SNYDER – After leading for most of the first half, Snyder need two long touchdown passes to regain control and held off the Cooper Pirates, 42-27, Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Cooper trailed, 21-7, at halftime, but the Pirates dominated most of the third quarter.

D.J. Ware’s 1-yard plunge came at the end of an 11-play, 78-yard drive following the second half kickoff. The Pirates (0-2) recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and tied the game when John Keane scored on a sneak.

The Tigers (1-1) needed only one play to recapture the lead, a 60-yard halfback pass from Nick Zajicek to Anthony Taylor.

Snyder’s defense held the Pirates on downs inside the 20 and set up the next score, an 80-yard bomb from Kennon Ward to Anthony Taylor, who broke a tackle at the 15 and waltzed into the end zone.

The Tigers converted a two-point play when Zajicek landed in the end zone on a quick-pitch play.

Cooper started in good field position, thanks for Ware’s kickoff return to the Snyder 45. Keane threw 18 yards to Ryan Hixson and three plays later connected with Mathan Ethridge on a 22-yard TD toss.

The Tigers put the game away on Ward’s 20-yard scoring toss to Taylor with 3:46 to play. In the first half, Tae Richerson, who left the game early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, scored at the end of a 46-yard drive as the Pirates took the initial lead.

The Tigers scored twice before the end of the quarter when Ward threw TD passes to Taylor and Kelton Garcia. Jimmy Holt pulled down a 25-yard pass from Ward on fourth down as Snyder built the 21-7 halftime lead.

Ward completed 12-of-15 passes for 255 yards and three TDs. He rushed 20 times for 138 yards. Taylor caught four passes for 188 yards, all for scores.

Ware rambled 18 times for 127 yards.

- Larry McCarty

SNYDER 42, COOPER 27

Snyder 14 7 7 14 – 42

Cooper 7 0 14 6 – 27

First Quarter

COO-Tae Richerson 1 run (Sergio Vega kick), 9:09

SNY-Anthony Taylor 28 pass from Keenon Ward (Jose Ramirez), 7:32

SNY-Kelton Garcia 19 pass from Keenon Ward (Jose Ramirez kick).

Second Quarter

SNY-Jimmy Holt 25 pass from Ward (Jose Ramirez kick); 2:16

Third Quarter

COO-John Keane 1 run (Vega kick); 7:49

COO-Ryan Hixson 20 pass from Richerson (Vega kick); 5:10

SNY-Taylor 69 pass from Nick Zajicek (Ramirez kick); 4:42

Fourth Quarter

SNY-Taylor 80 pass from Ward (Zajicek run); 11:47

COO-Mathan Ethridge 21 pass from Keane (pass failed); 7:01

SNY-Taylor 19 pass from Ward (kick failed); 3:46

TEAM STATISTICS

COO SNY

First downs 22 20

Rushes-yards 35-191 37-133

Passing yards 161 333

Comp.-Att.-Int. 16-28-0 12-16-0

Punts-avg. 5-39.0 3-31.0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 5-50 7-37

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Cooper, Ware 19-126, Richerson 11-74 1 TD; Snyder, Ward 20-103.

PASSING: Cooper, Keane 8-18-0-121 1 TD, Richerson 8-10-0-40 1 TD; Snyder, Ward 11-15-0-274 5 TD, Zajicek 1-59 1 TD.

RECEIVING: Cooper, Nelson 4-46, Hixson 4-48 1 TD, Ethridge 1-21 1 TD; Snyder, Taylor 5-220 4 TD, Holt 3-55 1 TD, Garcia 2-29 1 TD.

Snyder

Cooper