Lubbock Monterey 24, Wylie 21 — Jonah Reed overcame an early-pick six to pass for 196 yards and a touchdown while adding another TD on the ground to lead the Plainsmen past the Bulldogs in a hard-fought matchup.
Legin Williams added 82 yards and a touchdown on the ground and Cam Taylor had 123 yards and a score receiving to help Monterey, which outgained Wylie 346-222.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Cooper football (64 images)”
For the second week in a row, Abilene High weathered an early storm to pull away for a comfortable win. This time, it was against crosstown rival Cooper in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
Trailing 7-0 early after the Cougars scored on their first possession and thwarted the Eagles’ with a tip-drill interception, AHS responded with 19 unanswered points to take a two-score lead it would eventually extend to three scores in a 34-13 victory Friday at Shotwell Stadium.
Led by senior utility back Brayden Henry, who passed for 119 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 76 yards and two scores and received for 36 yards, Abilene High outgained Cooper 465-331 in improving to 2-0 on the season. Junior M’Aujehl Aboso also had a big game for the Eagles, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown and receiving for 78 yards and a score as AHS took a 27-13 lead into halftime, before shutting the Cougars out in the second half.
Coming into the season, Cooper coach Aaron Roan and his offensive staff believed the Cougars line could be a strength.
The Coogs returned three senior starters in Kayden Bryan, Jayden Flores and Marcus Andrade and brought back a fourth player, junior Ismael “Smiley” Martinez, who got some playing time in a reserve role last year, leaving the CHS staff with just one spot to fill to complete the starting five.
With senior Isaiah Kanyabitabo assuming that final role, the the Cougar O-line wasted no time confirming coaches’ hunch last week, paving the way for a 300-yard rushing effort in a 49-25 season-opening win at Azle. And with that performance in the books, Roan said the future could be even brighter for that unit — and the Cooper offense as a result.
LAST WEEK: 54-14, .794
SEASON TOTAL: 54-14, .794
Hitting nearly 80 percent accuracy in Week 1 is considerably better than the .705 I stumbled out of the gate with last year.
Hopefully, it will be a good omen.
This week, the Crosstown Showdown between Abilene and Cooper shares the spotlight Stephenville opening the gate of its new football digs — named after the architect of the SHS dynasty, Art Briles.
Here’s this week’s forecast. I’ll see you on the road.
Wylie 25, Brownwood 0 — Julius Laine ran for 126 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, and the Bulldogs defense played 48 minutes of excellent football in a shutout win over the Lions.
Wylie held Brownwood to just 72 yards of total offense and forced a pair of turnovers to help the Bulldogs offense take an 11-0 lead into halftime and expand it after the break.
AZLE — The Cooper football team got off to a running start Friday … literally.
The Cougars piled up 316 yards on the ground, averaging 6.7 yards per rush attempt, and never trailed in a thorough 49-25 win over Azle.
After opening the scoring with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, CHS extended a 22-7 halftime lead to three scores by the 10:39 mark of the third and held on from there to secure its first season-opening win since 2020.
Got the truck started yet?
Ready to jump on one of those farm-to-market roads to watch high school football into the late hours on a Friday night?
You’re not alone.
And, as tradition would have it, I tip my cap to those of you who will be hitting the trails each week in search of pigskin. My method: a preseason menu of sorts.
Each week for the next 11 weeks, Big Country Preps will be searching for its Game of the Week, and we’re already looking ahead. We now present our preliminary list of Big Country Games worth traveling for, but keep in mind: the following list is subject to change as surprises and disappointments emerge.
And as we all know … surprises and disappointments always emerge.
So, without further delay, here is our list of Big Country games worth traveling for in 2025.
I’ll see you on the road.
As a three-star recruit who has already committed to play Division I football at the University of Texas-El Paso, Dycin Davis has a big future ahead of him.
But entering his fourth year as a starting defensive end for the Cooper Cougars, his sole focus at present is on … well … the present.
Davis, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound wrecking ball off the edge for coach Aaron Roan’s squad, has but two goals as he prepares for his final high school season — to relish the time he has left with his South Side brothers and to help CHS to its first winning season in his four years on campus.
The 2024 season was a unique one for the Cooper Cougars.
