CB West quarterback Cooper Taylor is the Courier/Intell Offensive Player of the Year

Cooper Taylor expected to have another solid year as a Central Bucks West linebacker/safety and maybe get to run the ball a bit more during his senior season.

He never could've imagined being the quarterback on a 12-1 Bucks' team that registered the school's first undefeated regular season since 2000, as well as leading top-seeded West to the District One Class 6A playoff semifinals. But that's what happened in the wake of three-year starting QB Ganz Cooper tearing his ACL in mid-July.

"I knew we still had a great team," Taylor said. "We always knew there was a possibility we could go undefeated. Everything just worked out perfect."

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The 6-foot, 190-pound Taylor didn't panic in large part due to all of his practice repetitions as a quarterback, which he hadn't regularly played since Lenape Middle School, in addition to his unflappable demeanor.

Taylor ran for 1,277 yards, 15 touchdowns and a 7.3 average, plus passed for 591 yards with seven TDs and one interception this fall.

"No other way to describe him other than a baller," Cooper said of Taylor.

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For his efforts, Taylor is the 2023 Courier Times/Intelligencer Offensive Player of the Year.

"I couldn’t imagine anyone more deserving of this award than Cooper," said CB West head coach Rob Rowan. "From the moment he was inserted into the starting QB role, he led our team with poise and precision. Week by week, he diligently worked on his craft and improved. All of that was validated as he shined in the season's biggest moments this year."

Taylor's finest performance came in the 28-27 district quarterfinal win over Garnet Valley. He had 182 rushing yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns, including the game-tying 8-yard run in the first overtime after blocking the PAT when GV had scored, as well as an interception.

"I had probably my best game ever," Taylor said.

Taylor and West defeated seven playoff teams and gave district champion Central Bucks South its only regular-season defeat (40-29) in Week 9, only for the Titans to turn the tables in the district semifinals 42-14.

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While he's projected as a linebacker/safety at Division III Washington and Lee College in Virginia, Taylor will never forget his season as the CB West quarterback. Neither will Rowan.

"He had an all-time special year that will talked about for a long time," Rowan said.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: CB West's Cooper Taylor earns Offensive Player of Year honors