sailor . mnsun . com Fall Football Preview • Thursday , August 29 , 2024 Page 15
COOPER HAWKS
Exciting defensive core ready to shine this fall
By DOMINIC BISOGNO dominic . bisogno @ apgecm . com
QUICK HITS
Head Coach
FOOTBALL PREVIEW 202�
( PHOTOS BY DOMINIC BISOGNO )
TOP : Two Hawks players meet near the sideline as Cooper runs a full-team offense versus defense drill during a recent preseason practice .
RIGHT : A Cooper player intercepts a pass with approval from defensive coordinator Taj Rich during a seven versus seven drill during a recent Hawks football practice .
Cooper football is set to return to the field this month with unfinished business to chase .
The team featured under co-head coaches for the first time last year , with veteran leader Willie Howard joined by former assistant Tony Patterson . Howard , who became activities director at Cooper in 2022 , has slowly transitioned out of the role as head coach at Cooper to focus on his larger role . Patterson continues to become more and more at the center of the team ’ s mission moving forward after helping the team finish last season 7-3 and as runner ups in the Section 5AAAAA championship . They also finished second in the Northstar East-Gold Conference .
Patterson is no stranger to Cooper football , but the former Gopher football player and current assistant Robbinsdale Area Schools Director of Achievement and Integration feels good about his growing influence over the team .
“ I ’ ve been on staff for about 15 years ,” Patterson told the Sun Post . “[ But ] of course getting to put my own spin on the foundations Willie Howard ’ s given me has been great .”
Cooper is bringing its fair share of heavy hitters to the 2024 season in a strong senior class , including University of Minnesota-commit Emmanuel Karmo .
“ Defensively , our linebackers are our core and we ’ ve got four guys that are returning ,” Patterson explained . “ To be honest I think you can stack them against any linebacker group in the state .”
The Hawks have work to do filling spots offensively , including at quarterback . Kameron Fox emerged as a
See Cooper , Page 26
Tony Patterson Second Season
Willie Howard 15th Season
Last Year ’ s Record : 7-3
Key Returning Players
Emmanuel Karmo ( Class of 2025 ,
LB / RB ) Tony Kollie ( Class of 2025 , LB / RB ) Sema ’ J Young ( Class of 2026 , WR /
CB ) Kelvin Kallon ( Class of 2026 , RB /
DB )
Schedule
Aug . 30 : at Park Center , 3 p . m . Sept . 6 : vs . Southwest , 7 p . m . Sept . 13 : vs . Armstrong , 6 p . m . Sept . 20 : at St . Louis Park , 7 p . m . Sept . 28 : at Apple Valley , noon Oct . 4 : vs . Jefferson , 7:30 p . m . Oct . 10 : at Tartan , 7 p . m . Oct . 16 : vs . Hastings , 7 p . m .