By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — Glasgow football will put its 3-0 record on the line this Friday against Allen County-Scottsville: a team ranked fourth in class 4A.
And, according to Glasgow coach Rick Wood, they’re ranked fourth for a reason.
“They’re really good,” Wood said. “They’re not only considered a good team locally. They’re considered a good team statewide.”
Three Allen backs — Brandon Boards, Hunter York and quarterback Cory Cooper — have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this season, helping Allen defeat their week one and week three opponents by a combined score of 97-35.
According to Wood, each back has a different running style as well.
“To me, that’s the thing that makes (Allen County) the toughest to defend,” Wood said. “They have three really distinct weapons there.”
Wood described fullback Boards as a “load,” and judging from his measurements, the description is accurate. Boards stands 6’1 and weighs in at 220 pounds, allowing him to run through the tackles.
Tailback York is “a lot like Tavion (Parrish),” Wood said, as the junior is more of an allusive back that tends to run to the outside.
And Cooper, who ripped off 153 rushing yards for two scores in Allen’s season opener against Butler County, is a three-year starter at quarterback and led Allen to a 4A regional last season.
Glasgow faced a similar problem before their game with Herrin, Ill., when they went up against David Mallow, Tyler Gooden and DeMarlo Harris — three large backs with different running styles.
The Scotties won the game in dramatic fashion when Blake Copass intercepted a pass in the endzone with seconds to go, but gave up 327 yards to Herrin’s trifecta of backs.
But for Wood, as usual, preparing for Allen County is like preparing for any other opponent, especially when it comes to defending the run.
“With any high school game, you’ve got to prepare for the run first,” he said, but added Allen County was far from one-dimensional.
“Trust me: they can throw it,” he said.
Glasgow’s offense this season has definitely been run first. Over the first three games, Parrish and quarterback Parker Cash have combined for 670 yards on the ground and 11 rushing touchdowns, with Parrish having a slight edge on Cash individually.
Last week’s Barren game was no exception, when both players put up season-high numbers in yardage (Parrish, 137 and Cash 149).
Allen County has been inconsistent in stopping the run thus far. In week one, they held Butler County to six total rushing yards.
In week three’s McLean County game, however, Allen allowed 237 yards on the ground.
“They’re huge up front,” Wood said of Allen’s defensive line.
The Scotties will face that huge front with no serious injuries. According to Wood, any problems experienced by the team are the same problems any team is going through at this point in the season.
“We’re just like everyone else,” Wood said. “We’ve got a bump and bruise here and there.”
In the event of a win, the Scotties will improve their record to 4-0, but Wood insists the team doesn’t get wrapped up in hypothetical standings.
“Our philosophy is that we don’t get real high or real low,” he said in an interview before last week’s game with Barren County. “(We just) try to keep an even keel approach.”
