High School Football
Pirates Sunk By Bartram Trail
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick traveled into North Florida and ran into a buzz saw named Bartram Trail. The Pirates were blown out 35-12.
The Pirate offense put up some nice yardage but turned the ball over in the red zone too many times in the first that killed any momentum the unit developed.
The Pirate defense struggled all night to stop the Bears offense and gave up too many big plays on the evening. Brunswick High needs to find some answers on this side of the ball moving forward as the Pirates gear up for region play in October.
Pirate Report Card
Defense: D. Brunswick gave up a 95-yard drive after the offense fumbled in the red zone on the first possession.
Then they turned around and gave up a two play TD drive on the second possession to get down quickly, 14-0.
If not for Bartram committing penalties this game could have been 28-0 at the half.
Too many missed tackles, talented defensive backs getting toasted in passing situations, defensive line got manhandled all night, run defense needs to improve before region play.
Down 14-0 at the half and needing a stop the defense gave up an opening drive TD to go down 21-0. A scoop and score for a 63-yard TD kept this grade from being an F.
Major improvement is needed, but the positive is the unit is in position to make plays and they will as more game experience is gained.
Offense: D. Pirate rushing offense looked good all night. Jaylen Trimmings and freshman Chucolbe Hill looked good running the football.
Coach Pender stressed all week that he wanted his offensive line to take over football games this fall, as they are a team strength but in passing situations last night the OL gave up 8 sacks and gave up sacks on 3 straight plays late in the first half on a key drive.
The Pirates struggled all night in the red zone, coming away with 0 points on three trips, two turnovers and giving the football up on downs.
KJ Lee will continue to improve with game experience and Marlon Carmena is the most dynamic playmaker on offense and needs the ball in his hands more.
Seven turnovers in two football games will get better as the group gets valuable game experience under its belt.
Special Teams: C. A bad extra point snap and two huge penalties hurt and this area needs improvement, but the unit improved from the Coffee game. Mitchell Richburg punted well last night.
Coaching: C. Great game plan on offense, but execution let Brunswick down with turnovers and sacks. On defense Brunswick was in position most of the night but just did not execute.
Overall: C-. The night was full of sacks, turnovers, missed tackles. Bartram Trail was there for the taking if this team just had just executed the game plan. The team will improve by region time.
This Pirate team needs better play from some talented players in the secondary, more intensity from the offensive line and another receiver step up and join Marlon Carmena as a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.
Also, Brunswick needs more passion from a defensive unit overall. The defensive coaches may need to shake things up on that side of the ball to wake a couple talented players up.
Next up: MCA next Friday in Darien
Terrors Bedevil Washington
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Glynn Academy Red Terrors hosted the Washington High Bulldogs Friday night between the bricks at Glynn County Stadium.
Washington High came in 0-1, losing to rival Douglass 22-12 in their opener.
The Terrors were coming off a loss to powerhouse Fort Dorchester in the opening week of the season.
Washington High jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs took over on downs after a Glynn fake punt failed and the Bulldogs cashed the turnover in for six points. Washington High missed the PAT.
However, it did not take long for the Red Terrors to take control of the game after that. Glynn led 14-6 after the first quarter and 28-6 at the half.
The Red Terrors added a touchdown in the third to go up 35-6.
Midway through the 4th quarter the Terrors added another score on the ground to go up 42-6.
That 42-6 score would hold as the final. Glynn would score 42 unanswered points to close out the Washington High Bulldogs.
The Terrors rushing attack dominated the game. Glynn’s QB TJ Lewis looked great on the ground and completed several passes, leaving the Bulldog defense befuddled on how to stop the Terrors’ offense.
Glynn had five different players score touchdowns. Quantavious Bostic scored 2 touchdowns, TJ Lewis rushed for a TD, Nolan Grant pitched in a score for Glynn, Caden Hutchinson put a TD on the board and Alan Partin also found pay dirt for the Red Terrors.
Defensive End Marlon Taylor was a monster on defense for the Red Terrors and looked almost unblockable.
