A projected blowout turned out to be a barnburner as Cooper lost a 21-14 decision to undefeated Spring Lake Park Friday.

SLP (6-0) had yielded just one touchdown in the first five games, while Cooper (3-3) gave up 62 points the week before. However, the Hawks did not back down.

Cooper grabbed a 7-0 first-half lead on a 2-yard run by quarterback Ryan Luessenheide before Park scored 14 third-quarter points. Ahmad Palmer tied the score for Cooper on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Spring Lake Park scored with just 1:31 left to play. Cooper got within the Panther 20 yard line but ran out of time.

Palmer, who had sat out the week before with an injury, rushed 21 times for 72 yards. Luessenheide rushed seven times for 34 yards. He completed 10 passes in 22 attempts for 99 yards and two interceptions. His primary target was junior Tim Gerding with five catches for 66 yards.

Park was able to gain 346 yards on 61 rush attempts, but was slowed by four lost fumbles.

"Our kids executed the game plan pretty well," said coach Erick Norby. "We had our linebackers move up tighter and our defensive ends played a lot better on the option. Our guys came out and played hard. I couldn't ask them to do any more. We just got beat by a better team."

Norby said the defensive standouts were linebackers David Egan, Rashad Gayden and Cole Thompson, plus defensive ends Jamison Rybak and Roszell Gayden.

Securing fumble recoveries for Cooper were Rybak, Rashad Gayden, Leon Cheneyon and Cyrus Allen.

The Hawks will next face another SLP team, this time at St. Louis Park at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. The Orioles lost 41-0 to Edina Friday.