High School Football
State Championship Games
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We’re going to take a look at the state championship games for the highest classifications.
The GHSA 6A state championship game between Buford (14-0) and Carrolton (14-0) is a national championship game.
Buford is the consensus No. 1 team with top rankings in USA Today, ESPN and The Sporting News. Carrollton is No. 1 in MaxPreps and Hsratings.com (formerly CalPreps).
That means Georgia could have its first national champion since Colquitt County finished No. 1 in the High School Football America and Prep Force rankings in 2015. Milton was named the No. 1 public-school team in America last season by High School Football America but finished No. 2 overall.
Carrolton beat previous No. 1 Grayson 34-14 in the state semifinals.
“We’re aggressive up front on the defensive side of the ball,” Carrolton coach Joey King said. “Our guys, they fly around and play extremely hard. Our word of the week this week was effort, which means for every phase to play with great effort. I definitely thought our defense did that.”
“I think we’ve got one of the best offensive lines in the state,” senior quarterback Mason Holtzclaw said. “They do a great job with anything we run. Our coaching staff was able to dial up some run plays for both of us as quarterbacks, dial up the pass plays and be able to beat them on the perimeter. So we had a great plan going into this game, and I’m really proud of the team.”
Freshman CJ Cypher finished the game 12-of-20 passing for 226 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards on two carries. Holtzclaw was 4-of-6 passing for 65 yards and rushed for 31 yards on six carries.
“They do a good job,” King said. “Whatever we ask them to do, they’re willing to do, whether that’s take a deep shot, throw a quick screen, hand the ball off or run the ball at times. They’re both just tough kids, gritty kids and unselfish kids that are willing to do whatever it takes for the team.”
Buford can win its 15th state title. Only Valdosta, with 24, has more. The Wolves beat No. 5 Valdosta 39-7 in the semifinals.
I think this will be a very close game. I believe Buford will win.
Let’s take a look at the 5A state title game.
Thomas County Central is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-5A and ranked #2 in the state; Gainesville is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from 7-5A and ranked #4 in the state.
The Yellow Jackets beat No. 3 Roswell 49-28 in the semifinals. They have not had any close games this season. The closest game they’ve had was a 35-21 win over No. 8 Lee County during the regular season.
Thomas County Central has a chance to win their seventh state championship. It would also be their second state title in three seasons. Jaylen Johnson (2,503 passing yards) and Deuce Lawrence (1,836 rushing yards, signed with Wake Forest) lead an offense that averages 53.3 points per game. WR Jaydon Dunbar (signed with Pitt) and WR Jabari Watkins (committed to Nebraska) are top recruits.
The Red Elephants beat Rome 37-6 in the semifinals. They are led by Kharim Hughley, a junior committed to Clemson and he’s thrown for 2,467 yards.
Nigel Newkirk is a 1,400-yard rusher but he was injured in the semifinals. The defensive front seven has highly recruited players like LB Xavier Griffin (Alabama), DL Jamarion Matthews (Alabama), DL Ayden Cain (Duke) and DE Kadin Fossung (Tulsa).
I think Thomas County Central will win this game.
Garrett Grady Leaving The Ship
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick High School Head Football Coach Garrett Grady recently announced his resignation from that position, after four years at the Pirate helm.
“After much thought and reflection,” he said in a press release, “I am announcing my resignation as head football coach at Brunswick High School.”
Grady also thanked his wife for “sharing the journey every step of the way;” his players for their “hard work and pride they brought to the field every day;” and Pirate Nation “for all its’ support.”
Grady came to BHS in 2017 as offensive coordinator under Head Coach Sean Pender. When Pender departed following the 2021 season, Grady was elevated to Head Coach.
“From serving as offensive coordinator . . . to leading this program as head coach,” the press release continued, “. . . we have built something to be proud of and created opportunities for many of our student-athletes to continue their football careers at the next level.”
Indeed, during the nine years that Grady served as OC and then Head Coach, 65 Brunswick High Pirates have gone on to play college football.
Grady took Pirate Pride in helping to shape his student-athletes “into strong, resilient, and dedicated young adults.”
