JUSTIN — A disastrous start was too much for the Cooper football team to overcome in a 33-21 loss to Justin Northwest in the District 3-5A Division I opener for both teams Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium.
The Cougars, who have been slow out of the gate in every game this year, fell behind 19-0 by halftime and were unable to work their way back into the game after the break.
Cooper (2-2 overall, 0-1 in district) outgained the Texans 303-295, but some special teams miscues and a pair of turnovers allowed Northwest (3-1, 1-0) to pull ahead 33-7 early in the fourth quarter. Coach Aaron Roan’s squad did battle back with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull within two scores late, but by then the deficit was too large.