High School Football
Back To Back?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Let me go on record and say I have always respected Frederica Academy Head Football coach Brandon Derrick for his coaching abilities, but I have a new found respect for the man because he is an educator of young people to prepare them for life.
The man teaches 5 classes a day and I’m not talking PE classes, I’m talking college prep World History and Government courses on top of his role as head football coach.
The man’s plate is full and he has a passion for developing young people which is evident when you talk to him.
As for the 2019 football season the defending state champs have some big shoes to fill with departures.
But the coach says “I feel pretty good about the experience we have returning this fall. We played a lot of kids last year and we’ll be solid on the lines of scrimmage, running back and linebacker. We have Denver Anthony, Deke Jernigan, who are really good players coming back and we just need to stay consistent because we know what it takes to win and that is an intangible that mentally we have over other programs”.
Schedule/My Predictions:
08/23 at Charlton County: The Knights let the Indians off the hook on St. Simons last fall. Charlton has a new head coach. I have said all off season that I didn’t think Frederica would go down to Folkston and win. I have changed my mind Frederica beats Charlton 21-20 to go 1-0 on the season.
08/30 at Valwood: Frederica continues the brutal road slate with a trip to Valdosta to play a loaded Valwood team that has stocked the roster with Valdosta and Lowndes players that entered the transfer portal.
I think you get my drift here. This will be a tall task for the Knights and they fall early in the season 34-22 to Valwood to go 1-1 on the season. These teams will probably meet up again in the GISA State Playoffs.
09/06 vs Tiftarea Academy: The Panthers, a final four team in 2018, roll into St. Simons probably ranked in the top 5 in State.
The opening three games are brutal for the Knights. Frederica wins their home opener 28-24 to end this brutal opening stretch 2-1.
09/13 at Bethlehem Christian Academy: The Knights hung 62 on Bethlehem last season and will hang 50 on them in 2019. Knights 52-12 to go to 3-1 on the season.
09/20 vs Augusta Prep Day: Frederica dominates Augusta Prep 49-7 to go to 4-1 on the season.
10/04 vs Pinewood Christian: Will Pinewood be much improved in 2019? Maybe, but not that much improved. Frederica rolls 35-20 to go to 5-1 on the season.
10/11 at Westfield: This trip to Perry worries me for the Knights. Westfield is said to be improved in 2019. Westfield was a playoff team last season. Knights pull out a win late 24-21 to go to 6-1 on the season and 2-0 in the region.
10/18 at Trinity Christian: Trap game in Dublin for the Knights. The Crusaders went 7-5 in 2018. Frederica can’t get caught looking ahead to JMA and Bulloch. Frederica struggles, but wins an ugly 14-7 to go to 7-1 and set up a region title showdown with Bulloch Academy in two weeks.
11/01 at John Milledge Academy: Knights travel for the third straight week to Milledgeville to play the team many are picking to win the State Title in 2019.
The Knights blew out John Milledge for the title in 2018. JMA handles the Knights 28-21. Frederica drops to 7-2 on the season.
11/08 vs Bulloch Academy: Rivalry game. An angry set of Knights coming off a tough loss rebound and handle Bulloch Academy easy 31-10.
Not much love between Frederica and Bulloch Academy. Frederica wins another region championship and finishes 8-2 on the season.
Opposing Team view on Frederica: “I thought the Anthony kid was the best player on the field when we played them last year. They flat out put one on us, and we have them circled this year.
Brandon has done a fantastic job there, but I wonder about their feeder system and how long they can keep that thing going over there.
They won a State Championship last year and you have to think they will take a step back this year. That road schedule is brutal.
They will be battle tested and will be a tough out in the playoffs because of the winning culture they have there. This is one of the better GISA programs in the state. They have tremendous financial support there.”
Barring key injuries this team can make another deep playoff run.
Return To Glory In 2019?
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For a program with one of the most storied traditions in all of Georgia high school football, the last handful of seasons have been some to forget for Statesboro High.
