CARROLLTON, Ala. — Josh Thacker isn’t sure if jack of all trades is an accurate way to categorize Chance Britt.
As one of four senior leaders on the 2015 Pickens Academy football team, Thacker counts on Britt to play a variety of roles and to work with classmates Landon Hattaway, Ryan Harcrow, and Daniel Powell to set the tone for a young squad.
But Thacker is sure of one thing when it comes to Britt: You can’t question the 5-foot-8, 165-pounder’s heart or work ethic.
“He always has tremendous effort,” Thacker said. “Friday was kind of the perfect storm of we had a great week of preparation, we kind of prepared for a certain defense and they showed us that, so our guys were very comfortable with what they were trying to do and what they were trying to accomplish.
“Chance always gives phenomenal effort. He is one of those guys who you’re never, ever going to question his heart or his hustle.”
Britt showed that heart and hustle and his ability to do a little of everything Friday night in a 54-0 victory against Southern Academy. Britt returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns to help Pickens Academy improve to 2-3.
For his efforts, Britt is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“He played like he always plays Friday night,” Thacker said. “I think the team got a big boost from the way he played.”
Britt leads the team with 77 carries for 563 yards and six touchdowns (7.3 yards per carry). He is averaging 112.6 yards per game. He also has one kickoff return for a score and four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Britt was quick to credit his teammates, particularly his offensive line and freshman quarterback Brant Criswell, for opening holes and putting him in position to make plays. He feels the 2015 Pirates are more a team of players who can fill a variety of roles rather than a squad that has a few individuals who are jack of all trades.
“When we want to play and we show up to play, I believe we can beat anybody we want,” Britt said. “Judging from everybody’s attitude before the game, I could tell (Friday) was going to be one of those games where we had a lot of success. They were running their mouths to us before the game, which just kind of fired us up and got us ready to play.”
Thacker said Britt “works his tail off” and has never missed a football practice or a workout. He said the two time All-Saban Camp winner (at the Alabama football team’s camp) has an infectious energy and attitude that motivates the young players to try to reach the same level.
If there is one thing Thacker harps on with Britt, it is his knack for “dancing” with the football when he carries it. He said Britt sometimes doesn’t take advantage of a situation to gain 3 or 4 yards and will try to make a play and get tackled for a loss or a small gain. Thacker said he purposely highlights that aspect of Britt’s game to help him understand the importance of getting positive yards every play. That might sound like a difficult proposition, but it is one Britt and his classmates all have accepted. With such a small senior class, the seniors realize they likely won’t leave the field Friday night. Thacker said Britt, Hattaway, Harcrow, and Powell have accepted that challenge. He said Britt’s field vision and toughness have “skyrocketed” in the past two years.
“You can bounce him off a wall. You can’t hurt him,” Thacker said. “He is one of those that you can throw against the wall and he bounces back and will say, ‘Yes sir.’ ”
Britt felt he played “better than he usually does” against Southern Academy. He said he didn’t notice any difference in his running style, but he admitted he is trying to listen to Thacker and run downhill more and not dance. He believes he has done a good job shouldering the responsibility of being a team leader and a playmaker, but he said he will continue to work to erase the habits he developed from pee wee football.
If Britt can do that, he feels the Pirates can put themselves in position to contend for a playoff spot in Alabama High School Athletic Association Class AA, Region 2. Pickens Academy, which is 0-1 in the region, has a bye this week. It will play host to region rival Marengo Academy next week.
“We really just have to focus on our job and make sure everyone is putting forth effort in practice,” Britt said. “We don’t have the luxury of taking practices off or taking a play off. We have to get better every chance we get.”
For someone who works as hard as Britt, that seems like an ideal role for him to play moving forward, even if he isn’t your typical jack of all trades.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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