After struggling to a 1-6 start, including an 0-3 stretch to kick off District 2-5A Division II play, the Coogs closed the regular season with three consecutive wins to extend their playoff streak to 18 seasons.
With 24 lettermen back from that 4-7 squad, including seven offensive and four defensive starters, coach Aaron Roan and his team are hoping to ride the momentum of that late-season surge to a faster start in 2025. And if they can, the eighth year Cooper mentor feels his Cougars could play a larger role in the district race as well.
Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.
We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 20. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.
Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 4, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2025 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we take a look at the Cooper Cougars.
OTHER 2025 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS
Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2025. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring.
This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.
The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.
It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.
Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the Big Country had to offer during the 2025 season.
The players below are listed in no particular order.
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.
Cooper football coach and campus athletic coordinator Aaron Roan had a hard time hiding his elation Wednesday at Cougar Gym, where 11 student-athletes from four sports (baseball, track, soccer and golf) and a cheerleader made their college decisions official.
The signees’ school choices ranged from Division I to junior college, but getting to continue their careers while pursuing further education is what really mattered.
While most are staying in state, Asharee Davis is heading to Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference, where she will take part in the long jump and triple jump for the Golden Eagles.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through May 1.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
After grinding out a gritty 3-1 win over Abilene High on Tuesday to kick off its final home-and-home series of the District 4-5A season, the Cooper baseball team won another pitcher’s duel over its crosstown rival Friday, edging the Eagles 2-0 at Blackburn Field.
Playing AHS with the season series and their district’s top Division I playoff seed on the line, the Cougars broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, and the pitching duo of Brady Henderson and Alejandro made those hold up with a combined four-hit shutout.
Henderson pitched the first five innings for Cooper, allowing just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts, before handing the game over the Ibarra, who navigated the final two frames for the save.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 24.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
The Cooper baseball team didn’t generate a lot of offense Tuesday night at Cougar Field, but it was enough to hand crosstown rival Abilene High a 3-1 loss thanks to a strong pitching performance by Jeron Flores and Johnathon Rico and some excellent defense played behind them.
The two CHS pitchers combined to limit the Eagles to just two hits, putting out what few fires they encountered to keep the Cougars in the hunt for District 4-5A’s No. 1 playoff seed in the large school division.
The Coogs, who improved to 18-8 overall and 5-6 in district play with Tuesday’s win, will meet up with Abilene High (17-9-1, 6-5) again on Friday at Blackburn Field with the season series between the two teams on the line. The winner will take the No. 1 seed in the Class 5A Division I playoffs while the loser will take the No. 2 seed.
LUBBOCK — Wylie senior Andre Washington is headed to the state track meet after taking silver in the triple jump over the weekend at the Region I-5A meet at Lowrey Field.
Washington jumped 46 feet, 10½ inches to finish less than a foot behind event winner Taniela Ake O’Neal of Argyle (47-9½) and punch his ticket to Austin.
That effort, which accounted for eight of Wylie’s 12 team points, headlined all local performances at the meet, which also saw the Abilene High girls earn 11 points.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Wylie baseball (82 images)”
A three-run first inning provided Wylie’s Brady Gay all the run support he would need Thursday in a 5-1 win over crosstown rival Cooper at Cougar Field.
Taking the mound with a healthy early lead, the senior right-hander delivered a gem and took advantage of some excellent defense behind him to help the Bulldogs lock up at least a share of the District 4-5A championship with the victory.
Gay allowed one run over 5.1 strong innings, allowing four hits and striking out six in the win, which improved WHS (17-4-1 overall) to 8-2 in league play with two games remaining. The Bulldogs hold a two-game edge in the loss column on both Abilene High (17-8-1, 6-4) and Wichita Falls Memorial (16-10, 8-4), putting them in position to clinch the outright district title with a single win in their final home-and-home series against last-place Wichita Falls Legacy.
Tuesday night’s Southtown Showdown at Bulldog Field saw Cooper jump out to an early lead before the Wylie offense erupted in the fourth inning for a 6-3 win in District 4-5A action.
Diving catches by Wylie’s Tye Briscoe (fourth inning) and Jace Tomlin (sixth inning) provided the two biggest momentum swings in Wylie’s favor to help sophomore Dylan Regala earn his second consecutive win in a crosstown matchup.
