High School Football
Glynn Academy Sends 16 To Next Level
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
National Signing Day has come and gone and the Glynn Academy Red Terrors had 16 kids sign to play at the next level…yes, 16.
Rocky Hidalgo has built a juggernaut in the short three years he has been at Glynn. When you have 16 kids sign to play college football there is no denying.
DeeJay Dallas-Dallas was a Georgia commit until the firing of Mark Richt. Kirby Smart and his coaching staff had other priorities than Dallas, thus driving the Glynn QB to follow Mark Richt to Miami. Georgia will regret not getting this ‘do-everything’ gifted athlete. Dallas has already enrolled at Mia
Zalon’tae Hillery-Hillery ended up being one of the most sought after offensive lineman in the country. Hillery was thought to be going to Miami all along, until some last-minute indecision. Hillery was strongly considering Kentucky until a phone conversation with Mark Richt eased his indecision and Hillery was back in the Canes fold.
Preston Joseph-Joseph was a Stallworth on the Glynn defense and despite being slightly undersized the Red Terror standout played his way to a Georgia Military College.
Devon Peacock-As the season went on for Glynn, Peacock got better and better. So much so that Georgia State decided to offer him a preferred walk on spot. With Peacock’s abilities he will garner a scholarship in Atlanta sooner rather than later.
Xavier McClinton-The one Terror that did not commit on signing day was Xavier McClinton. McClinton got offers from Georgia Tech, Stetson and FAMU.
Quintavius Walker-Good offensive linemen are hard to find. Walker did a great job run blocking all year and protecting DeeJay Dallas at QB. Eastern Arizona took notice and got Walker to commit. This is a steal for Eastern Arizona.
Quandry Mosely-Speaking of steals for Eastern Arizona, here is another. Quandry Mosely is a ball hawking safety that can also play receiver. Mosely is 6’2 and 170 pounds and I think will become one of the better safeties to ever play at Eastern Arizona.
Amari Cross-It is a long-standing tradition at Glynn Academy; if your last name is Cross you are going to play football at Glynn. Amari Cross was no exception and was a pillar for the Terror running attack this season on the offensive line. Kennesaw State took notice and offered Amari Cross a preferred walk on spot. With Cross’s size and footwork he will have every opportunity to garner a scholarship for the Owls.
Devin Roberson-Roberson was one of the better pass rushers in the region. Ridgewater College got a huge commitment from Roberson, who has a motor that doesn’t stop.
Travis Harris-Harris came on strong as the season progressed and showed his abilities in the secondary. He committed to Ridgewater College.
Shakour Thomas-Thomas was one of DeeJay Dallas’s favorite targets at receiver and showed a lot of big play potential. He is one of seven Terrors to commit to Ridgewater College.
Vance Rowe-Rowe was a vastly underrated player for the Terrors. Ridgewater College will certainly look to develop Rowe in the secondary.
Tre Sailem-Sailem was one of the better corners for the Terrors. He has everything you could want in a DB. Another Ridgewater College steal.
Trashawn Bacon-Ridgewater College gets an underrated OL in Trashawn Bacon. Bacon did an amazing job for the Terrors all year.
Jeremiah Anderson-Anderson came back from a serious knee injury this season and was a key contributor running the ball for Glynn. He may be the most talented player that Ridgewater College signed.
Pirates Signing Day
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Coming off of a disappointing 5-5 last place region finish, the Brunswick High Pirates had 7 players sign Letter of Intents to further their education and football careers.
D’Ante Demery- University of Georgia: The 4-star recruit signed with the UGA’s top 5 class. The 320-pound offensive tackle is part of the best OL group ever assembled in UGA recruiting circles and whether Demery gets on the field as a freshman will be determined. This kid has a chance to be in the NFL in 3-4 years.
Shawn Smith- University of Virginia: Great pickup by UVA. Smith is fast and a great athlete and could be a good WR at the college level. I think Smith is a pretty good DB and could land there. Virginia has a great athlete in their program. Smith might possibly return some kicks as well. He will bulk up quickly in a college strength and conditioning program.
