The NKyTribune will be providing focused coverage of NKY high school football throughout the season, thanks to support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine. See all of our pre-season features on each of NKY’s 21 high school football teams and follow our coverage, including roundups each week at Northern Kentucky High School Football.
By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
An unexpected lightning delay did not stall the Cooper offense in Friday’s home game against Newport Central Catholic that was part of the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown.
Cooper senior quarterback Jerod Lonaker and senior wide receiver/defensive back Dante Hendrix led the way in a 45-14 win despite nearly an hour of stoppage in the second quarter caused by lightning.
“I think (the delay) was good for us because it kind of let our guys rest up a bit, which was good,” said Cooper coach Randy Borchers. “You never know how they’re going to come back though. You have that delay and you want the kids to stay focused, but their kids as well. We talked to them before we came back out and you could tell they were still focused and into it.”
Cooper’s defense especially stepped up, holding NCC senior quarterback Patrick Henschen to only 30 yards passing. That was much better than last week when the Jaguars allowed 52 points in a loss to Highlands.
“I think defensively it was night and day,” coach Borchers said. “We need to continue to improve there. The biggest thing we’re facing is we have a lot of new guys on the field, so we’re still learning, working on team chemistry and getting everyone on the same page.”
Offensively, Cooper was led by Lonaker with 342 passing yards and three touchdowns. Jaden Jackson rushed for 133 yards and scored three times. But Hendrix was named the game’s most valuable player due to an impressive set of statistics that included 162 yards receiving, two touchdowns and an interception on defense.
Borchers was extremely pleased with the play of Hendrix, who had one 72-yard reception and a couple of really tough catches.
“He’s just a gamer,” Borchers said. “He doesn’t come off the field much at all. He returns kicks and punts, he’s in good shape because the positions he plays he’s always running, so he never really has to come out. He made some great plays and if we get the ball close to him we have a great opportunity for him to make a play for us.”
Hendrix credited the Jags offense, which is now averaging 43.5 points per game, to the play of Lonaker, a first-year starter at quarterback.
“(Lonaker’s) playing unbelievable right now,” Hendrix said. “Coming into the season, he had critics from our school and everywhere. They were doubting him. He’s shutting them up right now. He’s playing really good and is responding well to all of that.”
Behind the play of Lonaker and Hendrix, Cooper took a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. The players will enjoy the win over last year’s Class 2A state runner-up for a little while before preparing for next Friday’s game against Lexington Bryan Station, a Class 6A team.
“We got some things to work on,” Hendrix said. “But we did a really good job of bouncing back from the tough loss to Highlands last week. We needed this. We couldn’t afford to start the year 0-2, so we needed to come out sharp and get the W.”
See Friday’s Football roundup here.