Saturday Rewind: Hornets bring out coach’s raw emotion after resilient victory over Panthers

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Tom Little couldn’t hide his emotion.

In the wake of a 22-20 victory over Central in Friday night’s battle of state-ranked teams, the Brown County football coach gathered the Hornets and delivered a simple message.

“We told them we loved them,” Little said.

That’s when the tears softly fell.

“Win or lose, they’re our family,” Little said. “We love them and are proud of them, and we’re glad to be sitting where we are. We just want to keep playing games. It’s a great group of kids, and we’re blessed to have this group of kids around us.”

It’s a group that continues to showcase its resiliency.

Central, ranked No. 6 in Class 1A, opened the game by scoring on its third offensive snap as Sterling Stotts ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run.

“They had a great opening drive, exactly what you want to see if you’re a Central fan,” Little said. “It’s nice to see our kids come out and respond. They didn’t get down on themselves or think it wasn’t going to be our night. They kept pushing and kept going.”

A Colby Wort 3-yard touchdown run got the Hornets, tied for No. 2 in the Class 1A poll, within 8-6 late in the first quarter. A 25-yard touchdown reception by Brody Woodward and the two-point conversion with 52.9 seconds remaining in the first half gave Brown County a 14-8 edge.

It turned into a two-possession game with 5:18 remaining in third quarter when Woodward scored on a 36-yard run on a third-and-7 play on a counter through an open hole off the right end.

“We feel we can run anything in the playbook,” Little said. “(Offensive coordinator Eric Grady) was up in the pressbox and kind of had that one set up. Credit goes to him for calling the right play with the right guy at the right time. Things worked out.”

No one thought the game was over at that point.

“We were sitting in a good spot, but we knew (the Panthers) were going to keep coming,” Little said.

Central’s Garret Williams scored on a 5-yard run on third and goal with 10:28 to play. Then, one play after Stotts’ 40-yard reception was negated by an ineligible receiver downfield penalty, Williams outran everyone down the right sideline for a 74-yard touchdown with 3:01 remaining.

In a timeout before the Panthers attempted the two-point conversation, Little reminded his players of their opportunity to make a statement.

“You have to get this stop,” he told them. “You have to win this right here.”

The Hornets snuffed out the Panthers’ conversion attempt to preserve their first victory in the Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division rivalry since 2015. An experienced roster made that possible.

“It’s a veteran group that has played in some big games,” Little said. “It’s nice to see them show that younger group how to handle the big-game atmosphere.”