Regala scattered seven hits in five-plus innings while allowing three runs. He added three strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone, shutting down the Cooper offense after the Cougars scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
The best way to describe the area meet performance of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Wall’s Briggs Jones) is to simply let his coach, Craig Slaughter do the talking.
“He ran a blistering 10.41 to set a school record and win the 100 meters,” Slaughter said. “He broke his long jump record with a jump of 23-11.5. I only let him jump twice because he was running out of room in the pit and I need that dude cranked up this week.
“Then he destroyed his triple jump record with a jump of 48-7.25
Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie all came away with victories Friday on a night of action that saw the Cougars and Bulldogs score district wins over Wichita Falls Legacy and Wichita Falls Memorial, respectively, and the Eagles go out of district to claim a 4-2 home win over Class 3A power Wall.
Both Cooper and Wylie rode pitching gems to shutout wins, as Brady Henderson pitched six dominant innings to fuel the Cougars to a 5-0 triumph over the Leopards and Brady Gay went the whole way for the Bulldogs in a 4-0 victory over the Mavericks.
Abilene High, meanwhile, used a four-run first inning and a strong mound effort of its own by sophomore Gavin Colley to edge the Hawks and complete a perfect day for Abilene’s three largest high schools.
The Abilene High and Cooper softball teams both came up with big wins Friday night, as the Lady Eagles clinched the outright District 4-5A championship with a 16-0 road rout of Wichita Falls Legacy and the Lady Cougars rallied at home for a 3-2 walk-off win over Wichita Falls Memorial on Senior Night.
AHS scored 10 first-inning runs in its victory, the Lady Eagles’ ninth in a row, while Cooper broke up a perfect game in the sixth before rallying from a run down in the home half of seventh to snap a two-game losing skid.
Friday’s results improved Abilene High to 15-7 overall and a perfect 7-0 in district play, while Cooper (14-12 on the year) moved to 4-3 in 4-5A action.
Hosting rival Cooper with a chance to lock up at least a share of the District 4-5A championship, the Abilene High softball team took care of business Tuesday, using a five-run bottom of the third to break open the game on its way to a thorough 11-1 victory.
Junior ace Avah Reyes limited the Lady Cougars to a single run on two hits and a pair of walks, and her teammates gave her ample support, following the third-inning outburst with another five spot in the fifth to end the game early.
The victory — AHS’ eighth in a row — improved the Lady Eagles to 6-0 in district play, giving coach Jenna Aguirre’s squad (14-7 overall) an opportunity to lock up the outright 4-5A title on Friday, when they hit the road north for a matchup with last-place Wichita Falls Legacy.
The Wylie softball team put up three runs in the top of the first inning, and starter Avie Faries made that hold up, limiting Cooper to a pair of fourth-inning runs in a 7-2 win for the Lady Bulldogs on Monday at Cougar Diamond.
In a game that was postponed from Friday due to inclement weather and soggy field conditions, WHS avenged an 11-8 home loss to the Lady Cougars on March 18, improving to 3-2 in the District 4-5A standings with the victory.
Faries, who couldn’t hold onto a 5-2 lead in that first matchup, had no such trouble Monday, taking the circle with a 3-0 edge and watching that advantage balloon to 7-0 before Cooper finally got on the board. The sophomore right-hander then overcame a two-run bottom of the fourth to finish the game, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five.
While scoring and rebounding garner much of the attention in basketball, there are other elements, crucial to success that seldom grab headlines.
Behind the scenes is where character, effort and sacrifice set the foundation for teams to reach their full potential. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who bring these elements to the table.
This team isn’t about who the best players are — though some of the area’s top players are on this list.
The Gym Rat Team is about outworking, outhustling and outgiving everyone around you, both on the floor and off. Hard-working, honest, selfless, tough, coachable kids are what we seek for this roster.
A Gym Rat Team member can be your best player or the last player off the bench. But the one thing all of them bring is an uncompromisingly good attitude.
It is for that reason that our Gym Rat Team is selected entirely by area coaches. And Big Country Preps is truly honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2024-25 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 27:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 27.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