During his four seasons as Head Pirate, Grady compiled a won-loss record of 36-10, including three region titles (2022; 2024; 2025) and three City Championships over Glynn Academy. Grady was also selected Region Coach of the Year three times, including the recently completed 2025 campaign.
Grady’s winning percentage of.782 is the highest in school history.
BHS also made the playoffs four consecutive times under Grady, including three second-round appearances.
Grady’s 2025 squad set a school record for scoring, averaging 43.7 points per game.
Glynn County Schools Assistant Superintendent Steve Waters had high praise for the departing Grady.
“Our football program is undeniably better because of Garrett Grady,” Waters said. “I want to personally thank him and his wife Erica. You will not find two better people, and we wish them all the best as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.”
Waters lauded Grady as a coach, teacher, mentor, role model, and leader in the community.
Waters also announced the search for Grady’s successor will begin immediately, but a comprehensive search will be conducted to make sure the “tradition of excellence” continues for the Pirate Program.
“Serving as the Head Football Coach at Brunswick High School has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Grady’s press release concluded. “Brunswick High School and Pirate Nation will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
South Georgia Commits
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One of the most important days on any football program’s calendar…National Signing Day.
Once again, the state of Georgia and more specifically South Georgia had some of the most coveted high school talent in the country.
According to 247, the #2 player coming out of the state of Georgia is Benedictine’s LaDamion Guyton. The 5-star edge player signed to continue his career with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Guyton began his career with Savannah Christian before transferring to Benedictine for the 2025 season.
Jae Lamar, a running back from Colquitt County signed to play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. The 4-star speedster racked up over 1,000 yards rushing and scored 17 rushing touchdowns in 2025 while adding 2 receiving scores.
One player that is heading off the beaten path is Lee County’s Lesiah Jackson that signed with the Stanford Cardinal. Jackson was rated as the 23rd best safety in the nation and the 22nd best overall player in the state of Georgia.
The Leesburg native is a bigger-bodied defensive back that began his first two years as a two-way player before transitioning full-time to the defensive side for the final two years of his prep career.
One of the more interesting recruitments comes in Brunswick as the Pirates’ Heze Kent is listed on the recruiting sites as an Athlete at 6-6 and 310 pounds.
Kent was primarily a tight end for the Pirates, but likely projects as either an offensive tackle or defensive tackle as he signs with the Florida Gators just three days after the Gators announced the hiring of new head coach Jon Sumrall.
It wouldn’t be right to talk about National Signing Day without bringing up Benedictine in Savannah. Yet again, the Cadets have a top recruit as 4-star wide receiver Bubba Frazier signed his NLI to play at Notre Dame.
Frazier was one of the most dominant offensive weapons in the country over the past three years for Benedictine. While mainly looked at as a slot receiver, Frazier has also rushed for over 1,100 yards in his 3 years. For a grand total of 3,300 total yards, Frazier scored 33 offensive touchdowns in his 3-year career.
Traeviss Stevenson anchored the defensive secondary for Brooks County and looks to head to the ATL to bolster the Georgia Tech safety room.
The consensus 4-star recruit that goes by “stick” had offers from Georgia, Texas, Michigan, and Florida, but chooses the Ramblin Wreck (who just signed Head Coach Brent Key to a big-time extension).
That gets us through the top 30 prospects in the state from the area, but the talent pool goes much deeper than that. That’s a trend that has carried throughout the state to keep the in-state talent within the Georgia borders.
In addition to Jae Lamar, the Georgia Bulldogs also bring in Jordan Smith. Smith is a 4-star safety from Houston County.
Head Coach Clay Helton and Georgia Southern tap into the local talent too. The Eagles early on signing day reported the signing of a pair of teammates from West Laurens as O-Lineman Grady Howell and Running Back Ty Cummings. In addition, Camden County’s 3-star linebacker Xavier Brown.
Not surprisingly to those in the College Football world but the state of Georgia high school talent shines again and plants the next wave of stars to the next level from South Georgia…Just how it should be.
Let Me Introduce You To John Lindsey
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Camden County officially ushered in a new chapter of Wildcat football recently as longtime coach and familiar face Jon Lindsey was formally introduced as the program’s new head coach.
The jubilant introduction was in front of a packed auditorium at Camden County High School in Kingsland.