From 1999-2013, the Blue Devils posted a winning mark every year, while racking up six region titles and two of the school’s five state championships. That all came to a drastic halt in 2014, as the team posted consecutive 2-8 seasons before bottoming out during a winless 2016.
Jeff Kaiser took the reins of the program in 2017 and has been slow but steady in the rebuilding project. Last season marked a big milestone for the Devils as – despite a 4-6 record in the regular season – they were able to clinch a spot in the state playoffs for the first time since 2013.
But for a program with awards and banners dominating most of the school’s trophy case, simply being competitive again isn’t good enough. And the 2019 Blue Devils know that there is much more work to be done.
While Statesboro has moved away from its former identity of a wishbone offense that runs 95 percent of the time and tries to overpower each opponent, the ability to move the ball on the ground is still central to the team’s success.
After years of battling turnover and inexperience in the backfield, Statesboro has plenty to feel confident about in its running game this season. Jaylon Roberson emerged as a star running back two seasons ago, but was pressed into emergency quarterback duty for the final half of the season. He resumed his stellar rushing career last year and will be featured heavily in his senior season.
Roberson was the only runner locked into a starting role at the beginning of 2018, but will be joined this season by fellow seniors Devardrion Lipsey and Corey McCullough.
It was Lipsey’s ability to find the corner and McCullough’s bruising inside running that created a more balanced – and more dangerous – SHS rushing attack by the end of 2018.
Calling the shots under center for a second straight year will be Drake Horton, although the senior quarterback will be without his top two wide receivers from last season.
The SHS defense carried the team early on in 2018, but a tough schedule and mounting injuries kept it from being as effective in the second half of the season.
The Devils return the teeth of what was a very good defensive secondary last season. Graduation claimed some of the front seven, but senior defensive linemen Dake Williams and Xavier Lee figure to hold up the front while experience is gained through the rest of the defensive depth chart.
Statesboro once again finds itself in a five-team region, meaning that the last month will consist of all of its region games for an all-out sprint to state playoff eligibility.
Wayne and Ware County once again figure to be the powers in the region, with Statesboro looking to repeat last year’s victories over South Effingham and New Hampstead for a repeat trip to the postseason.
No Time To Be Blue
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Marietta High School is not a traditional football powerhouse. They have one state championship and that is from 1967. Recently they have been in the news for the wrong reasons.
The Blue Devils had a great year in 2017, finishing the regular season 8-2. They were forced to forfeit all of their eight wins after an investigation by the Georgia High School Association determined two of the players were ineligible.
The program also got a $1,500 fine and was placed on “severe warning status” for the 2018 season.
Marietta began the 2018 season ranked in the top 25 nationally of multiple national polls and No. 1 in Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA.
Marietta’s star quarterback and wide receiver were lost to injury late in the season, and two other Division I recruits never took the field, declared ineligible by the GHSA in preseason.
Marietta finished 5-6 and unranked.
“Our season ended in a disappointing way,” Marietta coach Richard Morgan said. “But the way they came back to work, instead of sulking, showed me we’ve got a shot to be really good. Based on the work ethic I’ve seen in the off season and the commitment and dedication; I’ve got real high expectations for this team.”
On paper, this is the most talented team in the state. The 2019 Blue Devils have nine seniors ranked among the top 100 prospects in Georgia. No other Georgia school in the highest classification has more than four.
Tight end Arik Gilbert, who had 88 catches for 1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, is a five-star recruit.
Quarterback Harrison Bailey, defensive end/tackle B.J. Ojulari, tackle Jake Wray and defensive back Rashad Torrence are consensus four-star prospects.
Running back Kimani Vidal, defensive back Dawson Ellington and wide receivers Taji Johnson and Kobi Stewart all have offers from ACC and SEC schools.
How confident are they? On the school’s website they have all playoff dates including the state championship listed on their schedule.
