PASCO – Here’s a scary thought for Chiawana football opponents: Cooper Cissne is only halfway through his high school football career.

Just beginning his junior season for the Riverhawks, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Cissne, will be roaming the field on the defensive side of the ball for the Riverhawks again.

He’ll also be involved on special teams.

Oh, and offense? Chiawana head coach Scott Bond is matter-of-fact about it.

“The way he plays, there is no way we can make him our 25-touches-a-game running back,” said Bond. “But we’ll get him the ball in other places. We’ve got to be smart with that.”

That’s bad news for other MCC coaches, who dread facing the guy, but give him the ultimate respect.

“I wish he graduated last year,” said Kamiakin coach Scott Biglin. “And I’m serious. That’s how much respect I have for him and that family. Love the way he plays the game. He’s a ball hawk and has tremendous instincts on the field. Sucks I have to plan for him for another 2 years."

“But all in all, as good of football players as those brothers are, they are even better people off of the field.”

Richland coach Josh Jelinek agrees.

“Cooper is a force,” he said. “He has a tremendous range and football IQ. His coaches utilize his talents to the fullest and he makes you look silly at times. We always want to know where he is and where he might be headed.”

And finally, there is Kennewick coach Randy Affholter.

“Best player in our league last year. My opinion! Great ball skills, tough as (hell) and loves to compete,” said Affholter.

Cissne arrived on campus two years ago as a freshman.

The youngest brother of three Cissne boys who have made their mark on the west Pasco field.

Riley was a star for three seasons for the Riverhawks and went on to Whitworth University to play baseball. He is now in dental school.

Tayten graduated last spring from Chiawana and is attending Washington State University, studying agriculture, but not playing sports. Last season, Tayten was named the MCC’s Defensive Player of the Year.

For Cooper as a young kid, he followed his two older brothers around, competing with them in anything.

That included lifting weights in their garage.

“Riley was our weight coach for me and Tayten,” said Cooper. “We learned how to squat and power clean. So, I got a little head start on everybody my age.”

The Cissne brothers are competitive.

“Growing up, I was always trying to beat my brothers,” said Cooper. “But they were always better than me because they were older. Like when we were playing board games at the house, it’s like almost throwing hands because it gets so competitive. Monopoly. Risk.”

Older sister Samantha, a good softball player in her own right, tries playing board games with them.

“She would play with us, and she’d get tired of us because we’d always fight,” said Cooper.

But there was always love there.

“I’ve got to thank my two older brothers for just helping me get better,” said Cooper. “I’ve always loved the game of football. It’s my favorite thing to do.”

And fights or not, there is one major rule in the Cissne household.

“We had to have a 3.5 grade-point average to play sports,” said Cooper, who carries a 3.85 GPA. “That’s my mom. She’s on you about that.”

So when Tayten was a junior, Cooper was a freshman and made the team, starting in the secondary.

“He walked out here on Day 1 as a freshman, he was a starter. He looks like a football player,” said Bond. “He’s been a starter since Day 1. He’s been a leader since Day 1.”

He wasn’t awestruck by it at all. In fact, he led Chiawana in tackles both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

“I fit in with the older guys pretty well,” said Cooper. “They loved me because I made plays. If I messed up, they got on me. But they loved it though, because I made a lot of plays my freshman year.”

He is still a playmaker.

Bond told a reporter last year before the season started that Cooper Cissne could end up being one of the all-time great Riverhawks.

Bond amended that statement this year.

“He’s already really close to that.”