Allan Appel Photo
Cooper after receiving his MVP award Thursday
After his first touchdown in the game’s early minutes, every time Harold Cooper got the ball one thought crossed his mind: score again. Score he did, three more times — leading Hillhouse to a 48 – 12 rout of crosstown rival Wilbur Cross in their annual Thanksgiving Day football showdown.
At game’s end, sophomore running back Cooper was the obvious choice to be named most valuable offensive player.
Slight of build, standing five-foot-five, Cooper couldn’t be stopped all day, as he averaged more than 10 yards every time he got the ball.
On one run, he galloped 65 yards to the end zone.
Under a sunny sky and in cool, crisp, perfect football weather Thursday morning, more than 500 people joined the Academics’ bulldog mascot, otherwise known as senior Kaeshon Durham for the Elm City Bowl. They filled the stands at Bowen Field to see what rapidly turned out to be an over-matched Cross team face Cooper and company.
Ronald “Huggie Bear” Huggins and the Academics’ bulldog mascot.
At 0 – 9, Cross is having a season that is less than memorable, or perhaps a season to forget.
And at 6 – 3, the Academics at game time were already mathematically certain not to make the post-season regardless of the outcome of the Elm City Bowl.
That ironically gave the Academics even more an impetus to win.
“We go out with a bang for the seniors,” Cooper said afterwards. “We played as if it were our last game.”
No. 10 Je’Vaughn Moore not only quarterbacked and provided exemplary solo tackles on defense; he also did all the kick-offs and conversion duties.
And they did. Hillhouse’s Academics are bigger and more athletic on the line, and taller at the ends than Wilbur Cross’s Governors. In addition they are gifted with talented running backs like Cooper, Andre Anderson, and quarterback Je’Vaughn Moore, who also rushed for a touchdown.
After Cooper’s barely contested run in the first quarter, Hillhouse showed it could play defense as well, containing Cross deftly.
They also showed a more than competent passing game to match Cooper’s fleetness. Moore completed two long passes to Mike Washington and Mike Shaw to get the Academics to midfield. After Cooper ran wide again, Moore finished the job with a score making it 13 – 0 at the end of the first quarter.
“Let’s go, Big G. It ain’t over! You can do it!” shouted Cross cheerleaders Milanni Martinez, Nierre Grear and their 20 colleagues.
Problem was, in the second quarter, the Governors didn’t do it. Hillhouse kept doing it.
After a long loping run by the graceful Andre Anderson on the left side, Cooper got the ball in the middle and ran straight ahead, breaking a few attempts to tackle him. It was now 20 – 0..
Coach Tom Dyer took Cooper out to give him a break. When Cooper indicated he wanted to be back on the field, the coach said to take it easy a little. Thanks to Cooper’s efforts, “we’ve got the momentum,” Dyer said.
On the field, meanwhile, Moore was active on defense, making several solo tackles and blunting Cross’s drive to register a score before the half.
Inserted back in the game with 1:34 left in the half, Cooper made a spectacular zigzagging 25-yard run in which he dropped the ball, actually picked it up, and continued for another 10 yards. The play was called back due to a penalty.
At the half the crowd was entertained by the appearance of a designated “Mr. and Mrs.” from each grade and each school, including Mr. and Mrs. Sophomore from Hillhouse, Samuel Suffrard and Gabrielle Salters.
Ten minutes into the second half, after the Governors’ offense failed yet again to prevail, the Academics took over on downs. Moore advanced the ball straight ahead on a keeper. The Governors didn’t know from where in the backfield would come the next threat. They spread their defense to thin, giving Cooper too wide a birth.
Cooper sweeps down the left side for one of his four touchdowns.
He scampered in with his third touchdown of the game. The cannon, signifying the six-pointer, went off yet again.
This time, however, Cross responded with an impressive pass from Javon Taylor to Jaylin Fuller for the Governors’ first TD. Alas, they missed the two-point conversion attempt. Score: 34 – 6.
The Academics responded immediately to the Cross TD. Andre Anderson ran the kickoff back for a tit-for-tat touchdown. However, it was nullified by two personal fouls against Hillhouse on the play and the ball returned to the 50-yard line.
Showing that not only Moore, Anderson, and of course Cooper could scamper, this time junior running back Facinete Haderia scored on a ten-yard run. Score: 41 – 6.
When they got the ball again, as if the game were on videotape already, Cooper tore through the center of the Cross line virtually uncontested for his fourth TD. Make the score 48 ‑6.
“No matter what, they’re still winners,” cheerleader Milani Martinez called. And indeed, with four minutes left in the game, Josh Dellacruz powered in for the Governors’ second TD.
That’s how the game would end: 48 to 12.
Coach Dyer attributed the success of the running game evidenced by Cooper to his squad’s also having established the pass.
He called Cooper’s talent of the “sky’s the limit” variety. He also attributed his runner’s accomplishment to the other talented players on the team competing for the running back positions, thus upping Cooper’s game.
In a brief post-game interview, Cooper said he hopes to play in college and beyond, despite his small size.
The most valuable players on the Cross side were, on defense, Alex Chow-Yen, and on offense, Jaylin Fuller. Named most valuable players on the Academics winning team were senior Dennis Grimes on defense, and Harold Cooper on offense.
The football rivalry between the schools goes back to 1920, when Commercial High was also in the mix. The modern rivalry between just Hillhouse and Cross began in 1984. Thursday’s win makes the record 17 Hillhouse wins to Cross’s 10, with one tie.