Cooper 23, Abilene High 14 — Down 16-0 midway through the second quarter, the Eagles mounted a comeback that had them in position to take the lead early in the fourth. But a failed fourth-down conversion try at the Cooper 23 swung momentum back the Cougars’ way and left AHS with its third straight loss to open the season.

Junior quarterback Matthew Ezzell sparked the Eagle offense, replacing senior Eric Abbe and leading both of AHS’ scoring drives. Ezzell, who finished the game 13 of 22 for 172 yards and a touchdown, helped the Warbirds to two other scoring chances while leading the offense — the first ending in a blocked field goal and the second with the Coogs’ fourth-down stop.

AHS will try again for its first win under first-year head coach Mike Fullen on Friday, when it travels west for a matchup with former district rival Midland High.