The Blue Devils start the season August 22 on the road at Rome. The Wolves had their 40-game win streak snapped in the 5A semifinals. They are a good team but I expect a talented 7A team like Marietta to win.
St. Joseph’s (PA) comes to town the next week. I don’t know anything about them but I give the edge to Marietta.
The next two weeks are on the road against Gwinnett County teams. They play Collins Hill and Grayson.
Collins Hill struggled last season so this should be an easy win. Grayson on the other hand will be a tough game. The Rams advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2018. Their head coach resigned at the end of the season so having a new coach might put them at a disadvantage.
After a bye week, the last non-region game is against Edgewater (FL). The Eagles were 12-2 last year and advanced to the Class 7A state semifinal. This game could go either way.
The first region game is at North Paulding and this is an easy win.
That is followed by a rivalry game versus McEachern. The Indians are always one of the best teams in Cobb County and anything can happen when rivals play. This is too close to call.
The toughest remaining game is against last season’s region 3-AAAAAAA champion, Hillgrove. The Hawks are playing on the road and Marietta wants revenge. They lost in 2018 48-24. The Blue Devils will get revenge.
Marietta has so much talent that I expect them to advance to the state championship at the very least.
Glynn Set To Terrorize 2019
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When I sat down with Glynn head coach Rocky Hidalgo a few weeks ago he said the following: “The 2019 edition of Red Terror football will be exciting. Who plays a tougher non-region schedule than us? We are going to be a good football team”.
That about sums it up for the Glynn Academy faithful. This team is solid across the board and the clear favorite in Region 2-AAAAAA this fall. The Wayne, Ware, and Camden games will have this team peaking by region play in October.
My Regular Season Prediction: 9-1
Game by Game Predictions:
8/23 @ Fort Dorchester SC: The Red Terrors travel to the Charleston area and play a seasoned South Carolina playoff team. Fort Dorchester beat GA on the field in 2018 but had to forfeit the win later.
Glynn sets the tone early in this one with the power run game and wins a tough one on the road 31-21.
8/30 vs Washington: GA blows out this team 49-7, and everyone in the program plays in the contest. Glynn goes to 2-0 on the season.
9/6 @ Groves: Glynn could beat Groves 80-0 if they wanted to do so. Coach Rock calls off the Terrors midway through the second quarter as GA hammers Groves 56-6. The Red Terrors go to 3-0 on the season.
9/20 vs Wayne County: The Jackets beat Glynn in Jaycee Stadium last year, but the 35-mile trip to Glynn County Stadium won’t be kind to the Jackets in 2019.
The Red Terrors physically whip Wayne and win a 28-14 ball game to go to 4-0 on the season. By this point Glynn should be ranked in the top 3-4 teams statewide in 6A.
9/27 vs Ware County: This will be a huge one between the bricks. Quote me later on this “no first-year coach is coming to Brunswick and beating Rocky Hidalgo and Glynn”. Glynn beats the Gators 24-17 to go to 5-0 on the season.
10/4 vs Camden: Camden is going to be really good in 2019. I think the 7A Cats with more depth than Glynn win a tough 24-21 contest on the road. Glynn drops to 5-1 on the season.
10/18 @ Richmond Hill: The Wildcats should be good on defense but can they contain Glynn enough and score enough points to win?
The answer is no, as Glynn goes to 6-1 with a 30-14 win over Richmond Hill.
10/25 vs Brunswick: Glynn owns the town and series at the moment. Brunswick will be improved but not enough.
The Red Terrors win the sixth straight game in the series 27-20 to go to 7-1 on the season.
11/1 @ Effingham: Effingham can’t match Glynn on the line of scrimmage and GA rolls into Springfield and clinches a fifth straight region title 35-10.
The Red Terrors go to 8-1 on the season.
11/8 vs. Bradwell: The Terrors roll over the Tigers 42-7, and enter the state playoffs as a number one seed from region two at 9-1 on the season.
