Today’s interviewee is Commerce coach Mark Hollars, whose team took the lead in Region 8-A Division I last week with a 49-21 victory over Elbert County. Hollars, an Ohio native, is in his third season at Commerce. He was North Cobb Christian’s coach from 2016 to 2020. Commerce can win the region title with a victory at home Friday against Rabun County.
1. How would you explain the success you had Friday? “The key to our success was to remain true to our identity. We are working hard to be fundamentally sound and physical. We did not turn the ball over, and we played complementary football. It helped that we got off to a fast start. Elbert is a very good team and well-coached, so we knew that we had to play our best football in order to win. We stress to our players that we need to be at our best every Friday at 7:30. Block out all the noise, just play the game and have fun.”
2. How would you describe your offense? What makes it go? “Our offense is ‘old school.’ There are not many teams today who commit to the run in the manner that we do. If you were to watch Nebraska in the 1990s, that is how we operate. We are a downhill, physical run team that runs some option to complement our package. The key for us is to be ‘extraordinary at ordinary.’ We have to block at every position. We have very good running backs who complement one another in styles of play. Our fullback, Tysean Wiggins, is a very physical ‘hammer’ runner, and Jaiden Daniels is a threat to make a big play each time he touches the football. We have a third back with tremendous speed in Jacari Huff. Our quarterback, John Paul Allen, does a nice job of running the offense and making good decisions.”
3. What do you feel this team has that has allowed it to break away from the ‘solid but not spectacular’ teams you’ve had the first two seasons? What can this team do that previous ones could not? “We are in our third year together at Commerce. There is a trust between players and coaches that has allowed us to develop our program. It takes time to build relationships and establish culture within a program. We have an excellent coaching staff that is invested in our kids, and we have outstanding kids who care about Commerce football. This team is united in shared team goals. They do not care who gets the credit. They just want to win. This group handles adversity very well, which has made a difference this season.”
4. How is Commerce as a community, school and coaching job different than other places/jobs you’ve had? “It is an honor to coach at Commerce. The tradition at Commerce is outstanding. We have many people in town who have stayed here to raise their families, and they care about our school and our program. It is great to be at a place that cares about Friday Night Football. There is nothing better than playing under the lights on Ray Lamb Field. The dedication of our kids is what makes coaching here special. Our kids work all year round in the weight room, and they take great pride in representing our community on Friday night.”
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