By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Class 3A Glencoe used a stingy defense and a ball-control offense to defeat Class 5A Etowah, 19-6, in high school football action last Thursday (Nov. 1) at GHS.
Glencoe took advantage of five Etowah turnovers to earn the win in the final regular season game for both schools.
“We tackled well against a great team with great athletes,” said Glencoe head coach Lee Ozmint. “I am proud of our seniors, [because] they’ve played through adversity. Our defense stepped up tonight because our offense stepped up. This was a team victory.”
Dustin Otwell scored two first-half touchdowns to give the Yellow Jackets (5-5) a 12-0 lead.
Otwell’s first score came after Glencoe turned the Blue Devils (7-3) back on fourth down at the Yellow Jacket 25-yard line.
Glencoe then drove 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by Otwell’s 6-yard scoring run with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter. The PAT was no good and Glencoe led 6-0.
Dalton Reid recovered an Etowah fumble to set up Glencoe’s second score, and it took the Jackets only two plays to cover five yards.
Otwell raced in for his second touchdown of the game from the Etowah 3 to give the Glencoe a 12-0 edge at the half.
Etowah finally got on the scoreboard early in the third period, when Dakota Parrish returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown with 9:21 left. The Blue Devils’ pass on the two-point conversion attempt was incomplete to keep the Yellow Jackets’ lead at 12-6.
Glencoe struck pay dirt in the fourth quarter, using 11 plays to cover 40 yards while taking 5:35 off the clock to extend its lead.
Quarterback Hunter Nunnally found the end zone from the Yellow Jacket 1, and Joseph Bright added the PAT to give Glencoe a 19-6 advantage with 8:14 remaining in the game. The lead held up when the Blue Devils committed turnovers on their last two possessions.
Thomas Ozmint led the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 59 yards on 14 carries, followed by Otwell with 34 yards on five attempts.
Nunnally was 11-of-20 in passing for 118 yards.
Dominic Pinson led Etowah with 45 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Tyler Bishop completed 7-of-18 passes for 107 yards.
Etowah head coach Sam McCorkle gave Glencoe the credit for the win.
“Glencoe has a tough team, and we were out coached. Congratulations to them. Next week starts a new season, so hopefully we learned our lesson.”
Both teams will compete in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday (Nov. 9).
Etowah hosts either Cullman, Hartselle or Russellville, while Glencoe travels to Geraldine.