Opposing Coach View on Glynn: “Rocky has built a solid program from the inside out down there. They are always going to be solid on defense, and how far they go depends on how far the QB position takes them.”
They have a good chance to make a run this year and when I say run, I mean final 4 or championship game. They play a great schedule that gets them peaking come region and playoff time.
Camden should be getting close to being the Camden we all know again so watch that game to get a gauge on where Glynn is.
Outside of Benedictine this has been the best program in Southeast Georgia for past 4-5 seasons. They have tough kids who have bought into what they are teaching down there. This is a good high school football program. They have been close a couple of times there.
That 2015 team was better than the team they lost to in the dome, and that 2017 team was peaking and the wheels fell off late at Lee County. This 2019 team has the potential to be better that both.”
Look for Glynn to make a deep playoff run in 2019.
Gators Look To Chomp on 2019
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2018 season was the best in recent memory for the Gators of Bulloch Academy.
An 8-2 record and a second-place finish in region action was solid in its own right, but the Gators took things a step farther in winning their first state playoff game since 2009.
In fact, Bulloch Academy could have gone even farther if not for how its schedule played out. The Gators lost a non-region contest to John Milledge Academy and missed out on a region title when they dropped a close one against Frederica.
Those turned out to be possibly the only teams that could handle Bulloch last season as the Gators made it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by John Milledge, which advanced to the state championship game before falling to Frederica.
All of that came in the first season with Pat Collins running the ship for BA. Collins has been the school’s athletic director for two seasons, but stepped into the football head coaching role – a title he has previously held at Portal, Screven County and Southeast Bulloch – during the spring of 2018.
He has seen success wherever he’s gone and while he usually inherits a rebuilding squad, he now has the task of continuing to build on an impressive debut.
“We’ve definitely got our work cut out for us,” Collins said. “We lost 12 seniors, a three-year starting quarterback and 98 percent of our offensive yards from last year. That’s a lot to replace, but we’ve got eight rising seniors who are stepping up and I think we can be a good team again this season.”
Fischer Oglesby is the heir to the quarterback spot vacated by Don Aaron. And while Collins admits that nothing can replace Aaron’s experience, Oglesby has more size and speed that will fit well in the Gators’ offense that showcases plenty of option, with the ability to take long shots down the field.
While the offense settles into an entirely new backfield, it will be the defense that Bulloch relies on early in the season.
Eight starters return, giving Collins hope that his thoughts on the gravity of experience translate into a shutdown defensive unit.
Perhaps the biggest edge Bulloch can take into 2019 is its depth. Not only did plenty of underclassmen get quality playing time last season – including a JV squad that went undefeated in its abbreviated schedule – but the numbers continue to creep up on the roster in general.
The Gators figure to have at least 40 – and possibly 45 – players in uniform to open the season. That’s up from the normal roster of 30-ish Gators from just a few years ago and will allow the team to avoid too many instances of two-way players that can become an issue late in the season as fatigue mounts.
Bulloch will once again kick off its season against arch-rival Pinewood as part of the Erk Russell Classic at Paulson Stadium on the campus of Georgia Southern University.
The Gators will face familiar non-region foes – including Westfield and a rematch with John Milledge – early in the season before playing the entirety of its Region 2-AAA schedule over the final four weeks of the regular season.
Wolves On The Hunt
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Buford High School has been a powerhouse for quite some time.
The Wolves won their first state title in 1978. Then starting in 2001, they won 10 state championships with the last one in 2014. They advanced to the state final 2015 and 2016 and lost close games.
They are trying to get back on track and prove they are the best team in 5A.
John Ford took the top job at Buford in 2017 after coaching Roswell to a 14-1 season and a 23-20 loss to Grayson in the class 7A championship game.
After two seasons, he resigned. He went 21-5 in two years as head coach, taking both teams deep into the state playoffs.