The young Red Terrors showed some improvement from last week but still has some room to get better in the big picture.
With the win, the Red Terrors improve to 1-1 on the season. Glynn Academy will host Groves next week between the bricks at Glynn County Stadium before getting a week off and then heading into a tough three game non-region stretch against Wayne, Ware and Camden. All of those games on the road.
Washington High falls to 0-2 on the season.
The game against Groves next week will be the Red Terrors’ Homecoming.
Blue Devils Survive
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Anyone that had been to a Statesboro game over the past four years was probably thinking the same thing late in Friday’s season opener against Greenbrier, here we go again.
But unlike the past four years, The Blue Devils were able to make a big play at the end of the game, winning by a score of 7-3.
The Statesboro offense was unable to pick up a first down with just over two minutes left in the game, leading 7-3. Greenbrier ran a sweep on the first play from scrimmage and it went for 20 yards to the Wolfpack 40-yard line.
With 1:27 left in the game Xavier Lee picked off a Jackson Fulmer pass at the Statesboro 45 and returned it 8 yards. Greenbrier was out of timeouts and Statesboro was able to run out the clock for their first season opening victory since 2013.
“I can’t lie, it crossed my mind they ‘here we go again’,” said Statesboro head coach Jeff Kaiser. “But I’m very proud of our kids for showing some resilience, and making a big play when they had to. We had Xavier in a good spot and he made the interception to seal the deal.”
The story of the game was the Statesboro defense who allowed the Wolfpack only 104 total yards and 7 first downs, while coming up with a crucial 4 turnovers.
“Two players who really made a difference tonight for us were Ames Rackleff and Michael Dixon.” Kaiser said. “Ames is just a tenth grader, but he plays hard at everything he does, baseball, football or life. He is going to give you all he has. Michael is the same way, and they both stepped up tonight.”
In the second quarter the offense was finally able to take advantage of a Blue Devil turnover. Ames Rackleff picked off a Fulmer pass at the 37-yard line with 2:21 seconds left in the second quarter.
The offense was able to march downfield but had to convert on a fourth and six in order to keep the drive alive. Jaylen Robinson took the ball off the left side and pounded ahead for 8 of his 101 yards rushing to the Greenbrier nine-yard line.
On the very next play from scrimmage with 1:15 left quarterback Drake Horton walked into the end zone untouched, the extra point by Cody Parker was good and Statesboro took a 7-0 halftime lead.
“That touchdown before the half was huge,” Kaiser said. “When you win the battle of the turnovers by two like we did you should win the game and that touchdown came as a direct result of a forced turnover.”
Statesboro took a 7-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth, Statesboro coughed the ball up again and Greenbrier recovered on the Statesboro 35-yard line. Fulmer then hit Jaden Smith for an 18 pick up to the Statesboro 18-yard line.
The Blue Devil defense was able to hold from there and Greenbrier had to settle for a 29-yard Ben Thorpe field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 with 6:08 left in the game.
Lee was able to secure with the win with the Blue Devils third interception of the game and the celebration began with the players mobbing Lee on the sidelines.
“I’m proud of these kids for learning from the past and being able to make plays when they had to,” Kaiser said. We are going to celebrate this tonight, but tomorrow it’s time to get ready for a good Liberty County team.”
Next up for Statesboro, they will host Liberty County Friday at Womack Field.
Frederica Wobbles Goliath
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
What was billed “David vs. Goliath” game turned into an “Ali vs. Frazer” type blow-by-blow experience under the Oaks at Frederica Academy Friday night before a record crowd.
In Friday’s home opener Frederica welcomed Charlton County, a class A school, that brought with it almost double the 30 players that make up the entire Knights 2018 roster. Yet, with the numbers not in their favor, the Knights made a valiant effort in the 28-21 loss.
The first quarter got off to a slow start after a 30-minute lightning delay. However, the energy level and output of both teams jumped into high gear when JT Elliott of Frederica picked off a Raykwon Anderson’s pass attempt.
Eventually, that quarter would end 0-7 in favor of the Indians as they scored off of a broken play, 55-yard pass connection between Anderson and Seaquon Clark.
