Former Ansonia Captain Dies in Motor Vehicle Accident

Darnell Cooks makes a tackle in Ansonia's
2002 Class S semifinal win over Immaculate.
Cooks, 25, died in a car accident this month.

Darnell Cooks, 25, was a 2005 graduate of Ansonia High and a former captain on the Chargers' 2004 football team. He was a three-year starter on offense and defense and won two league and state titles with Ansonia in 2002 and 2003.

Cooks is the third Ansonia football player from the 2002-2004 teams that has passed.

I did not get a chance to see Cooks play, but those that have talked to me about him have said he was an awesome athlete and played in the backfield with Kenny Tinney and Ryan Thomas.

Coach Brockett described Cooks as a great natural runner with great cutting ability.

Brockett briefly described those Ansonia teams by saying, "Those kids were great players but even more than that, they were so close. Those kids were like brothers."

More information can be found on the Valley Indy.

Rest in peace.