High School Football
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.
Wildcats On The Hunt
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This is the year that the Camden County Wildcat faithful have been pointing to as far the proud program getting back to powerhouse status.
The last few years have been lean in Kingsland and it has shown on the football field.
The Wildcats are coming off of a 3-7 campaign, which included losses to rivals Brunswick High, Glynn Academy, Lowndes, Colquitt, and Tift.
Camden has not won a region game in 2 years and have not made the playoffs in that span. A two-year absence from the playoffs is a huge deal for this storied program when you consider this is a program that won 14 straight region titles, yes 14 straight. Likely, a feat that will never again be accomplished again. Not to mention, 3 state titles in that same time frame.
Second year head coach, Bob Sphire is looking to get Camden back to being at least respectable.
The Wildcats will have the most talent in Kingsland that they have had since their last region championship. This roster will consist of mostly juniors, who are very talented and have taken their lumps in a tough region the last two years.
Camden will open up with three straight home games against West Forsythe, Wren and Locust Grove. All three of these games are winnable and I expect Camden to start undefeated through these first three.
Camden will then hit the road Richmond Hill and Brunswick. I look for Richmond Hill to play a competitive game against Camden but fall in the end. I also look for the Wildcats to beat BHS, as the Pirates will be young and inexperienced. However, look for the Camden/BHS game to be one of the better games of the season.
The Wildcats will return to Chris Gilman Stadium to take on Glynn Academy, who has blown Camden out the last two seasons. This game may be a little closer but the Terrors are loaded and may win a state title. Look for another Red Terror win against Camden.
Next up for Camden will be Colleton County from South Carolina. Camden will have too much depth for the Cougars and Camden will get the W at home.
The Wildcats will begin region play the following three games. Two games on the road against Colquitt and Lowndes in back to back weeks will be tough. Camden needs to split these two games.
I like Camden to take down Tift at home in the season finale and get back into the playoffs for the first time in a couple of years.
Prediction: 8-2.
The Knights’ Quest
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For Frederica Football the 2017 was a season of injuries, adjusted lineups, severe weather and a heart-breaking loss to end an amazing season.
While the Knights’ season may have come to a tough end in a come-behind victory by Valwood in the third round of the GISA-AAA playoffs, it was a season of vast growth which brings them into 2018 with extremely high expectations.
Last year started with big adjustments as starting QB Gavin William received an injury that cost him the entire season. While star receiver JaShawn Sheffield was limited for much of the season with an injury, the team and coaches rallied around Junior QB Jaylin Simpson and formed a slightly different offensive scheme. This scheme emerged as a very mobile and exciting one.
While the offense had to adjust early on, the defense seemed to only gain speed and strength behind a then junior squad that featured emerging stars such as Harry Veal, JT Elliot, Isaiah Jackson, and Cameron Gardner. This Defense often made great plays that helped set the offense up for easy scores.
This season sees the return of many of last year’s junior class now playing as seniors and veteran leaders, headed by Simpson and Sheffield, who have both committed to Auburn Football in 2019.
With an experienced senior class all back on the field the Knights are heavily favored to make another strong march to Mercer for a State Championship. However, this run will not be easy.
The Knights will open the 2018 Campaign at home in a non-GISA game vs Charlton County Indians, from Folkston, GA., on Friday, August 17th at Frederica under the oaks. The Indian’s are in the A Region 2 and in 2018 posted a 9-3 record.
Then on Friday, August 28th, the GISA 2017 State Champions, Valwood returns to SSI. This game is a rematch of last season’s heart-breaking GISA Playoff game. It was an intense defensive battle with all scoring taking place in the second half. Expect nothing less in the early season key matchup.
The third week has the Knights hitting the road for the first time and traveling to play Lanier County in Lakeland, GA on Friday, August 31.
September starts with Frederica hosting Bethlehem Christian Academy. In 2016 the Knights defeated them in the first round of the playoffs 52-21. In that game QB Gavin Williams was 8 of 11 with 2 touchdown passes and 197 yards.
Friday, Sept 14th Augusta Prep Day will welcome the Knights to their home turf. This game is highlighted as Augusta’s toughest potential match up in 2018 with Frederica favored by over 30 points.
Friday Sept 21 is an open date and may be much needed as the following week will be “Rivalry Game” against Pinewood Christian in Bellville, GA.
In 2017 the Knights won this same game 30-17! It was a balanced attack as JaShawn Sheffield caught 2 TD passes, Jaylin Simpson ran for 2 touchdowns and Junior Running Back Isaiah Jackson rushed for 102 all-purpose yards.
Week 7, Oct 5th will see the Knights back under the oaks hosting Westfield School. While the Hornets posted a 2-9 season in 2017, this is the kind of opponent that Frederica does not want to potentially play down to.
Friday, Oct. 12 and the second half of the season is on as the Knights stay under the oaks and welcome Trinity Christian to the island. In 2016, The defense played a key factor in this 40-20 victory over the Crusaders, as Frederica claimed 2 interceptions and tacked on 3 sacks.