During the second quarter, each team’s defense showed their strength as it was a seesaw battle back and forth, with little movement. Finally, with 5:02 left to go before half-time, the Knights scored off of a 1-yard touchdown run by Senior QB Jaylin Simpson. The extra point was no good and the half-time clock ran down with Knights down 6-7 to the Indians.
The second half exploded with three consecutive touchdown scores off of three kickoff returns in a span of less than a minute and a half. First, Frederica’s Patrick Brunson (Sr) ran back a 95-yarder making it 14 -7. Charlton Country retaliated with an 80-yard return by Clark.
Senior running back and kick returner Isaiah Jackson then ran back yet another 85-yard kick-off return -the game up at 21 all. Which would be the score at the end of the third
quarter.
The fourth quarter resembled a heavyweight boxing match as each team exhibited signs of physical and emotional exhaustion as they gave their all in the intense heat and humidity.
Most of the fourth quarter featured each team’s defense standing firm. Finally, with under 3 minutes left in the game, Randy Nelson of Charlton County picked off a Knights pass and returned it for a TD.
After the epic battle, head Coach Brandon Derrick commented, “This game was intended to be a test and I believe my team passed it. We proved we can play at this level, and hold our own.”
Another take away from Coach Derrick was that “We stayed mentally tough in spite of a couple of turnovers.”
Next week the Knights will play at home again and face Valwood, the team that eliminated Frederica from advancing to the state championship game in Mercer last season.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and, much like this game, it’s expected to be another battle of attrition.
Rough Launch For Pirates
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
On a rainy night in Douglas the Brunswick High Pirates fell to the Coffee Trojans 20-7 in the season opener for both schools.
The Pirates started out slow going down 13-0 with 9 minutes left in first quarter and then failed to cash in on a couple of scoring opportunities late in the half with a dropped TD pass and a missed FG on the last play of the half.
The Pirate run defense made some improvements in the second half. Coffee cashed in on a fumble and scored a touchdown to make it 20-0 early in the 4th quarter. Brunswick answered with a 10-yard TD pass from KJ Lee to Xavier Bean to make the final score 20-7.
Pirate Report Card.
Offense: C+. The offense moved the ball well most of the night. It was a wet night and the Pirates committed three turnovers and dropped a punt snap that resulted in two Coffee TD’s.
KJ Lee looked good for his first varsity start. Jaylen Trimmings looked very good running the football. The offensive line did a decent job against a championship caliber defense and Xavier Bean had his coming out party at WR. Che Foy looked good in space with football in his hands.
The Pirates need to clean up the drops as they dropped two TD passes. The penalties, turnovers and drops will get cleaned up with more game experience. This unit is going to be very good by the time region play starts.
Defense: C. Run defense needs to be cleaned up. The secondary did not play as well as I expected. I was proud of the effort on this side of the ball however. More game experience and an upcoming addition at middle linebacker will improve the run defense.
This group hung in there when things looked bad early. It was 13-0 before the BHS band took their seats; gutty effort to keep BHS in the game.
Special Teams: D. Poor snaps all night, dropped snap that led to a TD, and a missed 27-yard FG. Special teams will get better as last night was first live action for this group for the season.
Coaching: B. The team had a good game plan. Coaching made some good adjustments all night and the improvement from spring to first game against #2 ranked Coffee was significant.
Overall: C. A loss is a loss, but the young Pirates have good talent and good coaching.
The future is bright and this edition of the Pirates will be fine when region play starts.
Young Terrors Earning Stripes
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Red Terrors opened the 2018 season at home against Fort Dorchester from South Carolina. Fort Dorchester is a powerhouse program in the Palmetto State.
Glynn Academy came in with a very young team having lost 19 seniors. The Red Terrors found themselves down 28-7 early.
Glynn fought back and pulled within 31-21 before Fort Dorchester pulled away late and went on to win 36-21 over the Red Terrors.
Head Coach Rocky Hidalgo typically schedules tough games early in the season to test his team so the Terrors will be fire tested come playoff time. This was no different.
