Cooper’s six touchdown passes lift Melbourne past Quitman
Melbourne 54, Quitman 43
QUITMAN — Abe Cooper threw six touchdown passes, three each to Mason Wren and Benaiah Spray, as Melbourne rallied past Quitman 54-43 Friday night at Bulldog Stadium in the teams’ 3A-2 conference opener. The Bearkatz improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Quitman stands 3-1 and 0-1.
Melbourne overcame deficits of 14-0 and 21-7, scoring 33 unanswered points to build a 40-21 third-quarter lead. Quitman answered with three second-half touchdowns, including an 18-yard scoring run by quarterback Jack Sexton with 3:21 remaining.
Quitman opened with a 63-yard touchdown drive. Dylan McThorn’s inside runs and a third-down reception by John Waggoner helped move the ball before Jaydan Owens finished with an 11-yard run around the edge. The Bulldogs recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and immediately scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass off double-reverse action, building a 14-0 advantage before Melbourne’s first offensive possession.
Cooper responded by finding Wren repeatedly, including a 31-yard touchdown reception on which Wren stayed upright through contact. Sexton extended Quitman’s lead to 21-7 on the opening play of the second quarter, escaping pressure and throwing a 31-yard touchdown to Caleb Ellington.
Melbourne answered with Wren’s second touchdown catch, cutting the margin to 21-13 after a blocked extra point. Daniel Toth then recorded sacks on consecutive plays to force a punt. Ty Gillihan’s run from the Quitman 30 to near the 5 helped set up a short rushing touchdown. Brooks Black broke up the two-point pass, preserving Quitman’s 21-19 lead.
Spray gave Melbourne its first lead with a 30-yard touchdown reception late in the half. The Bearkatz recovered the following kickoff, but Quitman kept them out of the end zone before halftime, leaving Melbourne ahead 26-21.
Cooper found Spray for another touchdown on Melbourne’s second offensive snap after intermission. Toth added his third sack on Quitman’s ensuing possession, which ended with Melbourne stopping a fourth-down keeper. Wren’s third touchdown reception later stretched the advantage to 40-21 with 4:23 left in the third quarter.
Quitman responded with a short rushing touchdown after completions to Waggoner and Cody Haynes moved the Bulldogs into scoring position. A fumble recovery gave Quitman another opportunity, but Melbourne secured a fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter.
Spray’s third scoring catch made it 47-28 with 8:50 remaining. Sexton answered on fourth-and-10, connecting with Waggoner for a 60-yard touchdown just 34 seconds later.
Cooper’s next possession included a third-down keeper from Melbourne’s 38 to Quitman’s 20. Maddux Lawrence finished the drive with a touchdown run, extending the lead to 54-35 after the extra point.
Cole Hennessey recorded a six-yard sack on Quitman’s next possession, but Sexton ultimately reached the end zone on his 18-yard scramble. A successful two-point conversion made it 54-43. Melbourne recovered the onside kick, and Gillihan added a nine-yard run and another first-down carry before the Bearkatz knelt out the remaining time.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Quitman – Jaydan Owens 11-yard touchdown run (Jackson Boyd kick), Quitman 7, Melbourne 0.
Quitman – 36-yard touchdown pass off double-reverse action (Boyd kick), Quitman 14, Melbourne 0.
Melbourne – Mason Wren 31-yard touchdown pass from Abe Cooper (kick good), Quitman 14, Melbourne 7.
2nd Quarter
Quitman – Caleb Ellington 31-yard touchdown pass from Jack Sexton (Boyd kick), Quitman 21, Melbourne 7.
Melbourne – Mason Wren touchdown pass from Cooper (kick blocked), Quitman 21, Melbourne 13.
Melbourne – Short touchdown run (two-point pass incomplete), Quitman 21, Melbourne 19.
Melbourne – Benaiah Spray 30-yard touchdown pass from Cooper (kick good), Melbourne 26, Quitman 21.
3rd Quarter
Melbourne – Benaiah Spray touchdown pass from Cooper (Ventura kick), Melbourne 33, Quitman 21.
Melbourne – Mason Wren touchdown pass from Cooper (kick good), Melbourne 40, Quitman 21.
Quitman – Short touchdown run (Boyd kick), Melbourne 40, Quitman 28.
4th Quarter
Melbourne – Benaiah Spray touchdown pass from Cooper (kick good), Melbourne 47, Quitman 28.
Quitman – John Waggoner 60-yard touchdown pass from Sexton (Boyd kick), Melbourne 47, Quitman 35.
Melbourne – Maddux Lawrence touchdown run (Ventura kick), Melbourne 54, Quitman 35.
Quitman – Jack Sexton 18-yard touchdown run (two-point conversion good), Melbourne 54, Quitman 43.
Players Who Stood Out
Abe Cooper, Melbourne, quarterback — Threw six touchdown passes: three to Mason Wren and three to Benaiah Spray. Added a third-down keeper from Melbourne’s 38 to Quitman’s 20 during the fourth-quarter touchdown drive that extended the lead to 54-35.
Mason Wren, Melbourne, receiver — Caught three touchdown passes, scoring in the first, second and third quarters. His first covered 31 yards; his third extended Melbourne’s lead to 40-21.
Benaiah Spray, Melbourne, receiver — Caught three touchdown passes. His 30-yard score gave Melbourne its first lead, his second came on the second offensive snap after halftime, and his third made it 47-28 with 8:50 remaining.
Jack Sexton, Quitman, quarterback — Threw a 31-yard touchdown to Caleb Ellington and a 60-yard touchdown to John Waggoner on fourth-and-10. Added an 18-yard rushing touchdown with 3:21 remaining.
John Waggoner, Quitman, receiver — Turned a fourth-and-10 reception into a 60-yard touchdown. Also made two first-down catches during Quitman’s third-quarter touchdown drive.