By Stan Veitch/Sports Correspondent
No one knows if Glencoe can match last year’s success – a lengthy playoff run that ended in the Class 3A state semifinals and a final record of 13-1.
Coach Lee Ozmint, however, likes the work ethic this season’s team “better than any team he’s coached.”
“Let’s just say that I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “Every team has its own personality and so far, I really like this team’s personality.
“They show up to work every day and have a blue-collar ethic.”
Most of the Yellow Jackets once again will play both sides of the ball, including senior receiver/quarterback/free safety Pace Ozmint, a first-team All-State player in 2014; junior strong safety/running back Austin Bush, senior linebacker/running back Taylor Daugherty, senior cornerback/receiver Jacob Bradley and senior defensive back/receiver Dalton Roberts. Junior Aaron Bush, Austin’s twin, will play the other strong safety slot.
Last season, Ozmint had 94 tackles while catching 13 passes for 228 yards; Bush had 69 tackles, Daugherty had 66 tackles along with four sacks, Bradley had 48 tackles and Roberts had 38 tackles and three interceptions.
Returning offensive linemen are left guard Luke Long, center Bailey Britt and right guard Jeff Ford. All three players are seniors.
A couple of other kids that Lee Ozmint looks to for big things are senior defensive end Zack Cowley and senior linebacker Noah Hauk.
“We’re not as athletic as last year,” the coach said. “But February showed me what kind of team we have. They’ve worked harder in the weight room than any team I’ve ever been a part of.”
A “Glencoe boy” who has been at Oxford the past two years – senior tackle Tre-vor Owens – returns. And senior quarterback Chase Williams transferred in from Chelsea.
Having won Class 3A, Region 6 last year, Glencoe will have a target on its back, much like Piedmont has had in recent years. Those two teams are expected to be cream of the crop of the region again, but Lee Ozmint says that the “SEC of 3A North” will be as “tough as always.”
“All of us lost a lot, so there’ll be some different looks on the fields,” he said. “As usual, there will be no ‘off’ week in this region.”
Other teams in the region are Westbrook Christian, Ashville, Ohatchee, Pleasant Valley, Walter Wellborn and Weaver.
Assistant coaches are Charlie Robertson, Brett Yancey, Will Hill, Wes Weems, Jason Gilley, Chris Sanders, Evan Talbot and Richard Johnson. Clay Gorham is a student assistant.
