The Hancock County Hornets put together a dominant defensive performance on Friday night, earning a convincing 21-2 victory over the John Hardin Bulldogs in a non-district game.

The Hornets didn’t wait long, scoring early in the first quarter with quarterback Dylan Morris connecting with wide receiver Cooper Jones. The offense struck again shortly afterward when running back Wyatt Emmick stormed into the end zone and quickly gave Hancock County a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Morris and Emmick combined for their second touchdown of the night, with Emmick catching a 20-yard pass to extend the Hornets’ lead to 21-0. Hancock County’s defense stifled John Hardin’s offense, allowing the Hornets to hold onto their lead until halftime.

Despite a solid start, Hancock County’s offense cooled off in the second half and struggled to score in the red zone. The Bulldogs’ defense scored its only points of the night in the third quarter, forcing a safety and cutting the lead to 21-2. That was all John Hardin could muster, however, as the Hornets’ defense continued to dominate and kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone the entire game.

Morris completed 11 of 16 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Emmick was a key player, scoring twice and rushing for 30 yards and 12 yards. Jones added 26 yards and a touchdown.

Head coach Bobby Eubanks praised his team’s balanced performance, especially on defense.

“It was a good road win,” Eubanks said. “Our defense played great all night and the special teams were great too. We struggled in the third quarter with penalties and missed opportunities, but overall it was a great team win. The guys played well, especially in the first half.”

Eubanks also highlighted the contributions of key players, mentioning the offensive efforts of Morris, Emmick and Jones.

“Everyone who played defense was fantastic. Brady’s blocked punts were huge for us in the first half,” Eubanks added. “It was a solid team effort on all sides of the ball.”

The Hornets will look to continue their strong start next week when they face Breckinridge County.