For Lindsey, who has spent much of his career connected to Camden County, the moment felt both unreal and deeply right.
“Three weeks ago, I would have told you there was no way I would be standing here,” Lindsey told a room full of parents, players, alumni, and community members. “This happened extremely fast, but I am so grateful for the chance to live out a dream, to be a Camden County Wildcat again.”
Lindsey first arrived in Camden in 2005 and later served as offensive coordinator during some of the most successful seasons in program history, including the state championship run in 2009.
He left to become a head coach and athletic director at other programs in Georgia, but the lessons he learned in Kingsland always stayed with him.
In recent years he returned as an assistant, then stepped away from coaching, though he never really left the game.
“My wife would see me watching football clinics on a Saturday night and say, ‘You do not even coach anymore,’” Lindsey said with a smile. “But it was still in my heart. I missed it.”
When the Camden County administration approached him about taking over the program, their energy and commitment made the decision clear.
“This is a job you dream about,” he said. “What sold me was the passion of our administration and how much they love the Wildcats. You do not take on something like this unless the people leading it are completely invested.”
Lindsey also made it clear that this move is a family and community decision.
He introduced his wife, Dr. Melissa Lindsey, an assistant principal at Camden County High School, and he also spoke proudly of their three children, all of whom have Camden ties as students and athletes.
He shared how, when the family had a chance to return a few years ago, his son simply said, “Dad, I have always wanted to be a Wildcat.” That, Lindsey said, told him everything he needed to know.
Throughout his remarks, Lindsey laid out a clear vision for the future of Wildcat football. He promised a program that honors God, demands effort, and develops players mentally, physically, and spiritually.
He stressed the importance of building a complete football system from recreation ball and middle school, all the way through junior varsity and varsity so that young athletes grow up learning Camden County football from the beginning.
“Why can’t a kindergartner wear a Camden jersey and be doing the same things we do,” he asked. “We are built for that. We just have to bring it all together.”
On the field, Lindsey wants a return to the physical, gritty style that once defined the Wildcats. He talked about past teams that may not have had the biggest players but played harder and tougher than anyone they faced.
“Our kids played above their level,” he said. “That is how you beat great teams. You take an average player and help him perform like a great one. That is the standard.”
Lindsey also challenged parents and fans to be part of the process through the booster club, support in the stands, and patience as the schedule toughens and expectations rise.
“Trust the process,” he said. “It will not happen overnight. But if we come together as coaches, players, administration, parents, and community, we can get this program back to where we all know it can be.”
As the introduction wrapped up, Lindsey’s final message was simple and direct.
“Camden County football is the pride of this community,” he said. “I am honored to lead these young men. Let’s come together and get back to that championship level we all remember.”
Brunswick’s Season Ends
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Unfortunately, when you start talking about the 2025 Brunswick High football season, you have to talk about the last game of the season.
With 1:57 left in the third quarter, and the Pirates trailing Gainesville 42-0, the biggest fight I’ve ever seen in high school football broke out.
Players from both sidelines ran onto the field at Glynn County Stadium. Players shoved players from the other team, helmets were ripped off, and punches were thrown before officials, coaches and police were able to restore order.
To their credit, not all players participated in the melee.
When a shaky calm returned to the field, the officials conferenced for several minutes before calling the game—and rightfully so. The 42-0 score with 1:57 left in the third period became the final score.
This article is not the place to assess blame—the Georgia High School Association is, of course, dealing with that, and I suspect the consequences will be severe for both schools—and rightfully so.
Unfortunately, the fight distracts from the stellar season that Brunswick High had.
Head Coach Garrett Grady’s Pirates went 9-3 for the season, winning the Region 1-5A championship; the City Championship (beating Glynn Academy); and a first-round playoff game (beating Winder-Barrow 78-30) before losing the second-round game to the Gainesville Red Elephants.
(All of the following stats are unofficial.)
Senior quarterback Grant Moore claimed every passing record in BHS history except for total yards in a season. He needed 99 yards going into the Gainesville game to claim that record but couldn’t quite get there against the rugged Red Elephants defense.
The records for career touchdown passes, career passing yards, and single-game passing yards do, however, now belong to Grant Moore.
Moore also had over 300 yards rushing for the season.