We can look for the Red Terrors to have some growing pains early on in the season with a young team.
Glynn will see Wayne, Ware, and Camden in the coming weeks, all non-region games. The Red Terrors will travel to Jesup, Waycross and Kingsland for those games, all consecutively.
However, before that the Red Terrors will host Washington High next week between the bricks at Glynn County Stadium.
Washington is a high that is rebuilding and should be a game the Red Terrors will be able to see their young talent play well.
Once Glynn get into region play they will see Richmond Hill, Brunswick High, Effingham and Bradwell. The Red Terrors are the favorite to win the region but need to see their young talent mature for that to happen.
After Washington High the Red Terrors will play Groves at home before starting with the aforementioned gauntlet with Wayne, Ware and Camden. Groves is another program that the Terrors should play well against.
Overall, a good effort by the Red Terrors to stay in the game against Fort Dorchester and get the game close. A lot of good things happened in the second half for the Red Terrors to build upon.
If this season goes the same way the previous few have under Rocky Hidalgo the Red Terrors will once again make a deep playoff run and will be a state title contender.
The New Buzz
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets enter the 2018 football season with their third coach in three years.
Barrett Davis takes over after Steve Pennington filled in on an interim basis in 2017 and inherits a Yellow Jacket team that lost a few key contributors but return 19 seniors for the 2018 campaign.
“We are extremely excited about this year’s Southeast Bulloch football team,” Davis said. “We have a great senior class and a lot of versatility, so we are ready to pull up our sleeves and get to work.”
The Yellow Jackets will have a new look on offense this season and for the first time in four years it will not revolve around fullback Chase Walker, who left Southeast Bulloch with over 6,000 yards rushing and 91 career touchdowns.
“Replacing someone like Chase Walker will be tough to do but we feel like we are going to be able to take advantage of what we do have talent wise,” Davis said. “We will be running our offense out of the wishbone but we will be throwing the ball a little more and not be quite as reliant on the fullback position.”
This year’s offense may not have Walker – or much of his talented offensive line – but they do return a talented trio of skill position threats in quarterback Blaize Minick, running back Jontrell Wells and receiver Tyler Bailey.
“We’ve got a quarterback in Blaize, who is pretty versatile,” Davis said. “Tyler has done a great job at receiver, but it also solid in the secondary, and Jontrell is a great athlete who can not only help us running the ball, but also at outside linebacker. Our offensive line will be doing different little things scheme wise, and we are stressing technique with them.”
Defensively the Jackets return eight starters from a year ago anchored by linebacker Logan Gomez, and quite a few players playing on both sides of the ball.
“Defensively we will work out of a 3-5 stack, allowing us to send pressure from different directions,” Davis said. “Logan has been doing a great job as well as Jabari Daniels, Rashode Hobbs, as well as a few other guys that will be counted on to go both ways.”
The previous two coaches each led the Jackets to the state playoffs but were unable to do something that still hasn’t been accomplished since 1974, and that is win a state playoff game.
“With us having 19 seniors that were around last year we are hoping they understand what it takes to win a state playoff game,” Davis said. “I think last year was a wakeup call for them to really see what it takes and I feel they have been putting in the work.”
While this may be the third head coach in three years for the players, there are a few familiar faces on the coaching staff as Brandon Peterson returns on offense, along with Chris Pye, while Jeremy Gantt returns to SEB after a year at Lincoln County.
“Jeremy Gant is back and will be joining coach Chris Pye and Brandon Peterson in running our offense, while I will be heading up the defense,” Davis said. “I feel like, along with our other coaches, we have really started to come together and are on the same page.”
Not only will coach Davis have to deal with the growing pains of being a first-year head coach at a new school but he will also have to deal with the new kid on the block in Region 3 AAA, the former AA state champion Cadets of Benedictine.
“The guys started off a little slow last year with a tough schedule and then built up some confidence and finished strong,” Davis said. “We know the kind of talent and tradition a team like Benedictine brings to our region and it will be a challenge but I feel our team is hungry and ready for a challenge.”
