ODESSA — With El Paso Parkland threatening to score from inside Cooper’s 20-yard line in the first quarter of its Class 5A Region I area game, Pirates defensive back Ty Thomas made his presence known in a big way.
The senior safety, who is verbally committed to Arizona State, showed off just one of the skills he’ll showcase at the collegiate level by picking off Matadors quarterback A.J. Briggs and returning it 85 yards to put Cooper up 21-0 with 2:46 left in the first.