Tulsa Union plays for injured running back in rout
MOORE — C.J. Moore couldn’t contain himself Thursday in his Tulsa Union classroom.
There on his phone screen was joyous news. He asked to be excused to the hallway. There, he jumped and then prayed.
Tulsa Union running back Keviyon Cooper is scheduled to come home Sunday.
It’s just nine days after Cooper suffered a head injury on the football field that required late-night emergency surgery.
“That’s a blessing,” Moore said. “It wasn’t expected, especially after a traumatic injury like that. You don’t expect him to come back a week-and-a-half later. That’s not normal. He’s ahead of the game. He’s a strong competitor. He’s a fighter.”
On a night No. 1 Tulsa Union rolled to a 70-0 victory over No. 10 Moore, the players’ inspiration came from their injured teammate who had battled all week in a hospital.
They wore No. 11 stickers. A moment of silence was held. The hashtag #KevStrong was prominent.
Each touchdown scored — and there were plenty as Tulsa Union jumped to a 56-0 lead by halftime — was for Cooper.
Moore, a 6-foot-5 receiver committed to Oklahoma State, had one touchdown. It set the school record for career touchdown receptions. But he doesn’t count it. It belongs to Cooper. “It’s still at 34 in my head,” Moore said. “Got to score for Keviyon.”
Moore considers Cooper his little brother. They grew up down the street from each other and are nearly inseparable. Moore even calls Cooper’s mother “Mom.”
It’s fitting that Moore plans to wear Cooper’s No. 11 jersey in next week’s Homecoming game.
But he also believes it’s unfair that this happens to a kid like Cooper. He’s got good grades and a bright future. He doesn’t get into trouble.
That’s why when Moore saw Cooper on the stretcher following last week’s double-overtime victory over Owasso, he fought back tears. He had to be strong.
Once Cooper was taken away, the tears fell in the locker room.
“I don’t like crying,” Moore said. “I haven’t cried in two yearsplus, but to see my little brother laying in the stretcher with his eyes closed and shaking, that’s a vision in my head that I won’t forget.”
Cooper, a 6-1, 175pound senior who is also a track star, isn’t expected to return to the field this season.
Tulsa Union head athletic trainer Dan Newman said Cooper had no history of previous head injuries. They have also yet to determine when Cooper suffered the injury.
But it’s one that shook the Tulsa Union community and the rest of the state.
Outpouring from teams across the state nearly overwhelmed Tulsa Union officials. Rivals Jenks, Broken Arrow and Owasso reached out. Schools from the west did as well.
“It’s been really hard,” Tulsa Union coach Kirk Fidrich said. “I still think it’s the best of what sports brings because in adversity guys seem to pull together. It’s amazing how so many people across the state from different teams have pulled together.
“To me, that shows a lot of positive things with high school sports.”