(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title and Holt Wrecker Service)
Talking on this week’s Athens Hornets Podcast, Coach Zac Harrell said the Hornets are happy with their 5-0 start, but the focus changes Friday when Brownsboro comes to Bruce Field for the district opener.
Now the games count
Athens used the first five games to improve a young team replacing 31 seniors from last season.
The Hornets won all five and scored at least 40 points in every game, but Harrell said the non-district record was never the main goal.
“It’s really not about wins and losses in non-district,” he said. “It’s about improving as a football program.”
Now the results determine the district standings, playoff qualification, and seeding.
The goal remains the same: keep getting better.
Scouting Brownsboro
Brownsboro comes to Athens 3-2 and riding a three-game winning streak.
Harrell said the Bears have two good running backs, experienced players across the offensive line and a senior quarterback who started last season.
The Brownsboro running game is led by senior Aiden Mitchem, whom Harrell described as fast, strong and capable of handling a heavy workload. Sophomore Sirkeylon Arnold also gets carries.
Athens has spent part of the past two weeks emphasizing tackling and pursuit.
“We gotta make sure that we get a lot of hats to the football,” Harrell said.
Defensively, Brownsboro presents another challenge.
The Bears use a 3-3 stack, the first Athens has faced this season. The alignment allows Brownsboro to move defensive linemen and linebackers into different gaps, making blocking assignments hard to identify before the snap.
Brownsboro also frequently keeps seven defenders near the line of scrimmage. Against Athens’ four-receiver sets, that can create opportunities outside.
“We’re gonna have to take some shots,” Harrell said.
Keys to Victory
Word of the Week: Prepared
Harrell said preparation becomes even more important with district play beginning. That includes practice, walkthroughs, knowing assignments and staying mentally engaged even when another player is taking the rep.
Keys to the game:
* Start fast: Brownsboro enters with three straight wins. Athens wants to take control of the game early.
* Win special teams: Brownsboro has returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Athens in each of the past two seasons. That has to stop.
* Play sound defense: Avoid blown coverages, pursue the football and be ready for trick plays.
* Handle the 3-3 stack: Athens must stay assignment-sound up front and avoid allowing free defenders into the backfield.
* Keep composure: Harrell wants a young Athens team to handle the emotion of the district opener and continue playing the next snap.
Athens and Brownsboro kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bruce Field.