Senior tight end Heze Kent also had an outstanding year, catching 40 passes for nearly 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kent has committed to take his talents to a different Gainesville city—the Florida Gators.
Brunswick High’s running backs duo of Josiah Gibbons and Nigel Gardner, both juniors, also had very good seasons. Gibbons ran for over 1300 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Gardner rushed for over 1200 yards as he scored 17 TDs.
Waseem Murray, a junior, had well over 700 all-purpose yards and scored five touchdowns.
Dontre’ Butler, only a sophomore, had over 500 all-purpose yards as he scored six touchdowns.
Defensively, BHS was paced by Braylen Johnson, Adrian Volland and Zi’yan Rankin. Johnson and Volland were the leading tacklers, while Rankin led the Pirates in interceptions with five.
Rankin and Johnson are juniors, while Volland is a senior.
Senior Aviyon Addison also contributed heavily to the defensive success of the Pirates,.
Senior kicker Landon Ethridge capped off a very good career at BHS, even though he missed some time with a leg injury.
And, thus, the 2025 football season for the Brunswick High Pirates is at an end.
With a lot of talented underclassmen returning next year, BHS figures to be very good again.
The consequences for the fight BHS were severe. The GHSA find Brunswick High $5,000, suspended 41 players from their next GHSA sanctioned event and banned the Pirates football team from the 2026 playoffs.
Red Terrors Moving Forward
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 season is in the books for the Glynn Academy Red Terrors.
Jackson County ended the season with a first round romp over the Terrors.
The top seeded Panthers moved to 10-1 on the season and the fourth seeded Terrors take a long bus ride home ending at 6-5.
Looking back, it truly is a season of ups and downs for Glynn. I had predicted at the first of the year that the Red and White had a great chance to go 7-3 or 8-2 on the season.
Well, as the saying goes ‘close…….. but no cigar’.
Glynn dropped three games by 7, 4, and 3 points. It’s the difference between a winning season that the Terrors are very used to under Rocky Hidalgo and a very good season which was oh so close.
Let’s take a look back at the crazy wacky season that was Red Terror football in 2025.
Wayne County and Richmond Hill started the season for the Terrors. They split these first two games.
They take down Wayne County as expected 38-14 in the season opener and then stepped up in class and dropped a 21-0 game to a very tough Richmond Hill squad.
Next up was the shocker…… Glynn traveled to Hinesville to take on the Bradwell Institute Tigers. The Red Terrors have more infractions and yellow flags thrown at them than some of the inmates down the road in Reidsville and lost their second game 35-28.
How they committed a dozen or so penalties in the second half is beyond me. Bradwell finished the season 2-7. I could go on but it is what it is.
Next up was the Statesboro Blue Devils and the Terrors took care of business 36-8. Funny that the next week Statesboro took care of Bradwell 38-28. I could go on….
The Red Terrors took out Lakeside the next week and put 54 points on the board in a 54-28 victory.
Next is the City Championship game with the Brunswick High Pirates. Besides the Bradwell loss, here is the stunner.
Glynn led and controlled the game for three quarters and looked to close out the Pirates; driving down to the Brunswick goal line to really put the game away when they fumbled inside the Brunswick 3-yard line.
Brunswick proceeded to score, and score, and score in the fourth quarter and came back to take down the Terrors 41-37. It truly was a heartbreaker for the Terrors who gave up over 300 yards passing with much of it in the last terrible 12 minutes.
To the Terrors credit they bounced back and took 3 of the next 4 games.
They beat Evans, South Effingham, and Greenbrier and lost only to Effingham in a close one 45-42.
Glynn ended the regular season 6-4 and the region 4th seed.
After the long bus ride to Jackson County the Red Terrors failed to really get off the bus and gave up big plays and fumbled their way to a season ending loss.
The Terrors finished 6-5 on the year.
Looking ahead to 2026 the Red Terrors should be solid.
They played a large number of sophomores and juniors.
Back on offense will be 7 or 8 starters and 6 on defense plus Patrick Coyle with the kicking duties.
Terror fans are looking forward to seeing Max Noonan progress and get better at quarterback.
