Marcus Johnson and the Abilene High football team adopted a new saying before they took on rival Cooper Friday night.

Johnson and the Eagles decided to live by the words "Whatever it takes."

What it took was nothing less than one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of Abilene High football for the Eagles to claim a 30-27 overtime victory at Shotwell Stadium in front of nearly 18,000 fans.

A last minute drive, an on-side kick and a field goal with four seconds left in the game were not enough.

Abilene High still needed a 33-yard field goal in overtime from J.B. Gibbs and a dramatic defensive play to seal the game and give the Eagles a piece of their first District 4-5A title since 1959.

Cooper and Abilene High both finished District 4-5A play with 4-1 records, but the Eagles will take the district bell that goes to the champion home on the basis of their win over the Cougars.

"It may be the best high school game I have ever been involved with," Abilene High coach Steve Warren said. "It was two teams going toe-to-toe for 12 rounds."

Defensive back David Salas came up with the knock-out blow on the final play of the game. Salas came around the corner of Cooper's offensive line and blocked a 19-yard field goal attempt by Cooper kicker Matt Uselton that would have sent the game into a second overtime.

"I got by my man on the end of the line and went after it," Salas said. "I felt it come off my finger. I just got it."

That dramatic ending sent Abilene High (7-3) into the Class 5A Division II playoffs where it will face Amarillo High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lowery Field in Lubbock. Cooper (9-1) will have one week to recover from its first loss of the season before it takes on Lubbock Monterey in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday at Shotwell Stadium.

Johnson led Abilene High with 269 yards passing and 75 yards rushing, while wide receiver Jerale Badon posted 216 receiving yards. Quarterback David Butler led Cooper with 244 yards passing, while running back Brandon Diles added 108 yards rushing.

"We knew we couldn't give up," Johnson said. "Our motto for this game was whatever it takes. It's such an emotional win for us. Abilene High is on the rise and this win is a big part of that."

Johnson was just one of several Eagles who made that win a possibility when Cooper appeared to have the game won with 1:41 left in the game.

Cooper wide receiver Tony Cunningham caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Butler that gave the Cougars a 27-17 lead that seemed insurmountable.

That was when Abilene High began its improbable comeback. Johnson needed just two plays to drive the Eagles 59 yards for a touchdown that cut Cooper's lead to 27-24.

Johnson hit Badon for a 47-yard completion and then found wide receiver Andre Washington in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 1:02 left in the game.

Abilene High had no choice but to try for the on-side kick. Gibbs bounced the ball through the Cooper defense and into defensive back Sterling Brinkley's hands.

"The ball bounded just right," Brinkley said. "I just had to jump and grab it."

Johnson drove the Eagles down the field and Gibbs tied the game when he kicked a 35-yard field goal with four seconds left in the game to force overtime.

Cooper won the toss and held Abilene High to a 33-yard field goal by Gibbs.

That gave Cooper a chance to win the game and it nearly took advantage, driving to Abilene High's 2-yard line where the Cougars faced third-and-goal.

Cooper went for the end zone and nearly won the game when a pass from Butler slipped off of wide receiver Marcevie Ralston's finger tips.

The Cougars had a chance to tie the game, but Salas' diving stab at Uselton's field goal attempted sealed Abilene High's win.

"Abilene High made the big plays and we didn't," Cooper coach Randy Quisenberry said. "That was the difference in the game, and I take my hat off to Abilene High."

AHS 7 7 0 13 3 — 30

Cooper 0 7 7 13 0 — 27



AHS - Marcus Johnson 3 run (J.B. Gibbs kick)

Cooper - David Butler 1 run (Matt Uselton kick)

AHS - Jerale Badon 13 pass from Johnson (Gibbs kick)

Cooper -- Marcevie Ralston 6 pass from Butler (Uselton kick)

AHS - Gibbs 29 field goal

Cooper - Will Galusha 85 pass from Butler (Uselton kick)

Cooper - Tony Cunningham 23 pass from Butler (kick failed)

AHS - Andre Washington 12 pass from Johnson (Gibbs kick)

AHS - Gibbs 35 field goal

AHS - Gibbs 33 field goal

AHS Cooper

First downs 21 18

Rushes-yards 26-75 26-101

Passing yards 269 244

Comp-Att-Int 19-29-1 19-27-1

Punts 5-33.4 2-37.5

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 7-68 3-24

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Abilene High: Marcus Johnson 24-75, David Willis 10-(-1), Juan Gallow 2-1; Cooper: Brandon Diles 23-108, David Butler 3-(-7).

PASSING - Abilene High: Johnson 19-29-1 269 yards; Cooper: David Butler 19-27-1 244 yards

RECEIVING - Abilene High: Jerale Badon 11-216, Gallow 1-14, Kendrick Starks 3-15, Andre Washington 2-27, David Willis 2-7; Cooper: Will Galusha 5-128, Marcevie Ralston 4-13, Tony Cunningham 6-99, Brandon Diles 1-5, Kurtis Lay 3-9.