Danijah Gammage- Mercer University: Mercer got a great football player. Gammage is a hitter and has great ball skills. I think Gammage has the potential to develop into an NFL caliber player while he is in college. He reminds me a lot of Tracy Walker coming out of BHS. He will get bigger and stronger in Macon.
Deqwan Chapman- Albany State University: Chapman was a solid corner for BHS now he heads to a solid college football program and I think he will end up being at ASU. Good kid and a good player.
Wiley Golden- Tusculum College: Golden will take his talents to the prestigious private college in Greeneville, Tennessee. Golden is an excellent student and has great hands at the TE position. Golden’s academic accomplishments are stellar and he is a pretty good football player on top of it. I’m very proud of this young man.
Jabori Williams- Hutchinson Community College: You can’t teach size and at 6’4 330 pounds Williams is huge. I expect him to contribute right away and bigger things will happen for this young man in a couple of years. He is just learning how to play OL.
Brandon McMaster- University of Georgia (Preferred Walk-On): What if this young man did not battle injuries his entire senior year? He goes to UGA as a PWO because this kid has a 3.5 GPA and has already graduated and is the example of opportunities that come around to folks who get it done in the classroom. This kid is a great football player and it would no surprise me one bit if he does not end contributing in Athens. UGA got a steal here.
BHS has talent and has kids that get it done in the classroom. The future is bright for the Pirates as they could sign 10 or more players next February with the huge senior class returning.
But for the seven that signed on signing day, as a Pirate alum I just want to thank you for all of the blood, sweat, and tears you shed to lay the foundation for future Pirates. Thank you and as always Pirate Pride!
Former Pirate Coach Maurice Freeman Helps After Storms
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Last weekend as I was watching the news and the devastation that storms had taken lives and ruined the American Dreams for hundreds of families in South Georgia I started thinking how could my organization MAP International help those in need.
I have worked at MAP International for 23 years and I have traveled to over 30 countries globally as a representative of MAP and our organization has shipped over 6 billion dollars of medical supplies to those in need.
As I was following the events in South Georgia over the weekend, I got to thinking about how sports particularly High School football is woven into the fabric of unity of the small rural communities all over South Georgia.
On every Friday night in the fall a high school football game takes place in a small town like Adel, Georgia that brings these communities together in fellowship.
I read where a couple of people had lost their lives on Monday morning in the small town of Quitman, Georgia. The only connection I had in Quitman was a dear friend and former Brunswick High football Maurice Freeman who now leads a very successful football program at Brooks County.
Maurice Freeman is a good, godly man who was our football coach from 2002-2007 at BHS, who built a solid program at BHS before he was called back home to his hometown of Quitman where he led Brooks to a state title in 1994 as a young head coach.
Freeman and I became very good friends while he coached the Pirates. We helped start the Brunswick Quarterback Club; a football only booster club back in 2005. We fished together, shared meals, raised money in the Brunswick community. I hated to see him leave in 2008 but I understood and wished him well and we have stayed in contact ever since.
I texted Coach Freeman at 10AM on Monday morning and asked him if Quitman needed help, and he immediately responded back and said yes, but Adel needed it more. He was headed to Albany for a coaching clinic, but would connect me to some of his contacts in Adel.
I said that would be great, and within 15 minutes we had a plan in place to deliver relief hygiene supplies to Adel. We loaded the goods on my truck and by 1:30 that afternoon I met Coach Freeman in Adel and we off loaded the supplies at the drop off center in Adel. And best of all we were able to have about 30 minutes of time to visit and catch up on life.
Football in South Georgia teaches life lessons you use every single day of your life. Football teaches teamwork, unity, to strive for goals, and when your back is against the wall to fight like a mad dog to be successful.
The biggest most wonderful thing I saw was how the Cook County Football and other Athletic teams banded together as brothers and sisters to meet the needs of their own, and worked their tails off to help those in need. Brooks County and Cook County are rivals in sports, but you throw that out of the window when people are in need. I watched an entire county mobilize in a very short amount of time.