The Yellow Jackets open the 2018 season at home Friday August 24th as they host the Screven County Gamecocks.
Family Tradition
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The University of Georgia football program added a huge commitment to the recruiting class of 2019 last week with the pledge of offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr. of Brunswick, Ga., who picked UGA over South Carolina.
“First, I would like to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play on the next level,” McClendon wrote in a tweet. “I would like to thank my parents for supporting me during the recruiting process. Also, I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates. With that being said I’m 100% committed to … THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.”
Sam Pittman has and is assembling the most talented offensive line position group in the nation. McClendon is a four star recruit out of Brunswick High and his head coach Sean Pender calls him the best offensive lineman he has ever coached.
So, what are the Dawgs getting in McClendon? I have watched the kid for four years now pretty close and they are getting a quality young man from a great family.
UGA is getting a good student who will graduate in four years from the University of Georgia. UGA is getting a humble young man with a competitive mean streak that can’t stand to lose at anything.
UGA is getting a kid that is a leader that you don’t have to worry about making bad decisions in his free time. UGA is getting a pretty good athlete at 6’5 310 who plays basketball during the winter for the best high school basketball program in Southeast Georgia.
McClendon will now turn his focus to his senior football season at Brunswick High School. He will lead the young Pirate squad into the 2018 season.
He will play right tackle this fall for BHS. Look for the talented senior to lead BHS to a playoff berth this fall. The recruiting services have McClendon rated as the 26th best tackle in the country. The senior should be awarded with several post season honors after his senior season is complete.
McClendon will join a star-studded class of offensive lineman at UGA and will develop under Pittman, who is the best offensive line coach in all of college football.
Kirby Smart and his staff in Athens now are recruiting 4 and 5-star talent at every position on the roster and that will tough to beat over the next 5-10 years in Athens, Georgia.
One thing Warren McClendon Jr. is not afraid of is competition and look for him to compete hard and become a starting offensive lineman at UGA. Also, don’t be surprised to hear the commissioner call the name of Warren McClendon Jr. at the 2022 NFL draft.
McClendon said UGA felt like home and that led him to choosing the Dawgs. His uncle Willie was the SEC Player of the Year in 1978 at UGA and another uncle and cousin were starters and producers at UGA.
A McClendon wearing the red and black at the University of Georgia is a family tradition.
The Blue Devils Looking For Red
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With the 2018 high school football season fast approaching, the Statesboro Blue Devils have been getting in some summer work in an attempt to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Despite a 2-7 record in 2017 and missing the postseason for the fourth straight season, the Blue Devils did show some improvement last year.
Statesboro actually had fourth quarter leads against three playoff teams last season and despite losing some key seniors, coach Jeff Kaiser is excited about 60 freshmen coming out for football this year.
“We’ve managed to have about 40 of those 60 ninth grader make it regularly out to summer programs,” Kaiser said. “Our kids have seemed enthusiastic about being here this summer and are excited about the upcoming season.”
One of the keys for success this year for Statesboro will be filling the holes left by graduation, particularly in the offensive backfield, where the Blue Devils lost four seniors, including leading rusher Tupac Lanier and three year starting quarterback Davis Wiggins.
“We don’t have many seniors playing those positions, so we will be young,” Kaiser said. “We’ve had nine running backs get reps this summer and four different quarterbacks. Everybody’s competing and that’s a good thing.”
Defensively Statesboro will be anchored by leading tackler senior Chris Hill and a host of Blue Devils who saw playing time last season but Kaiser says he will also be using many players on both sides of the ball.
“You’d think on a 5-A team you wouldn’t need to play people both ways,” Kaiser said. “Unfortunately, that is where we are but I’m hoping we are in good enough shape where that won’t be a huge issue.”
The Blue Devils will also have a bit of an old school look offensively this season, as Kaiser plans to implement more of a power game.
“Our brand of football this year will be a little different from today’s trend of ‘basketball on turf’ with everyone spread out all over the field,” Kaiser said. “We don’t have the personnel to do that successfully in my opinion, so we are going to slow it down a bit and will be more of a traditional wishbone attack, with some spread elements to it as well.”