The junior to be had a solid first season and gives the Red Terrors a solid foundation on offense. Add in Caiden Robinson, Grant Ferrell, Zamir Bell, Ian Pomiechowski and others and the Terrors should be solid on offense.
Defensively the Terrors will return 6 starters including Cooper Reiss, Kori Roman, Sam Ricks, Cam Cleghorn, Aaden Ward, Amari Moore and several youngsters who got valuable playing time.
The key here will be restocking the DBs.
All in all, the Red Terrors look to be in good shape moving forward after another winning season on the Southside.
Bracket Busters
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We are entering the second round of the GHSA football playoffs. Let’s take a look at some of the premier 6A matchups.
Brookwood (9-2) @ #5 Valdosta (10-1): Brookwood is the No. 2 seed from Region 7. Valdosta is the No. 1 seed from Region 1.
Last week the Broncos beat Archer 42-21. They rushed for 366 yards. Brayden Tyson had 144 yards and Jeremiah Brinson had 129.
Valdosta beat Dacula 56-28 in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats rushed for 335 yards in that game. Marquis Fennell led the team with 165 yards and Deron Fennell had 116 yards.
Valdosta’s lone loss this season was to #9 Colquitt County, 18-17.
The last time these teams played was 2014. The series is tied 3-3 and I think the Wildcats will win this matchup.
#9 Colquitt County (9-2) @ #1 Grayson (11-0): Colquitt County is the No. 3 seed from Region 1. Grayson is the No. 1 seed from Region 4.
The Packers beat Mill Creek 35-24 last week.
Jae Lamar rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Cohen Lawson was 12-of-24 passing for 226 yards and a touchdown. Antwan Lockett had five receptions for 128 yards and a TD.
The Rams beat Norcross 44-7 in the first round. They scored all of their points in the first half.
Deuce Smith was 12-of-14 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
The last time these teams met was in 2019. Colquitt County leads the series 4-2. I believe Grayson will win.
Newton (8-3) @ #2 Buford (11-0): Newton is the No. 2 seed from Region 4. Buford is the No. 1 seed from Region 8.
Last week the Rams beat Peachtree Ridge 33-14.
They rushed for 373 yards and were 2-of-9 passing. Kevin Hartsfield rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Darius White rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
The Wolves beat Richmond Hill 45-0 last week. They held them to 96 total yards. Dayton Raiola was 12-of-20 passing for 204 yards and four touchdowns.
The last time these teams met was 2019 and Buford leads the series 2-0. This is Buford’s 27th straight second-round appearance. I think Buford will win big.
#10 Harrison (10-1) @ #3 Carrolton (11-0): Harrison is the No. 2 seed from Region 3. Carrollton is the No. 1 seed from Region 2.
In the first round the Hoyas beat Marietta, 45-35. Aiden Watson was 17-of-23 passing for 194 yards and rushed for 180 yards and six touchdowns. D.J. Huggins had nine receptions for 95 yards.
The Trojans beat North Forsyth 58-17 last week. Ryan Mosely had five receptions for 112 yards. Cam Wood rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
These teams have only played once before in 2023 and Carrolton leads the series 1-0. This is Carrollton’s 11th straight second-round appearance. I expect the Trojans to advance.
#6 Lowndes (10-1) @ #8 North Gwinnett (10-1): Lowndes is the No. 2 seed from Region 1. North Gwinnett is the No. 1 seed from Region 7.
The Vikings beat Collins Hill 37-16 in the first round. Jayce Johnson passed for 131 yards and rushed for 36 with three total touchdowns. Lowndes was outgained in this game but they had two interceptions.
The Bulldogs beat South Gwinnett 49-16 last week. They were balanced, with over 200 yards passing and receiving.
Elam Rahman was 12-of-16 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Kalil Mazone rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Lowndes leads the series 2-0 and they have not played since 2019. I think North Gwinnett wins a close game.
Piracy
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates sailed into the 2nd round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs with a 78-30 thumping of the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs. (You read it correctly, 78-30, and it wasn’t a basketball game.)
The 78 points is a single-game record at BHS. The previous high was 70 points in 1998 and again in1999, against Windsor Forest and Liberty County, respectively.
As region champions from 1-5A, Head Coach Garrett Grady’s Pirates earned a #1 seed and hosted the #4 seed—Winder-Barrow—from Region 8-5A.