I was reminded of some great lessons through sports connections I have made in my life. Maurice Freeman and I were able to organize and complete a relief response in about three and a half hours because of our connection we made as part of the BHS football program many years ago.
From this day forward Brooks County will be my second favorite high school football team other than my Pirates.
I love you Maurice you are the best in my book.
How Good Will Sean Pender Be?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
New Pirate head coach Sean Pender has met with his new players and current assistant coaches’ at BHS. The meeting in the words of one of the top returning players was he connects with players, and they loved his plan for the upcoming season, and he knows what he is talking about.
Pender met with the entire team and then met only with the returning seniors for next season. By my count Pender will have seven starters returning on the offensive side of the ball, and seven returning on defense from a talented 5-5 team that underachieved in 2016.
I was fortunate enough to sit down to dinner with him, Athletic Director Steve Waters, Jerry Mancil, Keith Reddings and myself. Pender’s football IQ is off the charts. The man flat out knows the X’s and O’s side of the game of football.
He talked about certain looks a defense will give you and then the amazing part was how they can run 3-4 different plays based on the look. Pender’s offense will create a lot of nightmares in this region in 2017.
Pirate fans can you picture top rated safety Sharrod Frazier in special packages on offense running speed sweeps with 4.48 speed? Not saying this will happen at all, but with anything new comes excitement.
Can you see Jaylen Jackson at WR wreaking havoc on an opposing defense? Can you see DJ Whitfield touching the ball 10-12 times a game on offense? Can you picture RB Shaq Robinson being involved in the passing game? Then once everyone is spread out in space watching Ben McCloud destroy the middle of a defense running between the tackles.
On defense can you see Kam Futch at 225 pounds making 12-15 stops a game with Frazier playing a hybrid LB/S spot drilling an opposing QB?
Exciting times are upon us at Brunswick High School. Pender will get to work fulltime at BHS on February 1st. The off-season program will be implemented and the assistant coaches will be coached up on the offensive and defensive schemes. Pender will start rounding out his football staff as he meets with current assistants and other candidates for potential staff openings.
In 2017 per a new GHSA rule schools can have a spring football game with another opponent. That game is scheduled for May 19th at Glynn County Stadium with opponent to be determined for the Pirates. Between now and the start of Spring Football practice Pender his to get as much of his system in place as fast as he can.
This man drips passion as he talks football and that enthusiasm is contagious. He has a unique way of connecting with players, administration, alumni, and boosters that in just two days has created quite a buzz around the program. My phone has been blowing up with former alumni and players that I have not seen in years asking how to get involved with the program.
Times are exciting again as a buzz surrounds the BHS Football program. The Pirates open the season in August with a road game at Coffee. I bet the Coffee coaches are blowing up the Pierce County Hudl account now trying to watch as much film as they can to try to defend Brunswick.
I can hear the Coffee coaches now saying “How are we going to stop this with the athletes Brunswick has?” Yep that’s your problem 2017 opponents. We’ll meet you at the 50 on Friday Night’s for the coin flip.
Brunswick High Pirates Hire New Coach
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Three years ago the Glynn County administration made the decision they wanted both Glynn Academy and Brunswick High to contend every year for state titles. Glynn Academy hired Rocky Hidalgo and that is what Glynn has become, a perennial state title contender.
Two years ago the Brunswick High Pirates made the playoffs and lost in the first round to the Stockbridge Tigers. The administration then made the decision to fire Victor Floyd, who was the BHS coach at the time. One of the reasons given for the decision to let Floyd go was his lack of success in the playoffs.
The Pirates then hired a young and upcoming coach from AA Macon County, Larry Harold. Harold had turned around the Macon County program and was coming off winning a region championship with the Bulldogs.
However, Harold never did duplicate the success he had at Macon County with the Pirates and had a losing record after two years. Larry Harold resigned at the end of this past season.