Ford led Buford to last year’s state quarterfinals, where they were upset, 23-20, by Bainbridge. That was the program’s first Elite Eight loss since 2006. That loss ended Buford’s state-record 35-game winning streak in home playoff games.
The Wolves won the Region 8-AAAAA championship and lost in the regular season to Class AAAAAAA semifinalist Archer and to Florida power Deerfield Beach.
They also won the region championship in 2017 and reached the state semifinals with an 11-2 record. That season ended with a rough 45-7 loss to Rome.
Buford promoted defensive coordinator Bryant Appling to head football coach. Appling has been on Buford’s staff the past 15 years through seven state titles and five runner-up finishes. He was an assistant for two seasons at Lithonia before coming to Buford.
The Wolves are ranked No.5 in the state in the 5A preseason poll. They have a lot of talent on the team. Corner back Jalen Huff is the highest ranked recruit on the team. He is the 53rd ranked player in the state and he’s a Georgia Tech commit. Huff is a bigger corner, listed as 6’0.
Center Seth McLaughlin is 6’4, 270 pounds. He’s ranked as the tenth best center in the nation and he committed to Alabama.
Willie ‘T’ Lee is listed as an athlete and he plays wide receiver and cornerback. He is a three-star recruit and an Arizona State commit. Lee is 5’11 so he also has good size for the position.
Running back Elijah Turner is also a three-star recruit.
The season opens August 23rd in the Corky Kell Classic at Coolray Field. They play Milton, the defending 7A state champs. Milton lost a lot of talent from last year’s team so I think this will be a very close game.
The next week is home against Jonesboro and that will be an easy win. Last season Buford beat the Cardinals 58 – 7.
Life Christian Academy from Virginia comes to town after a bye week for Buford. They were 2-6 last season so this will be another easy win.
Newton, another 7A opponent comes to town. Buford beat them 54 – 27 in 2018 and I expect more of the same.
They play a better 7A team September 27th when Archer comes to town. The Tigers beat up on Buford last year, 48 – 24. I think the game should be closer but I expect Archer to win.
They begin region play October 4th and Buford will slaughter these teams. Last season they beat all five region 8 AAAAA opponents and scored 253 points while only giving up 9 points.
I know they’ll make it to the playoffs but can they get over the hump and win another championship? That is the burning question.
Pirates Set To Sail In 2019
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Sean Pender starts year three at Brunswick High with 16 starters from 2018 returning with a year of varsity football experience.
The 2019 Pirates expect to compete for the Region 2-AAAAAA football championship.
When asked about what to expect from the 2019 Pirates Pender said “We have had more intensity and competiveness than we had in all of last year in our spring and summer program. The kids have worked extremely hard and I expect good things out of this football team once we get healthy at the QB position.”
Schedule and my predictions:
August 23rd vs Coffee: The Trojans look very good along the lines of scrimmage. Coffee is always big and strong. This will be a tough matchup for the Pirates, but Coffee has historically struggled at Glynn County Stadium. Give me Coffee 28-20.
August 30th vs Bartram Trail: Brunswick moved the ball up and down the field last year in St. Augustine. Bartram makes the return visit to Brunswick and I think the Pirates will be ready and beats a solid Florida state playoff team 34-28 to go 1-1 on the season.
September 6th vs MCA: The Bucs from Darien come “Between the Bricks” and get drilled 49-7. Pirates go to 2-1 on the season.
September 20th @ Camden: The Pirates tangle with the Cats in the first road game of the season and it will not end well for the Pirates. Camden is on the way back to being a factor in 7-A and the Pirates get clawed 38-20 to go to 2-2 on the season.
September 27th@ New Hampstead: Pirates travel to Savannah for this one and I’m putting them on upset alert. Pirates win an exciting game on the road 35-22 to move to 3-2 on the season.
October 4th@ Monroe Albany: Long drive to Albany, Georgia and the Pirates roll home with a 42-14 win to go to 4-2 on the season.
