GLENCOE, Ala. – Vinemont built a 22-point halftime lead and stopped Glencoe’s final possession with a fourth-down sack Friday night, securing a 28-21 victory in Class 3A, Region 6 play.
Brandon Johnson’s sack ended the Yellow Jackets’ comeback attempt after Glencoe scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull within 7 points. The Eagles needed one kneel-down to finish the game.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Vinemont opened the scoring when Josh Rhodes connected with Jaxon Marotz for a 5-yard touchdown with 10:30 remaining in the second quarter, giving the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
Glencoe drove deep into Vinemont territory on its next possession, but the Eagles forced a fumble that Travis Speer recovered.
After a Vinemont punt, Preston Hanners intercepted a pass to give the Eagles another possession. Five plays later, Rhodes found Lukas Ming for a 25-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 1:42 remaining before halftime.
Brennan Marlow intercepted a pass on Glencoe’s ensuing possession and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. Vinemont took a 22-0 lead into the locker room.
Glencoe cut the deficit to 22-7 midway through the third quarter, but Vinemont answered two plays later when Speer broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run to make it 28-7.
Hanners recovered a fumble late in the third quarter to give Vinemont first-and-goal. Two false-start penalties backed up the Eagles, who were unable to add to their lead.
Marlow stopped another Glencoe threat with his second interception on the Yellow Jackets’ next possession.
Glencoe scored midway through the fourth quarter to make it 28-14, recovered the ensuing onside kick and scored again to close within 28-21 with 6:21 remaining.
Vinemont used time on its next possession and forced Glencoe to exhaust its remaining timeouts before turning the ball over on downs.
On the Yellow Jackets’ final possession, a completed pass ended in bounds, prompting Glencoe to spike the ball and bring up third down. An incomplete pass followed before Johnson’s fourth-down sack secured the Eagles’ victory.
