COMMERCE — In the offseason, Commerce coach Mark Hollars, now into his second year at the helm of the Tigers, felt his team was “singing from the same hymnal” as they prepared for the 2022 campaign.
If the Tigers’ stunning 21-17 win over two-time defending South Carolina Class A state champion Southside Christian on Friday, on the road, was any indication, they may want to hit the recording studio to put it on vinyl.
With the win, Commerce snapped the Sabres’ 22-game winning streak. The Tigers defense, which was perhaps the biggest storyline leading up to the season, held the Southside offense 26 points below its average over the past two seasons (43 points/game).
The Tigers’ 21 points was quadruple the Sabres’ average of 5.25 ppg allowed over that same span. It also was the most points scored on Southside since a 56-42 loss to Saluda in the quarterfinals of the 2019 playoffs, spanning 23 games.
Few people going into the season-opener gave the still, sorta, kinda rebuilding Tigers much of a chance.
“The kids really worked hard and focused all summer on getting ready for Southside, which is just a phenomenal program,” Hollars said. “Just really proud of their effort.”
Hollars said he stressed to his group on the long road trip just outside of Greenville, S.C., the only thing that mattered was being in the moment. They obviously took it to heart.
“We talk about being at your best when it matters most at 7:30 on Friday nights,” he said. “It may sound crazy but that’s a big part of being successful, getting the kids to understand that. You can’t have an off night. You have to be firing on all cylinders when the game starts.
“The defense played really well. They had some big sacks. They bent at times but didn’t break. We didn’t have any turnovers on offense. The special teams executed a key fake punt. For the first game, it was pretty clean. The kids made plays when it counted and that’s what it’s all about.”
Cole Hill had 11 tackles, Colton Hill and Mathew Simpson 4 tackles each, and Jack Fagan had 3 tackles, including two huge sacks, to pace the defensive effort.
But, as Hollars stated, it’s just one game and they already have moved on and are getting ready for another out-of-state opponent in Murphy (NC) who lost 24-7 to Franklin (NC) in its opener last week. It’s the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the Tigers (1-0) are now 3-0 all-time vs. non-Georgia opponents. The matchup with the Bulldogs (0-1) will mark the first time in program history Commerce has played two out-of-state teams in the same season.
The Bulldogs, much like Commerce, like to control things with a heavy run game. The Bulldogs employ an old-school wing-T while the Tigers line up in their patented triple-option attack.
But if little details matter, Commerce may have the biggest advantage. Junior quarterback John Paul Allen, all 5-foot-5, 145 pounds of him, won the job late in the summer and proved he is more than able to stand tall and lead the offense. Allen had a key 35-yard run to ignite the Tigers’ game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter last week.
“John Paul is a tough, tough young man. He’s stronger than he looks,” Hollars said. “He really knows and understands the offense in what we’re trying to do. That’s probably why he won the job.
“On that last drive he said he saw something and just made a great read and popped a big run. That set the tone on that drive. I try to measure a man by his heart more than his size. John Paul can play.”
Which could be a huge factor for the Tigers moving forward. Everyone within a 200-mile radius of the small Jackson County school knows about already-dynamic sophomore running back Jaden Daniels, who had over 1,300 yards as a freshman in 2021.
Daniels had a big night against a tough Sabres defense with 103 yards and scored all three of Commerce’s touchdowns. But Hollars thinks Daniels is just beginning to scratch the surface of his abilities.
“Jaden works hard, and he knows he has to,” Hollars said. “He had a great freshman year but he knows he needs to keep getting better because every team we play is going to focus on him. But I can see from watching him that he’s still hungry. He’s really grounded and humble. I think he’s only going to get better.”
When Hollars left North Cobb Christian in 2021 to take over the perennial playoff power Tigers, he knew it would take time for everyone to get used to his style. That time may have arrived for the entire program last week.
“As a coach, it takes time to build those relationships. That has been the focus of the entire staff. I think the kids trust us and believe in what we’re wanting to do,” he said. “Change takes patience. We are all working together really well right now and I think that showed on Friday.
“Now, we just need to stay the course and focus on that week and that day. I like where things are headed.”
