Riley Cooper has run, caught, intercepted, tackled and punted his way into being CCC's most durable player.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published November 17, 2004
CLEARWATER - Ask Mike Jalazo for the quintessential play that defines Clearwater Central Catholic's Riley Cooper as a triple-threat playmaker, and the coach knows just which one to pick.
But it wasn't the 79-yard punt return for a touchdown Cooper had against Hernando.
It wasn't the 91-yard touchdown reception he had against Tampa Catholic. It wasn't the 97-yard interception return for a touchdown called back against rival St. Petersburg Catholic.
It wasn't even the 22-yard touchdown grab between three defenders to beat Fort Pierce John Carroll 18-15 in last week's dramatic come-from-behind playoff win, setting up Friday night's historic rematch with SPC.
No, it was an interception made by teammate Eric Filla in the John Carroll win.
"Within seconds (Cooper) flys across the field to get in front of Filla, trying to lead Filla, trying to make blocks, trying to lead him to the end zone," Jalazo said. "Even in practice, if there's a pass and it's on the other side of the field, (Cooper) is the first kid to get to the other side of the field to get a hit or a block."
Cooper can score from 1 yard or 99. But he can also block, tackle and punt. The junior receiver, free safety, kick returner and punter can do all the little things, and whatever else it takes, to win.
"He wants to win so bad sometimes it gets the best of him," Jalazo said. "But you won't find a more competitive kid."
Cooper said his motivation is simple: when his high school career is over, no regrets.
So he doesn't take a play off.
"I just don't want to look back on it and say "I wish I would have done this, I wish I would have done that,' " Cooper said. "I just want to give 100 percent and whatever happens, happens."
Cooper is an athletic 6 feet 3, 195 pounds. He has run 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He has soft hands, quick reflexes, excellent field vision and a nose for the ball. And this season every bit of his talent is in service to his team.
On offense he has 28 catches for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 29.4 yards. On defense he is second on the team in tackles with 112 (69 solo), has five interceptions and leads the team with 11 passes defensed. On special teams he averages 40 yards a punt, 23.2 per kickoff return and 23.7 per punt return, and scored a touchdown that way.
But even that wasn't enough to help his team. Which is why Cooper said a leadership adjustment was his biggest move of the year.
"I was helping out athletically, catching, kicking, running, but I sometimes got on players if they made a mistake," Cooper said. "Which is stupid, everyone makes mistakes. Now I just try to keep it positive, and they'll get more out of it if you keep it positive than if you just get mad at them and be negative."
Cooper was an all-state defensive back last year, and as a centerfielder on the baseball team he is a likely draft choice. Jalazo used that sport's terminology to best define Cooper.
"In baseball they call him a five-tool player," the coach said, "and that's what he is on the football field, he's a five-tool player.
"What people don't realize about him is that, when he plays, he does the things a lot of kids on this level don't do, but kids on the next two do."
But even a player of Cooper's ability has a few gripes. What he does during games is exhausting. He's stuck at five interceptions because teams have stopped throwing at him in the middle of the field. And he has had five return touchdowns called back this season.
"When it gets called back, I get sort of mad and frustrated," he said. "But you've still got to go out there and try again."
Cooper can't say for sure what he likes doing the most on the football field.
"I don't like anything the most," he said. "I like blocking, catching, hitting, everything."
WHAT: Class 2B, Region 3 final
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: St. Petersburg Catholic High, 6333 9th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
AT STAKE: The winner hosts a state semifinal game Nov. 26.