A search committee was formed to find the next Pirate coach, but not just any coach would do. Remember, the administration wanted both the Glynn and BHS programs to contend for state titles, so hiring the right coach would be paramount this time around.
The job opening received 32 applications from, not only Georgia, but from around the country. The search committee weeded through every application and created an interview list that only consisted of five candidates.
Those five candidates all had a ton of playoff success on their resume and resided over powerhouse programs.
The search committee wrapped up their interviews in a week and have offered the job to the Pierce County coach, Sean Pender; pending approval by the Glynn County Board of Education.
Pender is coming off taking the Bears to the Elite Eight this past season in AAA and has had a ton of success during his time at Pierce. When Pender took the job with the Bears the program was not nearly as respected as it is now under his guidance.
Pender will inherit a much deeper talent pool at Brunswick High than he ever had at Pierce. There is no coach in the state that has done more with less than Sean Pender.
He is an offensive specialist and will make the BHS offense fun to watch, especially with the athletes he will inherit. The Pirates will have 35 seniors return next season and will be positioned to make a deep playoff run with the talent returning.
Sean Pender spent eight seasons at Brantley County going 35-43 for the Blue Herons; one season at Crisp going 4-7 and five seasons at Pierce going 54-18.
New Lead Wildcat
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia high school football coaches carousel has been spinning all over with coaches coming and going since the close of the football season.
When Camden County’s previous coach, Welton Coffey, decided to make the move to the office of the athletic director, it opened a vacancy at one of the premiere coaching jobs in the southeast.
Well, that job has now been filled, and what a job the search committee did by bringing in Coach Bob Sphire, previously the head coach at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia.
There are many times when a coach will not want to enter a situation where the former coach is the new coach’s boss. Coach Sphire brings such a resume to the Camden program that there is not concern for being intimidated by that position.
Plus, Coach Sphire has a huge advocate in his corner in Coach Coffey. I reached out to the future Athletic Director Coffey to get his thoughts on the hire. “We are excited to be entering a new era of Wildcat football that is coming to Camden County. The committee did a great job in identifying the best candidate for the job. It was not an easy decision because of all of the tremendous candidates that had applied for this job. Coach Sphire brings a great pedigree, not only in the state of Georgia, but also while coaching in Kentucky as well. Coach Sphire and his family are very excited about the opportunity at Camden.”
I asked what factor pushed Coach Sphire to the top of the list? “It wasn’t just about his on the field record or accolades, but it was his ability to work and mold young men,” Coffey replied.
Of course, the question had to be asked as to what the Wildcats would look like on offense next year, given that the wing-t has been a staple for Camden, while Sphire was a big proponent of the spread offense. “The great thing about Coach Sphire is his ability to adapt. He will be able to meld his offense to the talent that we have coming back. The players will also be able to fit to his style of play. I will say there will be some philosophy changes both on the field and off, but most importantly any coach needs to be structured for his players.”
Coach Bob Sphire brings a high school career coaching record of 250-79 spanning over 26 years. Sphire has been the coach at North Gwinnett since 2006, leading the Bulldogs to the state title game in 2007 and 2013.
North Gwinnett would win five region championships in 7-AAAAA, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014. Sphire’s record at North Gwinnett was 110-28. Coach Sphire has had notable players such as CJ Uzomah, Ja’wuan James, and Scott Hosch go on to play in both college football and in the NFL.
Camden County has made a big-time hire to help get the Wildcats back to the upper echelon of high school football. The Eastern Kentucky graduate is coming to Kingsland at a great time. The Wildcats have taken their share of lumps the last couple of years given a rare dip in football talent at the massive high school.
However, the rising junior and sophomore classes are chock full of big time athletes that should thrive in the spread and defensive system implemented by the tough-minded coach.
This is a time for Camden County to be excited! Coach Sphire should bring the Wildcats back to prominence once again and compete in the ultra competitive region 1-AAAAAAA. As everyone knows, if you can win in that region you can beat anyone in the state.
