Football Game Preview: Cottondale Hornets vs. Vernon Yellowjackets + How To Watch

The Cottondale Hornets will take on the Vernon Yellowjackets at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Cottondale will be strutting in after a win while Vernon will be coming in after a loss.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Cottondale and North Bay Haven Academy meet (three straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Friday. The Hornets blew past the Buccaneers 48-22. Considering the Hornets have won three contests by more than 25 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.

Cottondale's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Zacarius Collins, who rushed for 206 yards and one touchdown while picking up 7.6 yards per carry. Nick Heinemann was another key player, rushing for 40 yards and a pair of scores.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Cottondale was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 316 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as North Bay Haven Academy only rushed for 70.

Meanwhile, Vernon was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their 11th straight defeat dating back to last season. They took a blow against Central, falling 51-8.

Vernon's loss dropped their record down to 0-9. As for Cottondale, they are on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-3 record this season.

Everything came up roses for Cottondale against Vernon when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 56-12 win. Will the Hornets repeat their success, or do the Yellowjackets have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.