Taking advantage of failed onside kicks by the Bulldoggs, the Pirates used the short field to score on their first four possessions, building a 30-15 advantage after one period.
Winder-Barrow pulled within eight points at 38-30 midway through quarter two, but didn’t score again, as the Pirates posted 40 unanswered points.
Brunswick High led 54-30 at the half and 70-30 after three quarters, sending the game to a running clock for the fourth quarter.
A Pirate TD with 2:40 to go in the game put the final 78-30 tally on the scoreboard.
Senior quarterback Grant Moore entered the game needing 443 yards passing and 3 touchdown tosses to surpass 2017 BHS quarterback Jamarius Stevens in those categories for best all-time.
Already holding the Pirate records for career passing yards and career touchdown passes, Grant Moore rose to the task against Winder-Barrow. He completed 12 of 14 passes, shredding the Bulldogg defense for 344 yards passing and 5 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
He now needs 99 yards passing to complete a sweep of individual passing records for quarterbacks at Brunswick High, and he will get that opportunity Friday night when BHS hosts the Gainesville Red Elephants at Glynn County Stadium in a second-round matchup.
With 78 points showing on the scoreboard against Winder-Barrow, you would expect that many Pirates had big nights, and they did.
Dontre Butler, Nigel Gardner, Josiah Gibbons, Heze Kent, and Waseem Murray all scored touchdowns for the Pirates.
Kent and Gibbons each scored three TDs, while Gardner had two.
Brunswick High also converted 9 of 10 two-point conversions following touchdowns.
Defensively, Zi’yan Rankin had two official interceptions, but he also had a pick-six nullified by a penalty.
Samir Dobbins also had an interception.
The Pirate defense was tasked with limiting the success of Winder-Barrow running back Demetrius Dowdy. Dowdy was the leading rusher in all of 5-A, averaging 185 yards per game, while scoring 20 touchdowns.
He ran for 98 yards against the Pirates in the first half, but the Pirate D held Dowdy to only 14 yards rushing in the second half, for 112 on the night.
The Pirates defeated South Effingham in the regular-season finale on October 31. That victory, coupled with Effingham’s upset of Statesboro the same night, put Brunswick High at the top of the region standings.
The Pirates will undoubtedly find a much tougher opponent in Gainesville this Friday night at Glynn County Stadium.
The Red Elephants will come in with a 9-2 record. They are the #2 seed from Region 7, and defeated Dunwoody 48-3, the #3 seed from Region 4, in the first round.
Quest Over
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Although it heartbreakingly ended one week from the goal, the 2025 season for the Frederica Knights was one of legend.
As with seemingly every Brandon Derrick-coached squad, the 15th edition of football under the oaks had to do more with less.
Entering the season with around 30 players on the roster, the goal was the same as always; win the region and complete the March to Mercer and a trip to the State Championship game.
The season kicked off with a trip to Savannah and a lightning-delayed matchup with the Savannah Blue Jackets. Junior QB Stanton Beverly threw for three touchdowns, Jaylen Baldwin and Jayden Gibson added two scores on the ground, and the Knights defense took a shutout late into the fourth quarter and left Chatham County with a season opening 34-7 win.
Problems with the weather continue into week two, when lightning in the area once again impacted play, this time delaying and eventually canceling the game against West Nassau with minutes left in the first quarter and a 14-7 deficit on the scoreboard. The controversial loss would impact the Knights and their playoff seeding later in the season.
A pair of familiar foes were on tap for weeks three and four. The Valwood Valiants would stretch their win streak against the Knights to 5 games in the form of a painful 33-14 home loss, while the Tiftarea Panthers would fall to Frederica a week later in a complete team effort 24-21 come-from-behind 4th quarter victory.
Week Five came in the form of a painful road loss to Stratford Academy. A pair of red zone INTs cost the Knights a comeback attempt as they fell to the Eagles 28-13. The game was a catalyst for Frederica, however, as they went on to finish the regular season on a five-game win streak.
After a 42-13 dismantling of Brookwood, the Knights traveled to Lyons, GA to give Robert Toombs a 28-12 defeat, as well as give Coach Brandon Derrick his 100th career win as a head coach.