Oct 19th has the Knights back out on the road as they face Westminster School of Augusta. The Wildcats have a tendency to field a very small number of players. A late season matchup such as this may be timely to help rest the starters and get healed up before the final two games and playoffs.
Friday the, “Drive to Mercer”, heats up as the perennial powerhouse John Milledge Academy Trojan’s come into Frederica. 2016 saw the Trojan’s crowned State Champion and last season marked the sixth straight 10-win season. This is a battle not to missed!
The regular season closes out on Friday, Nov. 2nd with a road trip to Statesboro to once again face Bulloch Academy. The last two seasons Frederica has split this match up in fierce competition. Losing by one in 2016 (7-8) and winning in 2017 (28-21). This year’s game should be nothing less than another nail bitter.
While the Knights have grown to be one of the GISA top contenders, 2018 will cause this veteran team to be extremely challenged.
One missing piece of the puzzle for the Knights is who will fill the kicking shoes of last year’s graduate, John Mitchell Brock?
His foot and aim were a weapon that few High Schools have the luxury to rely on. Such a weapon may be the key to late game victories and a march to Mercer.
I’m Coming Home
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Football season hasn’t even begun but there’s already talk of a homecoming at Bulloch Academy, as after nearly 25 years there will once again be a Shaver coaching on the sidelines in Bulloch County.
Bill Shaver, son of legendary Southeast Bulloch head coach Fred Shaver, left Statesboro High in 1993 to take over as offensive coordinator at Thomas County Central.
As OC, under Yellow Jacket head coach Ed Pilcher, Shaver helped Thomas County Central to five state championship appearances and three state titles.
Shaver took over the head coaching reigns from Pilcher in 2008 and over the past 10 years helped TCCHS to 3 region titles and a record of 74-40.
Despite that success, at the end of last season school officials felt it was time for a change and Shaver was relieved of his coaching duties.
“The folks down there felt it was time for a change,” Shaver said. “I guess it was a time for a major change in my life. Luckily the good lord opened a door for me back here in Bulloch County.”
Shaver and Bulloch Academy head coach and athletic director Pat Collins were both on head coach Charles Webb’s staff for two years at Statesboro High in the early 90’s. The two remained friends and their paths have crossed many times over the past 25 years.
“We have remained good friends throughout the past 25 years,” Collins said. “I approached him in the spring and asked him to be a part of our staff and he flat out said no.
I asked him again a month later and got the same response. We ran into each other recently at a quarterback and receiver camp and I asked him again and he said I’ll think about it. A little later I got the call I was hoping for and he said yes.”
“I decided to retire from public school and looked around southwest Georgia for a job,” Shaver said. “Nothing came up, but I kept getting calls from coach Collins. I prayed about it, and then just felt the lord working on me to come back home to Bulloch County.”
While Collins persistence was important in keeping Bulloch County on Shaver’s mind, the quarterbacks at Bulloch Academy were also instrumental in getting Shaver to Bulloch Academy.
“I saw Don Aaron, Fisher Oglesby and Tyler Willoughby at a quarterback and receiver camp a few weeks ago,” Shaver said. “When I got home I told my wife how much I enjoyed working with those Bulloch Academy kids and how talented they were as well. Soon after that I made up my mind to come.”
Shaver will not be teaching at Bulloch Academy, giving him time to spend with father and his sister Linda, whose family lives in town.
“I got to go with dad to a Kiwanis Club meeting the other day, and out to eat,” Shaver said. “I also get to see Linda and will spend time with her. I will still be commuting a lot back to Thomasville to see my son and his family, and my grandchild as well. My wife is retired too, so she has the opportunity to come here as well from time to time.”
As for the football side of things, the change will actually be greater for coach Collins who has been running a power offense for years, as he will be turning over the offensive reigns to coach Shaver and his veer option attack.
“When you have the chance to bring on Bill Shaver I feel you have to trust him and give him latitude with our offense,” Collins said. “I think he will make us more diverse and dynamic than any team I have had in the past.”
Shaver feels optimistic about what he has to work with and doesn’t think the learning curve will be too difficult for the players.
“We have three talented quarterbacks who all have plenty of ability to do the things we will need,” Shaver said. “If we can blend the option attack I have used the past 24 years with the power game coach Collins has used and throw in a little play action passing, I think we can be successful.”
The Gators open the season August 18 at 9:00 am as they kick off the annual Erk Russell Classic in Paulson Stadium against Pinewood.
Pirates Sailing On New Tides
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Sean Pender finished 7-3 in his first season on Altama Avenue. He is entering his second season at the helm with many new faces especially on the defensive side of the ball.
While youth and inexperience may be a factor going into the 2018 season the head coach is excited about the opportunity to build and grow with his young Pirates. “We have some good talented kids, but keep in mind there will be some growing pains, but the work ethic is there and I’m looking forward to see these younger kids develop”.
The most experienced position group returning in 2018 is the offensive line. The offensive line is led by who Pender calls the best offensive lineman he has ever coached in Warren McClendon. At 6’6 and 300 lbs. McClendon is a four-star recruit by all the recruiting services and can play anywhere in the country.
