Category: HCN Media

(Podcast: Listen to Coach Essary talk about last week’s loss to Fairfield and the upcoming game against Red Oak above.)

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

The Athens Hornets will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Red Oak to take on the Hawks Friday night.

Both teams are 1-1 to start the season.

The Hawks will provide a good challenge for the Hornets.

“Red Oak is a good football team; well coached,” said Athens Head Coach Paul Essary.

Essary said Red Oak will be the biggest team the Hornets have seen so far this season.

“The play hard and the execute well,” Essary said.

The Hawks like to run the ball and stopping that will be a key for the Hornets.

“We’re going to have to be physical on the defensive side,” Essary said. “On the offensive side we’re going to have to stay on our blocks and execute. We’re going to have to start catching the football a little bit better, and we’re working on that.”

The Hawks are a Class 5A school, so they have a bigger student population, but that doesn’t worry Athens.

“They’re going to dress out 50 to 60 players on the sideline. They’re twice the size school we are,” said Essary. “But that’s OK, you only put 11 out on the field at a time. It doesn’t matter how many are on the sideline.”

“We’re going to line up and get after it,” he said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Red Oak.

(Listen to the podcast with Coach Paul Essary above.)

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

Friday night, the Athens Hornets will be looking to beat Fairfield for back-to-back home victories to start the season. Last week, the Hornets outlasted Mexia, 6-0, to open the new Bruce Field. I was glad they did, because I won all of the money I’d wagered on pointsbet.

Fairfield lost their opener to No. 5 La Vega, 46-7, but Athens Coach Paul Essary said fans shouldn’t read too much into that score.

“I looked at (La Vega) on film,” he said. “If there’s anybody any better than them, I don’t want to play them because they’re pretty salty. La Vega is a good football team.”

Fairfield’s quarterback, Kameron Ransom, is the focus of the Eagle offense. Against La Vega he ran 29 times for 95 yards and threw for another 36.

“He’s a very explosive runner and he can throw the football well,” said Essary. “He’s the guy that makes their offense go.”

As for the Hornets, Essary said his team is trying to improve every day.

“We’re practicing the little things,” he said. “The little thing are what really make you click.”

Friday night is Civic Service Night at Bruce Field. Police, firefighters, EMTs, first responders and military personnel in uniform will be admitted free.

“They put their lives on the line every day for us,” said Essary, “and Athens ISD, Athens Hornets football and Coach Paul Essary appreciates what they do. My hat is off to them.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

(Follow Michael V. Hannigan on Twitter/Instagram @mvhannigan)