Region play started with a highly satisfying 35-20 home win against the hated Bulloch Academy Gators and continued with wins against the Pinewood Patriots to the tune of 28-14 and the annual shellacking of St Andrews: the 49-16 victory being the second largest win margin in the history of the rivalry.
With the regular season wrapped up, region honors were handout and the Knights were very well represented. All in all, eight Frederica players were given All Region honors – Fuller Wimberly, Gavin Grantham, Jaylen Baldwin, Eli Middleton, Jayden Gibson, JC Wessel, Eric Alford, and Hudson Carter. Stanton Beverly was unanimously selected as Region Player of the Year.
Once the playoffs were set, the Knights drew the 5th seed, which meant a first round bye and a second-round matchup on the road, again Valwood. This was a tough draw, considering the Valiants had knocked Frederica out of the playoffs the previous two seasons, but the Knights responded with a game for the ages.
With the game tied 14-14 at the half, Beverly and Gibson led the Knights to a 28-21 win in front of possibly the loudest and largest road crowd the Frederica Faithful has ever produced.
Making it to the Final Four for the 6th time under Coach Derrick, the Knights’ March to Mercer would once again end at the hands of GIAA powerhouse John Milledge Academy with a 35-7 final score.
While it’s always heartbreaking for the seniors that won’t get another chance at a title, the fact that the majority of the offensive skill players and defensive playmakers are juniors and sophomores gives the Frederica family well-founded hope that the 16th season of football under the oaks will wind up with the hoisting of a third state championship trophy
New Cat Is No Kitten
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Just days after announcing that Travis Roland will not return for the 2026 season, Camden County has wasted no time charting its future.
Jon Lindsey, a familiar and respected figure, has been hired as the Wildcats’ new head football coach.
For a community where football is woven into local identity, the move feels both forward-thinking and rooted in tradition.
Lindsey brings a wealth of experience, a history of success, and most importantly, deep ties to Camden County football. He is not an outsider stepping into a high-pressure job. He is one of the architects of the Wildcats’ proudest eras.
Lindsey served as Camden’s defensive coordinator during the 2008 and 2009 state championship seasons, and returned years later to help guide the Wildcats to the Final Four in the 2023 GHSA 6A state playoffs.
His defenses were known for their toughness, discipline, and physicality. These were the hallmarks of the Camden program at its peak.
Beyond his work in Kingsland, Lindsey has built an impressive statewide résumé. He took Irwin County to the Final Four in 2013, earning Gatorade Class A Coach of the Year honors during his tenure.
In 2014, he led Cook County to the Region 1-3A championship and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
He has also headed programs at East Paulding and Appling County, and most recently contributed to Coffee County’s rise, helping the Trojans reach the quarterfinals twice and the semifinals once in three seasons.
Camden County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tracolya Green praised Lindsey as the right leader at the right moment, citing his understanding of Camden’s expectations and the defensive tradition that has long defined Wildcat football.
“Coach Lindsey has been a critical part of establishing our identity,” she said. “His leadership is grounded in simplicity, grit, and discipline. He knows what it takes to build a championship culture.”
With Camden now on its fourth head coach in seven years, Lindsey arrives as both a steadying presence and a familiar voice. His return signals a commitment to the values that built the Wildcats into one of Georgia’s premier programs: defense, discipline, and physicality.
Though the decision to move on from Roland closes the book on a two-year tenure that included a playoff berth in 2024 and a 6–4 season in 2025, the focus this week has quickly shifted toward the future.
Camden County believes Lindsey is the coach best equipped to restore consistency and reassert the Wildcats as a contender in what will be the newly realigned Region 1-7A starting in 2026.
The Lindsey family is already deeply ingrained in the community. His wife Melissa is a member of the Camden County High School faculty, and their son Jake, a Wildcat graduate, is now a linebacker at West Point.
That community connection, combined with Lindsey’s experience and track record, gives the Wildcats confidence that they have found the leader to guide the next chapter.
A public introduction event is planned for December, giving players, families, and supporters their first chance to officially welcome Coach Lindsey home.
After a fast-moving week, Camden County has a clear direction and has put its trust into a coach who knows exactly what Wildcat football is built on.