The Blue Devils also have to remember how to win. The 2006 State Championship seems like a lot more than just 12 years ago. Statesboro hasn’t even advance to the state playoffs since 2013 and coach Kaiser feels some of the losses from last year can be attributed to the team’s lack of confidence.
“I hate to use the cliché, but it is about trusting the process,” Kaiser said. “The kids have put in an incredible amount of work and have made huge gains in the weight room. You try and develop a team that is mentally tough – not that we weren’t tough last year – but there in the fourth quarter we have to be tougher physically and mentally.”
“You hear that winning ways are habitual but for us losing ways have been habitual,” Kaiser said. “Finding a way of win, instead of trying not to lose. That needs to be more of our mindset this season.”
The Blue Devils open the 2018 season August 24th at Greenbrier.
Terrorizing 2018
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As the 2018 football season rapidly approaches, I had the opportunity to sit down with Glynn Academy head football coach Rocky Hidalgo to chat about the 2018 Red Terrors.
Hidalgo is entering his 5th season at GA with a 41-13 record, a couple of region championships and 4 deep runs in the state playoffs. It is safe to say Glynn Academy is a state football power now under Coach Rock’s watch.
The coach says this about the 2018 team “We are young in spots and could end up starting 7-8 sophomores and could struggle some early, but the key for us is to use that time to peak for region play and have that carry over into the state playoffs”.
On offense the Terrors will be led by Nolan Grant at RB, who his coach describes as “special” and is as good as any running back in these parts. Allen Partin, Caden Hutchinson, and Tyshawn Wallace may give Glynn the best running back position group in South Georgia and maybe the state.
Shane Wells is returning on the OL and Hidalgo thinks his offensive line will have a lot of upside this fall. “We may have as many as three new starters on the offensive line, but our strength and conditioning program gets our kids in position to play early in our system”.
At QB the battle comes down to Sam Wagner and TJ Lewis. Hidalgo is watching closely as the battle progresses over the summer. Lewis is tall and athletic at 6’3 and Wagner will start at WR if he doesn’t win the QB job.
At WR Hidalgo spoke about Deandre Frazier doing a fine job and thinks TJ Bradley and Jaden Miller will develop into fine players at the position.
On defense, Hidalgo raved about DL Marlon Taylor. At 6’2 265 the head coach called him the best defensive lineman in this area.
The junior is a two-year starter with a great attitude. James Dyal, Torrez Davis, Kedrick Adams, Jordan Swain, and Drez Wilcox make this talented group as deep as any position on the roster. The head coach says they will rotate 9 players on the defensive line.
AT LB look for Jamarcus Sims, Johnny Bradley, Tashaun Lane, and Miles Smith to get snaps at the position. Hidalgo thinks he has some good talent at the position. AT DB Byron Bacon and Travis Clinch will lead a talented unit this fall.
“One thing we are going to do here is play defense and this group has the potential barring injuries to be the best unit we have had here”.
Chase Gabriel will handle the punting and place-kicking duties this fall.
Hidalgo raves about his coaching staff. “I have the best coaching staff in the state and they work their tails off and the kids believe in what we are doing here and that makes all the difference in the world”.
The early part of the schedule is very tough. Fort Dorchester a South Carolina state power in the opener at Glynn County Stadium. Fort Dorchester went 13-1 in 2017.
Three straight road games with Camden, Ware, and Wayne in September.
The region slate has Glynn traveling to Richmond Hill and Bradwell while playing Effingham on the road. Glynn will be the designated road team in City Title game with Brunswick.
This writer sees 9-10 regular season wins for this Red Terror squad and a region championship. Hidalgo says the Terrors have 3 goals every season.
“Our goals here never change here and they are 1. City Championship 2. Region Championship 3. State Championship”.
Don’t be surprised if you see the 2018 Glynn Academy Red Terrors playing in Mercedes Benz Stadium this December. Glynn doesn’t rebuild anymore they reload.
