball from senior QB Kaedyn Sullivan to junior WR James Masciola, setting up the first of four touchdowns on the night for junior RB Jaxson Pierce. Pierce would go for 75 yards on eight carries, helped by senior RB Ben DeLoit who averaged over 12 yards a carry himself. The Dragons defense earned their first shutout of the year with their classic bend-don't-break style, holding the Lions to just 124 total yards and only 21 yards rushing on 22 carriers, forcing one turnover and six sacks. Senior Jake Peterson led the way again with seven tackles, three of those for a loss, and a sack in just one half of play; senior LB Matthew Taylor came away with a pivotal interception ending the only real threatening drive from the Lions. The Dragons return to Pugh Field Friday night to face off with the Broncos of Bay Area Christian.
Team MVP: Jaxson Pierce • 4TD - 8 Rushes / 75 Yards / 9.4 Avg.Offense MVP: Will Young • 4 catches / 7.5 avg Defensive MVP: Gamble Reed • 5 Tackles / 1 Assisted / 3 Sacks / 6 QB Pressures Special Teams MVP: James Masciola • 2 Tackles on Kickoff Team / 1 Tackle on Punt Team Scout Team MVP: Nate Brown
Varsity Record: 3-0 JV Record: 3-0
Next up for Dragon Football:
Oct. 23 vs. Bay Area Christian, 7 p.m.
VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY
Next up for Dragon Cross Country:
Oct. 24 at Creekside West Nature Trail Tri-Meet