By Stan Veitch/Sports Correspondent
Glencoe High overcame some early miscues to take home a 42-7 victory over Hokes Bluff on Friday (Sept. 25) at GHS.
The Yellow Jackets finished with a 450 to 158 advantage in total yardage.
Glencoe (4-1) appeared to have scored a touchdown at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter, but a holding call brought it back. Four plays later, Andrew Lang missed a 30-yard field goal.
“We played pretty well the first quarter and a half,” Hokes Bluff coach Mike Robertson said. “We held them on their first drive and kept them from scoring for practically the whole first quarter.”
Glencoe broke the ice with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Chase Wilson to Pace Ozmint with 37 seconds left in the quarter.
The Eagles (2-3) responded well, driving the ball 60 yards on 13 plays, all the way to the 1-yard line. But a fourth-and-goal run lost a yard.
“I guess you could say that deflated us,” Robertson said. “We tried to keep the morale up, but kids are kids.”
Hokes Bluff lost fumbles on its next two possessions, while Ozmint scored for the Yellow Jackets on the subsequent short fields, first on a 22-yard run and then on a 7-yard rush.
“(On their drive), we bent but didn’t break,” Glencoe coach Lee Ozmint said. “That was big for us. Then we took advantage of a couple of short fields.
“This game was a step in the right direction. We’ve still got a ways to go but we’re pointed that way.”
The Eagles got one last chance to score before halftime, when Cam Dowdy intercepted a Wilson pass. However, a last-gasp heave by Landon Johnson was intercepted by Jordan Morris, who returned it 60 yards. He was only a missed tackle or two from scoring.
The halftime score was 21-0.
The Eagles were held totally in check in the second half, going three-and-out three times.
Meanwhile, Glencoe tacked on three more scores – Chase Wilson’s 24-yard TD run at 2:37 of the third quarter, Aaron’s Bush’s 28-yard touchdown catch a minute into the fourth period and Wilson’s 6-yard scoring run with 5:12 left in the game.
Also, Morris contributed another interception.
Hokes Bluff avoided the shutout on Zach Allen’s 63-yard TD run with just over a minute remaining.
“It’s great when the defense can come up big,” Pace Ozmint said. “It helps the offense to click better when we know the defense is there.”
Wilson added, “I give all the credit to our offensive line. Their good play makes it easier for us to run the ball.”
Wilson finished with 234 yards of combined offense and four touchdowns. He rushed for 125 yards and two scores on 16 carries and completed 6-of-12 passes for 109 yards and pair of TDs.
Pace Ozmint gained 115 yard and two touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts. He also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Taylor Daugherty added 48 yard on 14 carries.
Pace Ozmint had 11 tackles, while Noah Hauk had 10.
For Hokes Bluff, Allen ran twice for 66 yards, while Cam Dowdy gained 45 yard on 10 carries.
Dowdy finished with 12 tackles, followed by Brett Roberts with 11.
Glencoe resumes Class 3A, Region 6 play next Friday (Oct. 2) at home against Ashville, while Hokes Bluff hosts Class 4A, Region 6 rival Cherokee County.
