Austin Bush scores 4 TDs as Glencoe opens with 43-13 rout of Plainview
By J.J. HicksTimes Sports Writer
Austin Bush had a bit of a coming-out party Friday night, in part thanks to some extra motivation.
GLENCOE — Austin Bush had a bit of a coming-out party Friday night, in part thanks to some extra motivation.
The Glencoe junior running back, taking on a heavier load after starter Taylor Daugherty left early with an injury, scored four rushing touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets (1-0) opened the 2015 high school football season with a 43-13 win over Plainview (0-1).
Daugherty, who coach Lee Ozmint said was kept out as a precaution, carried the ball just three times, which allowed Bush to finish with 115 yards on 15 carries to go with his scores.
Bush was playing in large part for his grandmother, who passed away last week just before the Yellow Jackets' preseason game against No. 2 Gordo in the Champions Challenge at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl.
"I've been having that motivation all week," Bush said.
Ozmint also was effusive in his praise for Bush.
"I think Austin played a heck of a ballgame," Ozmint said. "He's a heck of an athlete. I've always known he's lightning. He's the fastest kid on the team. He played smart tonight."
Glencoe finished with 277 yards to the Bears' 189 yards. The only downside for the Yellow Jackets were a pair of interceptions inside the Plainview 10 and a lost fumble by quarterback Chase Wilson.
"We were solid in spurts, but we can't turn the ball over three times and expect to win," Ozmint said. "Our quarterback was just trying to make a play and threw the ball into coverage.
"As long as we're learning, we're OK. I like the direction of this team. We're playing well. We're on the right track."
Wilson finished with seven carries for 59 yards.
The Yellow Jackets got some big plays from their special teams.
Aaron Bush, Austin's brother, returned a kickoff 66 yards for a touchdown for Glencoe. Also, the game's first score came on a blocked punt, which allowed Andrew Lang to pick it up and run it in from 20 yards out for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
"Special teams have come through big for us," Ozmint said.
A big punt return by Dalton Roberts set the Yellow Jackets up at the Plainview 30 early in the second quarter. Three plays later, Austin Bush ran it in from 11 yards out. The extra point was no good to leave it 13-0.
Glencoe added a 6-yard scoring run by Austin Bush later in the second quarter to take 20-0 halftime edge.
A snap over the head of Plainview quarterback Ben Williamson went out of the end zone for a safety to push the Glencoe edge to 22-0 early in the third quarter.
The ensuing kickoff saw Aaron Bush's return for a score to make it 29-0.
A covered fumble on the Bears' next drive by Glencoe's Trevor Owens at the Plainview 24 led to Austin Bush's 4-yard scoring scamper to push it to 36-0 with 3:47 left in the third.
Austin Bush's night ended after a 10-yard touchdown run with 44 seconds left in the third quarter that made it 43-0.
"I couldn't have done anything without my offensive line," Austin Bush said. "They made the holes. I give it (the credit) all to my coaches, too."
Plainview got a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, on a Williamson 2-yard dive and a 34-yard scoring toss from Williamson to Jacob Wooten.
Williamson finished with 83 yards rushing on 13 attempts and completed 9 of 18 passes for 134 yards. He was intercepted twice, by Aaron Bush and Jacob Bradley.
The Yellow Jackets visit Class 3A, No. 8 Walter Wellborn in Region 6 play while the Bears host North Sand Mountain in Region 7 action Friday.