By: Colin Lacy

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

While the past two years record wise haven’t been what Head Coach Matt Dobson and the Statesboro High Blue Devils would have wanted, SHS has built a foundation to be able to springboard back to prominence in 2025.

The tradition wealthy Statesboro program has struggled for the last decade, not seeing a season finish over .500 since the 10-2 2013 campaign (SHS’ last year in the 4A ranks before being elevated to 5A).

That said, Dobson and the staff have elevated the Blue Devil program exponentially from what was inherited prior to the 2023 season.

The biggest turnaround in the program has been off the field. There has been such a shift in the culture and feel around the program that it’s palpable. The implementation of Dobson’s BELT (Best, Effort, Love, and Toughness) mantra has exploded through the program and turned into belief in the program that hasn’t been there since the early 2010s.

That said, the past two seasons have netted 4 wins each. Even with a 4-6 record last year, the Blue Devils finished one spot in the standings away from back-to-back playoff appearances.

Last year, however showed an incredible upward trajectory for the program and starts on the offensive side of the ball.

The biggest question mark going into the season this time last season was at quarterback. It was expected that freshman Beckham Jarrard would come in and lead the squad and Jarrard did just that in year one.

Jarrard threw for an impressive 1628 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and just 9 picks.

In addition, the frosh ran for another 207 yards and a pair of rushing scores. Not only did Jarrard put up fantastic numbers, but there was also a tangible control of Dobson’s offense that continued to grow and show the prowess beyond his years.

I genuinely believe that one of the most exciting things in South Georgia football this year could be watching the maturation process of Jarrard and seeing him continue to grow into the phenom and surpass expectations.

In addition to Jarrard, the rising sophomore has most of his targets returning in 2025.

Keon Childers and Gage Newsome burst onto the scene in 2024 as the top two targets for the Blue Devils.

Childers racked up almost 500 yards receiving with 5 scores as a junior and looks to continue to be the Swiss-army knife for SHS who also added 71 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.

Newsome made the most out of his first season with Statesboro after transferring from Southeast Bulloch. Newsome led the team with 34 catches a year ago with nearly 400 yards and a couple scores.

The question surrounding Statesboro stems from the top two running backs graduating.

Ty Chambers (429 yds, 4 TDs) and Jaylyn Heath (379 yds, 4 TDs) both finished up their time at Womack Field last season and the Blue Devils will be looking for some new options to carry the ball.

Jarrard and Childers are the only two returners that rushed for more than 50 yards. Don’t be surprised to see Childers lined up more in the backfield in addition to some new names entering the rotation in 2025.

I think the biggest step forward for Statesboro will be in the trenches. The offensive line especially is expected to make an incredible step forward and be a key piece to the success in 2025.

The defense looks to be a strength of the Blue Devils led by Rashad Chavers (9 TFLs last season) and Xavier Spells (11 TFLs in 2024). While there’s a number of players that will go both ways, the defense can be an incredible piece of this team.

Again, the 4 wins each of the last two years isn’t what anyone around the program wanted, but there’s a ton of excitement and optimism around this team.

In my mind, the optimism is for a good reason. When Statesboro opens the season at Womack Field against cross-county rival SEB on August 15^th, fans will see a Statesboro team that will be threatening the top of the region standings and getting back to the team of tradition with 5 state championships under their B.E.L.T.