For a sophomore filling the shoes of one of Cooper’s all-time greats at running back, Noah Garcia keeps a remarkably even keel. If he’s feeling pressure to live up to the performance of 2,000-yard rusher Tyrees Whitfield, he does a good job of hiding it.

Instead, the 5-foot-7, 160-pound Garcia just goes out each week and quietly gives his best effort for his team. That that effort has him among the area’s top rushers through the Cougars’ first six games is just a bonus for him.

Garcia’s 676 yards rushing, which have largely been accrued over the past four weeks, have him ranked sixth among Big Country rushers this season. But he’s far more concerned with what his production has meant for Cooper’s record, which stands at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in District 2-5A Division I play heading into Friday’s game at Amarillo Palo Duro.