The Buccaneers Journey
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers found themselves in the Georgia Dome playing for a state championship against the Macon County Bulldogs.
The team from the little town of Darien started out, same as every other high school team in America, believing that they were destined to end their season as state champions.
Unlike most other schools, the Buccaneers were presented with that very opportunity; having laid their foundation in the summer of ’16 by sweating it out at camps against powerhouse schools like Glynn Academy, Brookwood, Valdosta, and Ware. Following a strong scrimmage against that same Glynn Academy team, it seemed to give the team a boost to get the season started. Coach Robby Robinson would see his team progress and improve virtually each and every week, and here they were sixty minutes away from the title.
This would be the Buccaneers first opportunity to bring home a state championship. In fact, McIntosh looked more than up to the task and was able to put the high octane Macon County offense on their heels for over three quarters.
Entering the final quarter, the Bulldogs were up only 7-0. It was a picture perfect game plan, harassing and pressuring quarterback K’hari Lane, who just so happened to enter the game on the verge of breaking the all-time Georgia high school passing touchdowns record in a season of 54.
No one expected to see a game such as this; the Bulldogs entered the game averaging just a shade under 44 points per game. However, the Buccaneers defense would shut Lane and his high flying offense down by sacking the quarterback six times, three of those coming from defensive end Barry Jackson. The defense did their job on this day, but just could not get the support needed from their offense.
While the offense was able to move the ball on Macon County, the issues would arise in the red zone, and especially even closer than that with two fumbles inside the five. It would be those turnovers that would ultimately be the downfall for the Buccaneers.
Instead of the Bucs being able to build a lead, the only thing that would build was frustration, as the Macon County defense would bail their struggling offense out time after time.
Young quarterback, Major Robinson, and senior receiver, Dustin Anderson, would lead the passing attack on the day. As well, running back JP Palmer would lead the team rushing, albeit with only sixty-one yards. While the MCA offense was limited in yardage, the team was still within just a couple of yards from carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. It was the fumbles that would be too much to overcome for Robinson’s squad.
After the game, Coach Robinson gave his take on the game and where his team has come in a short period of time, “I think the big stage got to us a little bit,” McIntosh County Academy head coach Robby Robinson said, walking to the locker room. “But all credit goes to Macon County. They played on the same big stage as we did. But I’m proud of this group of kids. They were 0-10 two years ago. Right now, I’m praying on what I’m going to say to them now.”
While the final outcome isn’t what the Buccaneer players wanted to see, they must use this defeat a couple of ways.
First of all, remember this feeling during the blazing south Georgia heat of summer as 7 on 7’s roll around. When training camp kicks off, use this bitter taste to push that much harder to make sure they never have to feel this ever again.
The other way is to remember this feeling of being the toast of Darien, making that drive up to Atlanta, and the feeling of walking out in to the Georgia Dome. These will be memories that will last them a lifetime.
Bringing Home The Hardware
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2016 Georgia state championships are in the books and eight champions have been crowned. This is the last year it will be held at the Georgia Dome before moving next door to the new Mercedes Benz Stadium and there were some memorable games.
The first game was the single A private school championship played Friday morning between Eagles Landing Christian Academy and Fellowship Christian School. The game went to double overtime with the ELCA Chargers winning 34-27.
The Class A public game was very one sided. Macon County beat McIntosh Academy 35-0. Macon County only led 7-0 until the final seconds of the 3rd quarter before scoring on four consecutive possessions. This is their second state championship and first in 20 years.
The AA game was also not close. Benedictine defeated Fitzgerald 49-26. Benedictine scored on its first five possessions to take a 35-6 first half lead. This is their second state title and first since 2014. They are the first Savannah school to win two state championships and this is their first undefeated full season since starting football in 1908.
The AAA game featured two metro Atlanta teams, Cedar Grove from Dekalb County and Greater Atlanta Christian from Gwinnett County. The Saints took a 23-3 lead with 1:09 left in the first half after Tre Shaw returned an interception 34-yards for a touchdown. Cedar Grove beat GAC 30-19 to win their first state title.
