(by Don Meador, Sports Information Director, October 20, 2021)
A recurring yell from the Warren East sideline pierced the fall October night. “Number 9 is in the backfield” was the words from the Warren East sideline every time AC-S senior Jax Cooper lined up in the backfield. It was a reminder to the Raider defense to know the whereabouts of Cooper. Their efforts held Cooper to 11 yards rushing but the senior still caught eight passes for 172 yards.
However, his superb night was overshadowed by the Raiders’ 34-21 win over the Patriots. Warren East used a strong ground game---268 yards rushing---to start strong and finish solid to apparently dash AC-S ‘s hopes of the top seed in the Class 4A, District 2 playoffs.
The Raiders’ ground game enabled the hosts to score on their first possession. On the snap, Raider quarterback handed the ball to Ahmad Alexander who raced 73 yards for the score. The successful PAT gave Warren East a 7-0 lead in front of the stunned Patriots. The Raiders added a second score on their third possession. Dane Parsley broke loose for a 42-yard run to open a 14-0 lead.
However, the Patriots refused to stand still. On the next series, junior Payton Cope helped lead the Patriot down the field. With the running of Jace Jackson adding to the Patriot attack, AC-S would march down the field with a key play being a fourth-and-13 play in which Cope found Cooper for a 22-yard gain. Cope capped the drive with a five yard run at the 2:04 mark of the first. Thorny Walker’s PAT pulled the Patriots within a touchdown.
The strong first half of offense turned toward the defenses in the second. However, in the final four minutes the Patriots were able to score again. With 3:07 remaining in the first half, Cope’s one yard run pulled AC-S to within a point. Following a penalty on the PAT attempt moved the ball to the one and a half yard line, the Patriots put the offense back on the field. Jackson plunged in on the carry to enable the Patriots to take a 15-14 lead.
The East defense not only stopped a third quarter AC-S drive but turned the tables and the game’s momentum. An 82-yard interception return for a score by Mlik Summers, followed by a successful two-point conversion, lifted the hosts to a 22-15 lead with 4:37 left in the third.
The Patriots came back strong. With 8:17 left in the contest, Cooper showed his talent as a top-notch receiver. The wideout caught a pass near the sidelines, stayed in abounds, and broke away from a stunner Raider secondary. His 30-yard reception and run for the Patriots’ third score pulled the Patriots to within one, 22-21. However, the extra point try failed.
Warren East followed with a drive and score. A 14-yard touchdown run by Simon Glee and the PAT gave the hosts a 28-21 lead. A late ACS turnover led to East adding an insurance score at the 1:59 mark.
Cope finished with his second best individual effort of the year with 232 yards on 13 of 21 passing. Jackson led the way on the ground with 62 yards. Colton Costello and Thorny Walker combined for 57 reception yards. Defensively, Will Moore recorded 13 total tackles while Blayne Tracy finished with 10 total tackles.
The Warren East win leaves the Raiders in control of the top district spot. If East downs Franklin-Simpson this Friday, the Raiders will host the first two playoffs rounds. If East wins at Franklin, an AC-S win over Russell County this week will leave the Patriots as the second seed. AC-S would host a first round playoff game against Franklin-Simpson on November 5. Should ACS win and Franklin-Simpson upend Warren East this week, a three-way tie would result for the top spot in the district. In that case, the KHSAA would use their tie-breaking guidelines to determine seeding tournament match-ups.
The Patriots (4-4, 2-1) are scheduled to host Russell County (2-6, 1-2) in their homecoming game on Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 Friday night. Tickets are online only and can be purchased through GoFan. The game will be livestreamed by Big Screen Productions and broadcast on WVLE-FM.