LAWRENCE, Ind. — It was the college football catch seen around the world.

A 7-yard, go-ahead toe-tap touchdown from Indiana University's Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr. with less than a minute to play Saturday afternoon. The snag sealed a 27-24 win for the Hoosiers over Penn State and was the ninth receiving touchdown for Cooper Jr., a proud 2022 Lawrence North graduate.

"When they said it was a touchdown, we went crazy," said Omar Cooper Sr. "People were jumping all over us."

Cooper Sr. and his wife were in Happy Valley to witness their son's reception. It was a quick play, now coined by many as "the catch of the year."

"He is able to just lock in on the game and block everything else out," said Cooper Sr. "I said, 'that is a blessing to be able to feel like that.'"

Cooper Jr.

See Full Page