Cartersville and Thomson played for the AAAA championship. The Purple Hurricanes destroyed Thomson 58-7. This was the second-most points scored in GHSA finals history. Cartersville has won 30 consecutive games since they have had two consecutive 15-0-championship seasons.
The 5A game saw perennial power Buford match up with Rome. Both teams have the same Wolves mascot. Rome iced the game by scoring on an 18-yard naked bootleg on fourth-and-inches with 1:12 remaining in the 4th quarter. They won 16-7 giving Rome their first title since opening in 1992. Before East and West Rome merged to form Rome High they combined for seven state titles from 1965 to 1985.
Valdosta beat Tucker 17-7 in the 6A championship. The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead. This is Valdosta’s first title since 1998 but they did extend their state record to 24 state championships. Alan Rodemaker became the first Valdosta head coach to win a state title in his first season.
The final game was the heavy weight 7A match up between Grayson and Roswell. This is the first year of 7A and it looks like Gwinnett County will continue to dominate the state’s largest classification. The Grayson Rams are ranked in the top 5 nationally.
The Hornets from Roswell were undefeated, ranked No. 2 in the state and appeared in their second consecutive state championship. The Hornets dominated the game and led for most of it. Grayson took their first lead of the game with 1:04 remaining. The Hornets scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Malik Willis to Kentrell Barber on the final play of regulation to tie the game 20-20. The Rams won in overtime 23-20. This is Grayson’s second state title and first since 2011 when they were led by Robert Nkemdiche. Head coach Jeff Herron became the first coach to win state titles at three Georgia schools (Oconee County & Camden County were the others).
Santa Wish List From A Southern Sports Fan
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Christmas is upon us once again. My girls have given me their annual list of items they want from Santa. I have dropped a few hints about things I want Santa to bring me as well.
I want to shake things up and come up with a sports list of things I would like Santa to grant in 2016 and 2017.
Santa please bring Brunswick High a new football coach with a championship resume. 30 plus juniors return from a talented squad that underachieved in 2016.
Santa please not a fourth straight loss to Glynn Academy in football. Life as a Pirate has been tough around here Santa.
Santa please deliver a City Championship and a deep playoff run to Altama Avenue next fall for the Pirates.
Region Championships for Pirate girls and boys basketball
A winning season for the Pirate baseball team to set the table for a title run two years from now.
A State Football championship for the MCA Bucs this weekend.
A 9-1 regular season and a deep playoff run for the Glynn Academy Red Terror football team in 2017.
State Titles in golf, tennis, and soccer for the Spring Sports Monster known as Glynn Academy Athletics.
A State Title for Glynn Academy baseball in 2017
Santa please a total house cleaning in Jacksonville and a new coach with a championship resume for the Jaguars.
Please Santa deliver at least one home game sellout for the Jags in 2017.
Santa please deliver a SEC Football Title to Athens, Georgia next fall.
Please Santa not a fourth straight loss to Florida for my Bulldogs, and please Santa while we are at it how about a 0-12 record for the Gators in football in 2017.
Please deliver a top 3 recruiting class for UGA in February.
Santa please bring some power to the Atlanta Braves roster, and please not another last place finish.
Please solve the traffic issues in and around the Braves new stadium in Cobb County
A March Madness Berth for the UGA men’s basketball team
A College World Series Berth for the UGA Baseball team.
A NL Cy Young Award for Adam Wainwright
A Pro Bowl Berth for Darius Slay, and Super Bowl for my Detroit Lions
One more PGA tour win for Davis Love III, and then he goes on the Senior Tour and beats the brakes off of everyone.
A LPGA tour win for Katie Burnett.
Southern Sports Edition to take the Southeast by storm
A NFC South title for the Falcons.
An Eastern Conference Finals berth for the Atlanta Hawks.
Please make Coastal Georgia a place where college recruiters set up shop to recruit local athletes.
An ACC Title for the GT Yellow Jackets in football in 2017
Losing seasons for Auburn, and Tennessee in football in 2017.
