The Hancock County Hornets put on a dominant defensive display Friday night, cruising to a 21-10 victory over the John Hardin Bulldogs in a non-district matchup.
The Hornets wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with quarterback Dylan Morris connecting with wide receiver Cooper Jones early in the first quarter. The offense struck again shortly after, as running back Wyatt Emmick powered into the end zone, giving Hancock County a quick 14-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Morris and Emmick linked up for their second touchdown of the night, with Emmick hauling in a 20-yard pass to extend the Hornets’ lead to 21-0. The Hancock County defense stifled John Hardin’s offense, allowing the Hornets to maintain their lead heading into halftime.
Despite a solid start, Hancock County’s offense cooled off in the second half, struggling to convert in the red zone. The Bulldogs’ defense scored their only points of the night in the third quarter by forcing a safety, cutting the lead to 21-2. John Hardin punched in a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final minutes to cut the deficit to 21-10 before it went final.
Morris completed 11 of 16 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Emmick was a key contributor, scoring twice while racking up 30 receiving yards and 12 rushing yards. Jones added 26 yards and a touchdown reception.
Head coach Bobby Eubanks praised his team’s balanced effort, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
“It was a good win on the road,” Eubanks said. “Our defense played lights out all night, and special teams were great too. We struggled in the third quarter with penalties and missed opportunities, but overall, it was a great team win. The boys executed well, especially in the first half.”
Eubanks also highlighted the contributions of key players, noting the offensive efforts of Morris, Emmick, and Jones.
“Everyone who played on defense was fantastic. Brady’s blocked punts were big for us in that first half,” Eubanks added. “It was a solid team performance on all sides of the ball.”
The Hornets will look to continue their strong start next week when they face Breckinridge County.
