By Christian Malone
The Valdosta Daily Times
HOMERVILLE — Last Friday night, Vintavious Cooper made some big plays, and helped Clinch County advance to the state quarterfinals.
Cooper, Clinch’s quarterback, rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, and completed 5-of-11 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, as the Panthers defeated Emanuel County Institute 39-28 in the second round of the Class A state playoffs. Cooper also helped Clinch’s defense hold ECI scoreless for most of the second half.
For his performance on Friday, Cooper was chosen The Valdosta Daily Times Player of the Week.
Early in the second quarter on Friday, with his team trailing 14-6, Cooper stepped up for the Panthers.
After a punt, Clinch took over at its own 42. On the first play of the drive, Cooper took the snap from the shotgun, and ran through a hole that his offensive line had opened up. He raced 53 yards, all the way to the ECI 5-yard line. Two plays later, Trey Dorsey scored to make it 14-12.
The Bulldogs responded with a 12-play drive for another touchdown, making it 22-12. But then Cooper struck again.
The senior quarterback took another snap from the shotgun, and again ran through a hole in the line. No defender could catch him, and he sprinted 51 yards into the end zone for the touchdown, cutting his team’s deficit down to 22-19.
Clinch’s Dalton Bennett recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession, and Cooper drove his team down the field for another score in the final minute of the half. On third-and-goal from the 6, Cooper threw a swing pass to Anthony McNeil, who took off for the end zone, and beat the defender to the goal line. That touchdown gave the Panthers a 25-22 lead with 28.5 seconds left in the half.
Clinch held the lead the rest of the night.
On the opening possession of the third quarter, Cooper had a 17-yard run that moved the ball to the ECI 28. McNeil ran for a touchdown on the next play, making it 32-22.
Cooper has been making big plays for the Panthers for the past three years. As a sophomore, he passed for 1,966 yards and 17 touchdowns, and helped Clinch reach the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven seasons. Last year, he passed for 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns. This season, Cooper has passed for 1,057 yards and 12 touchdowns, rushed for 532 yards and nine touchdowns, and helped Clinch win the Region 1-A championship for the third time in his four seasons at the school. Now the Panthers are in the quarterfinals.
Clinch (9-3) will travel to Holy Innocents (11-1) for the third round of the playoffs this Friday night.
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