Santa please let Nick Saban retire.
State Titles across the board for Frederica Academy in 2017.
State Titles for all local recreation teams in Glynn County.
Championships for all College of Coastal Georgia in all sports.
A US Open title in 2017 for Zach Johnson and a Green Jacket for Matt Kuchar.
A fat free agent contract for Justin Coleman of the New England Patriots
A call up to AAA for former Red Terror Bo Way, and a ticket to the show in the near future.
Well there you have it Santa. I hope I haven’t asked for too much or left anyone out. Thank you for 2016 and I hope you make all of the requests in 2017 come true.
Santa I know I already asked but please not another loss to the Red Terrors in football.
Merry Christmas to all.
The Bucs’ Journey
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This has been a season of redemption for both the McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers and their coach Robby Robinson.
McIntosh has returned to playing a style of winning football that was only attained in Robinson’s previous stint when he was in Darien from 2004-2010, and compiling a 54-24-1 record.
After the Bucs hit bottom following a winless 2014 season, McIntosh looked to their past to improve their future by bringing their former coach back home.
In 2015, Robinson returned and gave the team the belief that they could actually win again by going 4-7.
Coach Robinson and his team would take the next step this season by going 7-2 and capturing second place in Region 3-A.
With the arrival of the state playoffs, McIntosh is playing their best football of the season and have an opportunity to bring home a state championship in Atlanta against the Macon County Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Recently, I had the chance to catch up with the McIntosh County Academy coach and talk to him about the season and what it has been like coming back to MCA.
SSE: Before the season officially got underway, I saw your team play Glynn Academy in a scrimmage and recalled thinking that your Bucs could be in for a very good season. When did you feel like your team could have a special season?
Robinson: “This summer when we competed at a high level at padded camps vs Glynn Academy, Brookwood, Warner Robins, Valdosta and Ware County.”
SSE: A big turning point in the season was when Coach Robinson’s son, Major Robinson, took over the reigns of your offense. Has it been difficult to balance the father/son & coach/player dynamic?
Robinson: “He’s my third son to be my quarterback, so I’ve had to learn the hard way to be a daddy at home and coach on the field. I’m still learning though,” Robinson laughed.
SSE: A team doesn’t turn around from winless two seasons ago to playing for a state title without respected leaders on the team. Who are the players you depended on for leadership this season?
Robinson: “Jonathan Jason, Akhira Roberts, and Dustin Anderson….they were elected as our Senior Leaders by their teammates.”
SSE: Your team will be riding up to Atlanta, playing in the Georgia Dome, do you talk to your team about not making this game any different than another game? Maybe borrow from Hoosiers, “a football field is the same 100 yards in Atlanta as it is in Darien…”
Robinson: “YES! Did that Monday at a team meeting…..It’s the same field in a big building.”
SSE: Your team has displayed winning football all season, what are the keys for your Bucs to bring home the win against Macon County?
Robinson: “We have to eliminate the big play, control the clock, and win with special teams.”
SSE: What would a victory mean, not only for you as a coach, but what would it mean for the whole county of McIntosh to finally have a championship to call their own?
Robinson: “Win or Lose…………All of McIntosh County should be proud! All of McIntosh County can learn a lesson from our team. If we unite with a common goal, then great things can happen.”
This has indeed been a year of redemption for both Coach Robinson and his Buccaneers football team.
Robinson has proven previous detractors wrong by returning to Darien and righting the Buccaneers ship yet again. The McIntosh team found redemption of their own over the course of the season, after a week two loss at home to defending state champion Clinch County 32-7.
The Buccaneers sailed onward and headed to Homerville in the state semifinals against those same Panthers defeating Clinch 24-8 to complete their 180-degree turnaround and earn the right to play for a state championship.
Coach Robinson and his Buccaneers have a tough task at hand with Macon County, but they have faced tough situations before and have come out on top. Win or lose, this has been a special season that all of McIntosh can be proud.