October 11th @ Richmond Hill: The Wildcats embarrassed the Pirates in 2018, but lost pretty much their entire offense to graduation. Brunswick returns the favor on the road at a place they have never lost. Brunswick beats Richmond Hill 28-21. Pirates go to 5-2 on the season.
October 18th vs Effingham: The Rebels ran up the score against the Pirates in Springfield last year throwing TD passes with less than two minutes left up by 24 points. Circle game at home for Brunswick. Expect Brunswick to return the favor if that opportunity presents. Pirates go to 6-2 with a 38-21 win.
October 25th @ Glynn Academy: In a game with the region championship on the line BHS tries to avoid a sixth straight loss. Anything can happen in a rival game but I will not believe it until I see it. Glynn 27-20. Pirates drop to 6-3
November 8th vs Bradwell: BHS locks up a number two seed with a 41-14 win over the Tigers and finishes the regular season at 7-3 and will host a first-round state playoff game.
Opposing Coaches view on Brunswick: “When Sean gets solid QB production his offenses are the best around.
I know he made some really good hires on the defensive side of the ball during the winter and I think they get a lot better there because they played a lot of sophomores on that side of the ball last year.
Will that community let Sean build this thing? You will see this team get a lot better this fall and Sean has worked hard to keep his kids from being cherry picked by the private school in the county.
They are on the way back. Maurice and Victor built a solid program there and they made a mistake letting Victor go, and the guy behind him ran that thing over a cliff.
Sean is the right man for that job, and he has some nice young talent cycling his way in that school system. They will be a playoff team this fall then that program takes off in 2020.
They have good facilities down there and they have those kids all on the same NFL team in Detroit. The skill talent is always there.
Sean built that thing in Pierce and will do the same in Brunswick.”
Milton To Soar Again In 2019?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Last season Milton defeated the Colquitt County Packers 14-13 in the 7A championship game to become the first team not from South Georgia or Gwinnett County to win in the state’s highest classification since 1995.
The Packers had rolled over many of the state’s top teams while on its way to a 14-0 record and a top-5 position in several national high school polls.
Colquitt was playing in its fourth championship game in the last five seasons. They were hailed as a 21-point favorite by the computer Maxwell Ratings. This was the biggest upset in a state championship game that I can remember.
“They believed and trusted each other as cliché as that sounds,” head coach Adam Clack said after the monumental Milton victory. “This is one of the greatest teams – TEAMS in capital letters – a coach has ever had.”
Going in to 2019, the Eagles are the top team in the 7A preseason rankings. They have several great players that graduated in 2019.
Milton graduated 11 players that made first-team all-region in 5-AAAAAAA. Those include player of the year Jordan Yates (a quarterback signed with Georgia Tech), co-offensive player of the year Dylan Leonard (a tight end/wide receiver to Georgia Tech) and defensive player of the year Jordan Davis (linebacker to West Georgia).
Some additional graduates were 1,000-yard rusher Joshua Edwards, linebacker Allen Walker (Louisiana Tech) and Joseph Charleston (Clemson) and Nasier Currie-Sudler (UMass), whom Clack called the best safety combination in the country.
The 2018 team possessed plenty of playmakers of both sides of the ball. The 2019 team, on the other hand, will be anchored on the lines of scrimmage. Paul Tchio, a four-star offensive guard committed to Clemson, will be the team’s marquee player. Tchio is rated as the No. 7 recruit in Georgia. Zander Barnett, Alec Hutchinson, Anthony Minella and Marcos Rangel are other linemen who got all-region recognition last year. Most will play significantly on both sides of the ball.
Jack Rhodes had over 100 tackles at linebacker last year and he is a Senior in 2019. He will play defensive back/wide receiver this season. The replacement for Yates – who passed for 2,590 yards and rushed for 1,134 – is uncertain. Senior Jackson Weaver, Yates’ backup will probably be the starter.
