Abilene Wylie clinched the No. 1 district seed with a 22-6 victory over Lubbock-Cooper on Friday night at Hugh Sandifer Stadium. Wylie’s defense anchored the win, containing Lubbock-Cooper’s high-scoring offense, averaging over 40 points per game. Wylie’s defensive unit held the Pirates to just two field goals in the first half, shutting down their attempts to break into the end zone despite some early offensive success from Cooper.
With Wylie leading narrowly at 8-6, the game remained close until late in the third quarter. Wylie’s offense capitalized on the defense’s resilience, with quarterback Bear Meng connecting with Gage Heighten for a 25-yard touchdown to extend Wylie’s lead. Wylie then sustained momentum with a 79-yard drive, culminating in another score that effectively put the game out of reach for the Pirates. Lubbock-Cooper struggled to establish a rhythm as Wylie’s defense limited big plays and forced the Pirates into difficult passing scenarios.
Cooper’s defense held strong in the second half but eventually wore down from extended time on the field, while Wylie continued to control possession and the game clock. Wylie’s victory marked its fifth consecutive win and secured its position as district leaders with a home playoff game on the horizon. Meanwhile, Lubbock-Cooper, now 7-3, will enter a bye before beginning the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, setting up an away matchup against El Paso.
