By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Glencoe clinched its fifth straight state playoff spot with a 44-14 thrashing of Ashville on Friday (Oct. 25) at GHS.
This win gave the Yellow Jackets (6-3, 4-3) the fourth seed in Class 3A, Region 5. The Glencoe (6-3, 4-3) travel to Hanceville on Nov. 8 in the first round.
GHS head Coach Lee Ozmint had a good feeling about his squad leading up to the game.
“Our kids have a mental toughness. They work hard, and don’t cut corners. I told them before the game, ‘If you have an ounce of character about you, you’re not going to win this game for yourself, you’re going to win it for the seniors.”
The game showcased the Glencoe defense, which held Ashville to only 44 total yards, and the rushing of Thomas Ozmint, the coach’s soon. Ozmint ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in helping lead the Yellow Jackets to 363 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Dylan Stone ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, and added two scores through the air, one to Andrew Willis and the other to Dalton Roberts.
Stone connected with Andrew Willis for a 14-yard TD on the Yellow Jackets’ first drive, and Joseph Bright’s first of five extra points made it 7-0 with 2:49 elapsed in the opening period.
Thomas Ozmint then ran for a pair of touchdowns (five and 27 yards, respectively), which were bunched around Stone’s 32-yard scoring run on a quarterback keeper.
Bright made it 30-0 at halftime on a 33-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter.
The Glencoe defense continued to shut the Ashville offense down throughout the second half.
Stone found Roberts for a 9-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, and Hunter Nunnally capped the Yellow Jacket scoring with a 2-yard run with 11:53 remaining in the game.
Ashville (1-7, 1-6), which was held to just 44 yards of offense, didn’t pick up a first down until the 4:56 mark of the fourth quarter.
Ashville got on the board when Ryan Whisenhunt picked up a fumble and returned it 37 yards for a score at the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter. A 2-point conversion cut the Glencoe lead to 44-8.
D.J. Cook scored late in the game on a 7-yard run to close out the scoring.
Stone gained 121 yards and a TD on nine carries while completing 7-of-13 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
Mason Brown led the Yellow Jackets in tackles with nine, followed by Will Parker with six.
Glencoe closes out the regular season on Friday at Etowah.