Bullard High School on Friday, November 22, 2024 –
The Joaquin Rams varsity football team took a 32-24 win over the Cooper Bulldogs in a Texas UIL State Playoff Area Round game on Friday. The win advances the Rams to a Region III Semifinal playoff with fellow District 11 2A-1 rival Shelbyville next week. Joaquin stands at 8-4 for the season and Shelbyville is at 10-2 after taking a 75-48 area round win over Beckville on Friday.
On Cooper’s first drive of the game Courian Finney gave CHS good field position with a kickoff return to midfield and CHS went 50 yards in 12 plays for the game’s first score. Adryean Finney scored on a 2-yard run on the final play of the drive and Matthew Hudson kicked an extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 point lead with 6:51 minutes left in the first quarter.
With 11:54 left in the second period Joaquin answered with a touchdown from Justyn Brown to Elijah Hardison for a 9-yard touchdown reception. Hardison scored again on a 2-point run conversion run to give JHS an 8-7 lead.
Adrien Finney scored from 9 yards away with 4:11 left in the second period. Hudson added another 1-point kick to give the Bulldogs a 14-8 advantage. Joaquin answered with a 54-yard, 5 play drive which saw Dallon Jordan score on a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:49 left in the first half. A failed conversion attempt saw the two teams tied at 14-14.
The final score of the first half came with a single second left on the clock before halftime when Hudson nailed a 32-yard field goal which gave Cooper a 17-14 lead at the half.
Joaquin regained the lead in the second half when Elijah Harrison scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:59 left in the third quarter. The extra point attempt sailed wide and JHS held a narrow 20-17 lead. Cooper’s next offensive drive failed and Joaquin went 50 yards in five plays and Cooper Bragg capped the drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown. Joaquin’s conversion attempt failed but they held a 26-17 lead with 3:07 left in the third period.
A 20-yard scoring strike from Finney to Austin Pecina helped CHS cut the Joaquin lead to 26-24 with 10:34 left in the fourth quarter. Joaquin answered with a 35-yard touchdown run by Jordan with 6:06 left in the game. Joaquin led 32-24. Cooper went on a 13-play drive but the Rams defense held them on a fourth down inside the Rams 15-yardline with just 43 seconds remaining.
