MARILLO – It took Bushland only a minute and a half to score its first touchdown of the season.

By the time the first quarter had ended the Falcons had put 21 points on the scoreboard and by halftime they had rung up 35.

That dominating start, before a crowd of more than 3,000 at Falcon Stadium, lifted the No. 3-ranked team in Class 2A to a 48-9 victory over Cooper on Friday night in the season opener for each club.

“I didn’t expect this kind of a score,” said Falcons’ head coach David Flowers. “Our defense played well. It was very aggressive and was able to create some turnovers.”

The Falcons’ defense intercepted three passes, recovered a fumble and on special teams Thomas Cleveland blocked a punt that he returned for a touchdown early in the second quarter that gave them a commanding 28-0 lead.

Senior quarterback Sawyer Cornelius threw touchdown passes of 35 and 39 yards to Crockett Gillmore and a 24-yarder to Michael Matthews. He also ran for two TDs and accounted for 213 yards total offense.

Cornelius completed 13-of-22 passes for 183 yards and added 30 yards rushing on six tries.

Mason Harris, who scored on a 40-yard run, led the Falcons with 82 yards on just three attempts, while Tate Rhodes added 60 yards on six attempts as they had 205 yards on the ground on 28 attempts. All told, Bushland had 415 yards total offense and didn’t turn the ball over.

“That was really good for a season opener,” said Flowers. “I thought the fact we didn’t turn the ball over and our special teams got a TD were big for us.”

The Pirates, who won District 1-3A last season, wound up with 325 yards total offense but most of that came after they were trailing by five touchdowns.

Quarterback Tae Richerson carried 16 times for 213 yards and scored the only TD on a 82-yard run in the third quarter when the Pirates were trailing by 42 points.

”The fact we got on them early pumped us up big time,” said Cornelius. ”Our defense and special teams played well.

”I don’t think any of us thought the game would get out of hand so quickly. We got some early momentum and just kept it going.”

- Morris News Service

BUSHLAND 48, COOPER 9

Cooper 0 0 7 2 – 9

Bushland 21 14 7 6 – 48

First Quarter

BUS-Gillmore 35 pass from Cornelius (Cornelius kick)

BUS -Cornelius 2 run (Cornelius kick)

BUS-Gilmore 39 pass from Cornelius (Cornelius kick)

Second Quarter

BUS -Cleveland recovered blocked punt (Cornelius kick)

BUS -Cornelius 2 run (Cornelius kick)

Third Quarter

BUS -Matthews 24 pass from Cornelius (Sawyer kick)

COO-Richerson 18 run (Salas kick)

Fourth Quarter

COO-Safety

BUS-Harris 40 run (kick failed)

TEAM STATISTICS

COO BUS

First downs 13 23

Rushes-yards 30-231 30-203

Passing yards 72 215

Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-23-3 18-29-0

Punts-avg. 5-31 2-43

Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 10-103 7-88

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Cooper, Richerson 15-190; Bushland, Harris 3-82

PASSING: Cooper, Richerson 13-20-1-72; Bushland, Cornelius 12-21-0-186.

RECEIVING: Cooper, Taylor 4-26; Bushland, Gillmore 3-87, Matthews 3-67.

Bushland Cooper