Courtesy of AHSAA
Gordo High School used two big plays in the second half and a tenacious defensive effort to post a 28-21 victory over Glencoe in the 10th annual AHSAA Champions Challenge Football Classic on Saturday (Aug. 22) at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.
Leading 14-7 at intermission thanks to a punishing offensive attack and even stronger defense, Coach Ryan Lolley’s Green Wave struck with lightning speed midway through the third period when Pat Manning streaked through a gaping hole for 95 yards to give Gordo a 21-7 lead at 7:04 of the third quarter.
Anchored by a talented offensive front, Glencoe responded with an 11-play, 81-yard drive that ended with Aaron Bush hauling in an 18-yard pass in the corner of the end zone to close the gap to 21-14 with 1:49 left in the third quarter.
Coached by Lee Ozmint, the Yellow Jackets, got the ball back with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter and mounted another time-consuming drive, using 13 snaps to move from their own 37-yard line to the Gordo 11.
With 4:34 remaining, however, Green Wave defensive back Xavier Lanier picked off a pass at the 5-yard line and raced 95 yards for the touchdown as Gordo jumped back ahead at 28-14.
Glencoe responded once again, driving 70 yards in nine plays to cut the lead to 28-21 with 47 seconds left when Taylor Daugherty scored on a 6-yard scamper.
The onside kick that followed sailed out of bounds, however, and Gordo needed only two snaps to run out the clock.
Gordo led 14-7 at the half, with the first score coming on an 11-play, 64-yard march to open the game. The drive culminated with Collin Herring scoring on a 5-yard run. Will Hankins’ kick gave the Green Wave a 7-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter.
Glencoe tied the contest early in the second quarter following a 49-yard punt return by Pace Ozmint to the Gordo 1-yard line. Chase Wilson bulled in for the score on the next play, and Andrew Lang kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.
Gordo tight end Ben Davis turned a short pass from Koy Chapman into a 24-yard touchdown reception with 3:23 left in the half to close out the first-half scoring.
Only 12 yards separated the two teams’ total yards, with Glencoe rolling up 115 rushing and 150 passing while Gordo gained 193 yards on the ground and 60 passing for 253 yards.
For Glencoe, Wilson completed 12-of-18 passes for 150 yards. Pace Ozmint had five receptions for 76 yards, while Dalton Roberts had four catches for 35 yards.
Taylor Daugherty had 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Wilson ran for 39 yards on 15 attempts.
Austin Bush had 10 tackles, followed by Ozmint with nine.
Glencoe hosts Plainview on Friday in a non-region game.