Saturday Rewind: Hornets display toughness in last-second defensive stand

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Brown County football coach Tom Little and his staff learned Friday night the Hornets have a little extra toughness in the toughest of situations.

That took before the final defensive stand.

“There were times we’re starting to see somebody cramp up or they’d taken a good shot and we’re sending someone in for them,” Little said. “They’re waving them off the field. It’s like, ‘Coach, we’re not coming off the field for this one.’

“You saw a lot of toughness in that game. You saw guys who were able to mentally handle that little bit of pressure and little bit of pain to stay on the field. We were really proud of those guys for the toughness they showed the whole game.”

It was needed to stay undefeated.

The Hornets, ranked third in Class 1A, grabbed a 14-9 lead over Triopia when Colby Wort scored on a 4-yard run with 2:51 remaining in regulation. The Trojans proceeded to drive deep into Brown County territory, reaching the 4-yard line with three seconds remaining.

Following a timeout — Triopia’s last timeout — the Trojans were flagged for a false start, moving the ball back to the 9-yard line. On the ensuing play, an incomplete pass resulted in the Hornets holding on for the victory.

“The biggest thing is they trust what we’re teaching and they trust in each other,” Little said. “They have the confidence that they can make plays under the toughest of circumstances. Credit goes to our kids for having the ability to stick together and stick to the plan.That’s why we were able to keep them out of the end zone as much as we did last night.”

The fact it came down to being a one-possession game shouldn’t be a surprise between the Western Illinois Valley Conference rivals.

“It’s always a great battle,” Little said.

And there are more like to come. The Hornets travel to No. 8 Central next week and then head to Jacksonville Routt and Unity-Payson in Weeks 6 and 7.

“There’s nothing easy when it comes to the WIVC competition,” Little said.