Unlike the first two meetings in the Southtown Showdown series, Friday’s matchup between Cooper and Wylie was a tight one.

But the outcome was the same as the Cougars rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit to knock off the Bulldogs 30-24 in a thrilling affair at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.

Cooper, which improved to 3-0 all-time against its southside rival, scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a two-score lead into the final period, before holding off a furious Wylie rally in the final five minutes to secure the win.