McClendon will play right tackle. AJ Kirkland at 5’8 225 will move over to center and has the versatility to play guard as well. Brett Hall 6’1 240 will start at left guard. Xavier Ramsey 6’2 252 will start at left tackle, and Caleb Cook 6’2 280 will start at right guard.
Pender says his run game will be very effective this fall. Offensive Coordinator Garrett Grady commented about his OL group “They have been the hardest working kids on the field and I am expecting big things out of this group this fall”.
A name to watch is freshman Kanaya Charlton who just turned 14 years of age and is already 6’6 310 with great feet and has future start written all over him will provide depth at the position.
The QB battle is heating up this summer with KJ Lee and Anthony Mountain. Lee played some as a freshman in 2017 has a quick release and has a solid grasp on the offense according to his head coach.
Mountain is getting better every single day and his head coach loves his competitive spirit. Both struggled in the spring game but have gained confidence over the summer. If the season started today Lee would more than likely get the nod under center but keep an eye on this position battle.
Jaylen Trimmings will be the man at RB and has looked very good this summer according to his head coach, but a kid who caught my eye in practice is freshman Chucobe Hill who Pender says is his back up RB going into the fall.
The Pirates will be raw and talented at WR. Marlon Carmena, Jailyn Jones, Che Foy Xavier Beane, Amarion Whitfield, Syveion Ellis, Michael McGee, and Mitchell Richburg at hybrid TE/FB will get reps at receiver. There is a lot of speed in this group.
Richburg, and Kyle Rayburn will handle the punting duties, and Avery Yoak will be the FG kicker in 2018. Look for the kicking game to much improved this fall.
On defense, Justin Akra will be the leader in the defensive line. Pender thinks Akra will have a big season in 2018.
Keith Garrett, Xavier Stevens, and Jaylen Carter will provide depth on the defensive line. Carter looks like a potential stud at 6’3 265.
Stacy Young is back at OLB/S and is a major college prospect. Devin Lafayette, Freddy Towns, and Demetrius Hardee will make the Pirate secondary a solid group in the fall.
Billy Anderson has earned a starting job at one of the corners and Pender is looking for Peter Sheffield to step up and make an impact the back of the defense this fall. Brunswick has a proud history at DB if you look at current NFL rosters in Detroit and Seattle.
AJ Wilson and Octavious Butler will have to grow up fast and contribute right away at the LB position.
Kick returners will be Carmena, Hardee, and Sheffield.
Schedule is brutal early with road trips to Coffee and Bartram Trail in Florida. Both squads lost state title games in their classifications in 2017.
Much improved Camden comes to Glynn County Stadium in September and region road games at Effingham and Bradwell. BHS will try to avoid a 5th straight loss to Glynn Academy in the City Title game.
When asked if this is a rebuilding year Pender offered “I hope everyone feels that way about us this fall. I like the work ethic and talent on this football team. Yes, we are young but I’m excited to see this group’s potential once we get some good game experience under our belts”.
Tough Voyage For Buccaneers
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The MCA Buccaneers finished the 2017 season with a 4-6 record and a 1-4 record in region 3-A.
The Bucs have since fired or accepted the resignation of (whichever story you choose to believe), Terel Toomer. Toomer was an assistant under former coach Robbie Robinson and was the Defensive Coordinator 2 years ago for the Bucs, during the state finals appearance.
Enter Tony Glazer. Glazer was hired from Liberty County, where he served as the Defensive Coordinator and coached Raekwon McMillan and Richard LeCounte. Both, of course, have moved on to bigger and better things.
Glazer is the 5th coach the Bucs have had in 7 years and he will mostly be charged with adding stability to a job that coach’s keep getting fired from.
The Bucs also had former starting QB, Denver Anthony, leave the program for Frederica.
With only a few weeks left before the start of the season, MCA currently only has 23 players on the roster.
With so few bodies it will likely make for another long season in Darien.
The Bucs will open at home at The Ship against Pierce County. The speed and depth of Pierce will be too much for MCA.
MCA will then host the Brunswick High Pirates, a 6A squad that has around 100 players on the roster. Too much depth for the Bucs and they will fall to 0-2.
In the third game of the season they again host, but the result should not be any different against Jenkins County.
McIntosh County Academy will then take to the road for their next two contests against Calvary Day and Brantley. The Brantley County game may be close but I still think the Herons will be too much for the Bucs.
MCA will get back to The Ship in Darien on October 5, but another loss awaits against region foe Savannah Country Day.
On October 12 MCA travels back to Savannah for a date with Savannah Christian, this should result in the 7th straight loss of the season.
Back home on October 19 against Claxton. Normally, I would take MCA in this game. However, with only 23 players on the roster and nagging injuries having set in by this point the depth will be an issue.
On October 26 the Bucs will play their most winnable game on the schedule in Portal. They will have to travel to just outside of Statesboro to play that game.
Then of course, MCA will wrap things up with the cross-over game as they play in a sub region. I don’t see that going well either.
Prediction: 1-9 for the Bucs. It is hard to win with only 20-ish kids on a roster in GHSA.
There will be some bright spots. You will see the Buccaneers become much better defensively under Glazer and, if healthy, you will come to know the name Josh Amerson at linebacker.
