Glencoe (7-3) at Hanceville (9-1)
Last week’s results: Etowah 31, Glencoe 24; Hanceville 40, West Morgan 21
Last meeting: Glencoe 41, Hanceville 12 (1970)
Series record: Hanceville leads 2-1
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
It was only a couple of years ago that Hanceville was mired in a 22-game losing streak. Since ending that stretch with a Week 8 win over Carbon Hill in 2008, the Bulldogs got back to playoff level in 2011 and made it again last year, but were ousted in the first round both years.
Incidentally, the victory over Carbon Hill was coach Danny Miller’s first at the helm. He has since transformed the Bulldogs into a winner.
“They’re one of the best teams we’ve faced this year,” Glencoe coach Lee Ozmint said. “It’s obvious that they’re well coached and well prepared. What they do, they do well, and they do it better than you can defend it.”
What Hanceville does is run, run and run some more, with just enough passes to keep the defense honest.
Torrey Green, Carlos Chacon and Brontae Harris lead the Bulldog ground game. Harris and Green combined to run for 174 yards last week against West Morgan. Caleb Hurst completed only two passes but both went for touchdowns.
In the past six games, Harris has rushed for 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s in six games and after a “down” week against West Morgan, where he “only” ran for 77 yards and one score on 11 carries.
“Their tailbacks are great,” Ozmint said. “They have a big, bruising fullback and a quarterback who makes the right decisions and who can run or throw the ball.”
That sounds a lot like Glencoe, except the Yellow Jackets throw a bit more than do the Bulldogs.
“They’re sound in what they do,” Miller said. “On offense, they don’t do anything fancy but what they do, they do really well.
“We have to play assignment football and be where we’re supposed to be.”
Both teams also rely on good defense.
Etowah only scored one second-half touchdown last week against Glencoe, and those points were a result of a long fumble return.
“We gave up a few big plays (against Etowah) but otherwise, our defense was sound,” Ozmint said. “I feel like we’re playing very good football on both sides of the ball.”
Hanceville’s defense has also gelled in the second half.
“Our defense has gotten better and better every game, especially the past few games,” Miller said. “If we stay disciplined on defense, we’ll be okay.”
Last week against Etowah, Thomas Ozmint rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while Dylan Stone ran 21 times for 103 yards and a score.
Mason Brown had 15 tackles, including four for a loss, and a sack.
Houston Word finished with eight tackles, followed by Taylor Daugherty and Andrew Willis with seven each.
