Ron Booth
HOLLIS — Milton Cooper is ready for the first round of the Class A playoffs.
Cooper’s Hollis Tigers will bring athleticism to Jerb Bryant Stadium-Edgar Martin Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Tigers were in the closest district in Class A. The bottom three teams in the district were decided in Week 10. District A-3 had four teams finish the season with a 6-4 overall record. Carnegie finished second with a 7-2 district record, while Hollis and Mangum finished at 6-3 in the district.
The Tigers have made the playoffs two out of the four years that Cooper has been head coach.
“We’re happy to be where we are,” Cooper said.
The Tigers run the spread offense, and Cooper said that his team will run it 70 percent of the time.
Hollis senior quarterback Jeremy Robinson will make the Tigers go on offense along with junior running back Russell Ward.
“(Robinson) plays several Sports,” Cooper said. “He has a chance to play beyond high school.
“Russell Ward rushed for 1,500 yards in nine weeks last season, and he has a chance to go beyond that this year. Those two make us go on offense.”
Cooper said that the Tigers’ go-to wide receiver is senior Tanner Lowe.
“He also has the ability to play beyond high school somewhere,” Cooper said.
A pair of seniors will lead Hollis on the offensive line.
“Dylan Shelby has played several positions for us this season,” Cooper said. “He isn’t big, but he is tough.
“Roberto Hernandez has good quickness and strength.”
On defense, Ricky Hernandez has good quickness and could also be a college player, Cooper said.
“We’ll be in a 4-2, that suits us best.”
Linebacker Keefer Herrera is Hollis’ leading tackler and is very aggresive, Cooper said.
Cooper also said that the Tigers’ special teams is also solid and canbe a weapon.
“We have speed at our return positions, and we kick the ball pretty well,” Cooper said.
After a slow start, Hollis was able to rebound and pick up steam toward the end of the season.
“We started off with Wellington, and they thumped us pretty good. They were No. 2 in Class A in Texas,” Cooper noted. “We weren’t real prepared for that game. From there on we turned it around.”
Cooper also said that the has a lot of respect for Velma-Alma head coach Greg Gothard.
“Velma is coached by one of the finest coaches in the state,” he siad. “He is probably a better person than a coach and he is an outstanding coach.”
