Daily photo by Brennen Smith Hazlewood's Dave McCoy

Nose to nose with ...
Hazlewood's Dave McCoy

According to his coach, Hazlewood High junior Dave McCoy “sees the ball and he goes and gets it.” As a wide receiver/cornerback, that is his main job, and Golden Bears head coach Aaron Goode said McCoy does it well. As the undefeated Golden Bears prepare for the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs this week, McCoy took a few minutes before practice for 10 questions with Daily Sports Writer Brooke Milam:

Question: Who is the most competitive person on your team?

Answer: Everybody. All the coaches push that. It’s something that’s grown as the year has gone on.

Q: What is the mood before a big game?

A: Serious. Focus on the game. It’s quiet. We’re in the playoffs now — it’s win or go home.

Q: Who is usually the first person to congratulate you after a good game?

A: The coaches. We do The Lord’s Prayer out on the field after every game and then we come into the locker room. Coach Goode does most of the talking.

Q: People know Hazlewood always has a strong running game, but how important has the passing game been this season?

A: We’ve opened up the passing game, and you can also open up the running game with it. I think it’s made a difference. (McCoy scored the only touchdown in the 7-0 season-opening win over Tarrant on a 70-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Keginald Harris).

Q: What is the biggest catch you have ever had on offense and your biggest interception on defense?

A: The one against Tarrant for the touchdown was my best on offense. On defense, the one against Parrish when I had a 100-yard interception return. I was super tired. That was the end of the game.

Q: Is it hard to switch mindsets from offense to defense?

A: Well, on defense you have to be aggressive and on offense you’re just trying to get away from the cornerback. It’s kind of the same though. I don’t have a favorite. I like both.

Q: What is the first memory you have of Hazlewood football?

A: When I was younger, coming to games, especially to the Hazlewood/Courtland game. It’s crowded like a college game.

Q: What is something you have learned from watching a former Hazlewood player?

A: Just play your position. Keyvan Madden (Daily all-area athlete in 2005) was good at that. Where ever the ball was at, he was at.

Q: How important is youth league football in Town Creek?

A: When I was little playing it was just like it is
now. You want to win every game.

Every team wants to go undefeated. When I played youth league, I played with Keggie (Keginald Harris), D.J. (Jones), Jeremy (Green), Carlos (Holden), Casey (Holden), Kerry Jones ... just about everybody who’s playing now.

Q: Besides all the winning, what is something you will remember about this season?

A: The players and the coaches. How we came in focused everyday trying to win a state championship.

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