Milton played a very tough non-region schedule in 2018. They opened last season by upsetting No. 3 Archer in the Corky Kell Classic, then beat Cardinal Gibbons of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 42-17 in the first Freedom Bowl, a six-game event that Milton hosted. Cardinal Gibbons went on to win Florida’s Class 5A championship.
The schedule will be tough again this season. The Eagles will open against Buford (#5 in 5A) in the Corky Kell. Then on Sept. 13, Milton will become the first Georgia high school team to play a game in California. The Eagles are set to play JSerra Catholic in The Trinity League vs. USA Showcase outside of Los Angeles.
JSerra was 9-3 in last season and ranked No. 17 nationally in the MaxPreps’ final computer national rankings.
The following two games are also against stiff competition. They play at Roswell September 20th. The Hornets have 3-star recruit, offensive tackle Trey Zimmerman who is committed to North Carolina.
No. 6 Parkview comes to town after that. The Panthers beat Milton by two points last season. The Eagles begin region play after this game.
I expect Milton to easily win their region and get back to the playoffs. I don’t believe they will make a deep run once they get in.
Readying The Ship
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates had a rough season in 2018 finishing 3-7 and missing the playoffs for sixth time since 2011.
Sean Pender hates losing more than anyone I know and you can see a fire in his eyes during the spring drills.
The Pirates started as many as 12 sophomores in 2018 and the inexperience showed, but those baby Pirates have grown in size and experience this offseason and are primed to turn the tables in 2019.
When asked about Spring Practice Pender said “We have had more intensity and competiveness than we had in all of 2018 in our two weeks of practice. The kids have worked extremely hard and it is showing”.
Brunswick has 16 kids coming back in 2019 with starting varsity experience. BHS will be going to a new 4-3 defensive alignment in 2019.
When you ask Pender about his defense the first named mentioned is Devin Lafayette. The rising senior defensive back is 6’2 and 190 pounds and runs a sub 4.5 forty-yard dash.
“This kid is a quiet leader that leads by example and his worked his way into being a division one football prospect”.
Look for Lafayette to lead a talented back end of a much-improved Pirate defense. Lafayette is fully qualified with a 3.3 GPA.
Freddy Towns is a lock down All-Region corner returning for his senior season. Pender says Towns can lock down one side of the field every Friday night.
AJ Wilson looks good at safety and at 200 pounds can bring the lumber in run support and he runs really well.
Octavis Butler, Ryne Buckley, and Camron Crump played a lot of snaps in 2018 at LB and have bulked up in the offseason.
Demetrius Hardee will also be counted on in the secondary. Keep an eye on newcomer Devonte Gadson at safety.
Trevon Smith has impressed Pender at one CB position, and Michael McGee will get looks at both CB and WR. Pender really likes McGee’s speed and length in the secondary.
Justin Akra will lead the Pirate defensive line and a name to remember is incoming freshman Kayshawn Thomas on the defensive line.
On offense the Pirates are stacked at wide receiver. Look for a huge break out season from Amarion Whitfield, and Marlon Carmena to return to the form he flashed in early 2018 before a high ankle sprain derailed his season.
Che Foy is great in space, and look for a huge season from “The Touchdown Machine” Xavier Bean, who can catch anything in his area code according to his head coach. Kyle Patterson is developing at the position as well.
Mitchell Richburg is a hybrid FB/TE and could be a factor in both the run and pass game.
Xavier Ramsey, Caleb Cook, and Kanaya Charlton will anchor the Pirate offensive line.
Charlton could be a 4 to 5-star recruit during the 2022 recruiting cycle. He is currently 6’5 and 330 pounds with very good athletic ability. Roderick Jones will also see significant playing time. Pender thinks this group can be really good barring injury.
Chuckobe Hill and Khamori Simmons will handle the running back position as both played significant downs as freshman in 2018. Pender like the toughness of his running backs.
Look for Jashawn Wilson to insert himself into the running back mix this fall.
