Photos by Joe Garcia, PressPassSports.com

AMARILLO — Traveling to Dick Bivins Stadium with the District 2-5A Division II lead on the line, the Cooper football team found sledding tough against the defending district champion Palo Duro Dons on Thursday.

Finishing the game with just 92 yards of total offense, the Cougars fell behind 14-0 by the five-minute mark of the first quarter and saw the deficit balloon to 35 points in the second quarter before scoring just before halftime to narrow the gap to 35-7 — a score that would stand the rest of the way.

Led by Raymond Johnson, who rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns, the Dons ran for 337 of their 419 total yards, improving to 5-1 on the year and 2-0 in league play with the dominant victory.