Brent Cogburn picks up post-season yardage against Santa Ana in 2002
Duane Barker (currently reigning as Mid Valley MVP) used to call him Rooster Cogburn, but before there was Tommy and all the electric numbers at South El Monte there was big brother Brent Cogburn who starred on D.J. MacKinnon’s last Mission Valley League championship team in 2002.
In my early years at the Mid Valley I used to see this short-haired, sunburned kid walking down Lower Azusa with his football gear, I didn’t know who he was but I remembered hoping he’d get on the field. Cogburn more than got on the field playing receiver for the Knights and filling a variety of roles.
His signature moment came in Week Ten, on November 14th at East Los Angeles College. Arroyo was leading Gabrielino 14-12, but they were out of running backs. Anthony Olivas was hurt and MacKinnon moved the receiver, Cogburn, to tailback. There was no earth shattering run, but Cogburn held onto the ball and strung to together a series of positive yardage that moved the chains and kept advancing the clock…and the Knights picked up their first MVL title since 1999.
After a gypsy college career, Cogburn finished at New Mexico Highlands playing defensive back. The hair is a lot longer these days.
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