At QB you have returning starters Anthony Mountain and KJ Lee, but both are battling injuries this spring.
Mountain had offseason ACL surgery and should be cleared to return by September. Pender loves his leadership qualities. Lee is battling a foot injury this spring, but has an elite arm.
With the injuries Jeffery Way has been getting a lot of first unit reps and the rising sophomore has worked hard according to his head coach.
Tyrease Jones has moved over from WR and has shown tremendous foot speed in space.
Kyle Rehberg will handle the PK/P duties and has a great work ethic.
Pender says “if we play like we have been working then we have a chance to be a pretty good football team in 2019, and we’ll definitely be much, much improved from 2018”.
Pender enters his third season as Pirate head coach this fall.
Terror Town 2019
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I think the word consistent in sports is not as valued as it should be.
On the state high school football scene, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors have been consistently good for the past five years.
Good to the point where the Terrors are enjoying their best football run in the program’s proud 106-year history. The reason for this consistency is Head Coach Rocky Hidalgo.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Coach Hidalgo and talk Spring Football with him.
College recruiters were in and out of his office during that window, which means the Red Terrors will be very good again in 2019.
The Terrors had 130 kids out for spring, and Hidalgo likes what he sees so far. “The kids are competing hard, working hard, doing everything we ask of them, and we’re going to be a really good football team this fall”.
Glynn has won four straight region championships in football. High School Football is the program that stirs the drink for all sports in the Glynn County School System. Glynn will be the favorite to capture its 5th straight title this fall.
At QB Hidalgo speaks highly of TJ Lewis. At 6’4, Lewis is improving his mechanics and is looking good throwing the deep ball. Hidalgo also raved about Jayden Drayton, who looked good as a freshman in 2018.
The Red Terrors are very good at running back with the trio of Caden Hutchinson, Nolan Grant, and Alan Partin. Hidalgo says Grant is blessed with great foot speed, and called Hutchinson a tough kid with a mean streak that you want running between the tackles who also has good speed. Then you have Partin who is big and strong who can get the tough yard or lead block in the run game.
Glynn Academy is going to run the football. Period. End of story. If you are going to beat Glynn Academy then you will have to match their physicality.
At WR Hidalgo raved about the speed of the group and how they can separate from defenders. He thinks his skill people are as good as anyone in the region.
The Terrors return most of the offensive line from 2018. Look for Drez Wilcox to have a big season. Trevor Timmons, Jack Fendig, Nick Demarzo, and Nick Muchinson are the best returning offensive line in the region and one of the better units in all of Georgia.
Chase Gabriel has a big leg and carries on the long tradition of great Glynn FG kickers. He is a weapon.
At defensive line Jordan Swain, James Dyal, and Torrez Davis will lead a physical group with some of the offensive lineman mentioned above providing depth. Hidalgo calls this a good deep position group.
Glynn has some young talent at linebacker like Tywon Melvin, Ryan Seay, and Miles Smith ready to step up and contribute to a position group that has been very good over the past five seasons.
In the secondary, Byron Bacon is the leader on the back end. Bacon has good size and great speed and will play division one football. Hidalgo called Bacon a very good football player who has great leadership qualities.
JuJuan Floyd is a very fast corner who will also play some WR.
Hidalgo says the 2019 edition of Red Terror football will be exciting. Hidalgo also raves about his 2019 schedule and how it gets them peaking by the time region play comes around.
Glynn plays Valdosta in the preseason scrimmage, South Carolina power Fort Dorchester, Wayne, Ware, and Camden County by the first week of October. Hidalgo asked “who plays a tougher non region schedule than us?”
Glynn Academy doesn’t rebuild any longer they just reload. Red Terror Football is consistently good.
When a head coach of a successful program points out leadership, work ethic, and enthusiasm as team strengths then the rest of Region 2-AAAAAA better look out. Glynn will have the Red and White game on May 17th at Glynn County Stadium.
