High School Football
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.
Terrors Are Going No Where
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Unfortunately, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors 2016 season came to a sudden stop against the Northside Warner Robins Eagles.
With the loss of a tremendous senior class, including Miami Hurricanes commits, Dee Jay Dallas and Zalontae Hillery, many expect the Red Terrors to take a major step back in the 2017 season. However, it would be a big time mistake to underestimate the Red Terrors going forward.
Coach Hidalgo has taken the Glynn Academy program to a new level since his arrival three seasons ago. Each season since his initial year of coaching for the Terrors, Hidalgo has heard the doubts that the success of his team will continue after losing players to graduation or assistant coaches moving on to expand their own coaching resumes.
On the Bishop Media Glynn Academy Coach’s Show, Hidalgo was excited about the prospects of the 2017 season and explained why, “I told those kids that anyone who thinks we are just going to go the way of the Dodo is wrong. My first year we lost a great offensive coordinator in Coach Jackson, and they said ‘well, they are done’. Then the next year they said ‘oh they lost Garrison Hurd and Dexter Roberson and they are done’. Now they are saying they are losing a great group of seniors and people around the state will say, ‘oh they are losing Dee Jay Dallas and some great kids, and they are done.’ Well, that’s not the case, we will be back in this position next season. I believe that we have a chance to be a great football team next year because we have kids committed to winning, and have a great group of seniors and some really good young players. We are going to have to develop some kids, but we will be right back in the mix next year.”
One of those great players mentioned above who is moving on to the next stage of his education and playing days, Dee Jay Dallas, also feels that his Glynn Academy teammates will be able to maintain the winning ways established in Dallas’ high school tenure.
The Terrors will struggle some at first but I have faith in my men! They aren’t afraid of any challenge. I think the pride that they carry when they put on the red and white will carry them through the regular season with an undefeated record and into to compete and possibly win a state title.” Dallas told me when asked about the Red Terrors prospects ahead of them in 2017.
Some of those “men” that Dallas is talking about were mentioned by Coach Hidalgo as well. “I think we will be outstanding on defense, both our safeties will return. We return Hunter Hall and David Murray at linebacker, and Tyler Cleghorn, Marlin Taylor, and Isaiah McDonald on the defensive line. We moved Marvin Dallas to cornerback. We’ve got a chance to be really good defensively.”
On offense, Hidalgo feels that the offense will pack a punch with players like Randon Jernigan moving to quarterback, “Randon’s career numbers are likely better than Dee Jay’s given his years at Brunswick.”
Running back looks to be boosted with “getting Tyler Grant back from injury Tyshaun Wallace kid sat out this year with a knee injury who’s a really good running back. Quan Bostic will replace Randon in the slot. We need to develop some offensive linemen. Our 9th grade class has a lot of really good linemen in it. Drez Wilcox will play for us next year, along with 4-5 kids who have chance to be division one football players. Our future is very bright, go back to work, put together a new weight training program, and utilize the new fieldhouse and facilities. The offseason starts tomorrow.”
That is the prevailing reason why the Red Terrors very likely will be back challenging for city, region, and state championships because of the workman like attitude. While the season just ended, the thought is not look at what we did, it is look at what we are going to do.
Glynn’s Season Ends
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2016 campaign for the Glynn Academy Red Terrors ended at the hands of the Northside Warner Robins Eagles, 42-20.
In my opinion, this was not a game that Northside won, but instead a game that Glynn beat themselves. The Terrors turned the ball over four times and the Eagles put up 21 points off of those four turnovers.
Typically, Glynn has been the team forcing the turnovers all season long. It was just not their night.
The Red Terrors went to the half trailing 28-7 and came out in third quarter and scored a TD, giving the Glynn faithful some hope for a comeback. Don’t forget the Terrors came back from a 24-7 deficit last season in the Elite 8 against Stockbridge to advance to the Final Four. The turning point in that game was the Terrors’ goal line stand late in the 3rd quarter which turned the game on its head. That stand will forever be known in Glynn lore as the ‘Stand in Stockbridge”.
However, the Red Terrors would have no such come back against the Eagles. Northside’s defense proved to be just as fast as Glynn’s offense and made it tough on Glynn’s offense all night. The Terrors did actually end up with more yards in the game than the Eagles, but when you turn the ball over four times and once on downs it makes it really tough to win a football game.
After the Terrors scored a late touchdown to make the score 35-20 it looked like there was still some hope for a miraculous comeback. However, Northside scored on an onside kick attempt to push the lead back out to three scores and the Terrors season would end shortly after.
Northside Warner Robins has proven to be quite the thorn in the Red Terrors side as they have now knocked Glynn out of the playoffs 3 of the last 5 years. The Eagles beat the Terrors in 2011 in the first round, then again in 2014 in the Elite 8 and then again, this season in the Elite 8.
The last time the Eagles beat Glynn it was en route to state title. Northside is hoping history repeats itself. The Eagles will play Tucker in the semifinals.
As for the Red Terrors, this most recent run marks the 3rd consecutive year they have made the Elite 8 and the second straight region title for Glynn.
Though, the season is over there was much to be proud of for the Red Terrors.
Looking ahead to 2017 the region will still be the same with BHS, Richmond Hill, Effingham, and Bradwell. The Terrors will be favored to bring home a 3rd straight region title.
I also think it is fitting to say farewell to DeeJay Dallas, I have covered high school football in every corner of this great state for almost 15 years and I have never seen a player more talented at the high school level than DeeJay Dallas. Glynn will miss him but will have a more than capable Randon Jernigan to take the reins next season.
Congrats on a great season Red Terrors.
Glynn Academy Terrors Beat Allatoona Buccaneers
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The rematch of last year’s state title game took place in the second round of the GHSA 6A playoffs.
The Allatoona Buccaneers, who beat the Glynn Academy Red Terrors last season in the Georgia Dome 10-6, took the five-hour trip from Acworth to Glynn County Stadium.
Most felt the Terrors were the better team this time around by far. However, the Bucs took the opening drive of the game right down the field and put themselves in field goal range. Allatoona lined up for the kick and that kick sailed left and no good. The game was over at that point.
Glynn opened up on offense and scored on a 47-yard TD pass by DeeJay Dallas to Quandre Mosely; a thing of beauty
By the half the Terrors had built a 20-0 advantage, which included a double pass for a touchdown; another thing of beauty. Dallas threw to Randon Jernigan behind the line of scrimmage and then went out a few yards for Jernigan to make a pass back across field to him. When Dallas caught the pass he had a convoy of blockers which lead him to the end zone for a 58-yard score.
Allatoona came out in the second half hoping to right the ship and get back into the game. Instead Glynn scored the first TD of the second half to give themselves a 27-0 lead. The Buccaneers then threw an interception on the ensuing possession and the Red Terrors punched that into the end zone and just like that it was 34-0 and at that point any hopes of a second half rally by Allatoona had ended.
Glynn had a 40-0 lead heading into the 4th quarter, which meant the defending state champs would be on a running clock in the 4th quarter; GHSA’s version of the mercy rule.
The Red Terrors had won 47-7 when the clock read 0:00 and eliminated the defending state champions.
Next up for Glynn Academy will the Northside Warner Robins Eagles, who are a perennial power house. As a matter fact, just two short years ago Northside won the state title and beat Glynn Academy in the Elite 8 on their way to the Georgia Dome.
The Eagles have beaten Grovetown and Langston Hughes to get to this point in the playoffs. Northside Warner Robins comes in with a 10-2 record and are no stranger to winning playoff games on the road, which they will have to do to advance against Glynn as the Terrors are the higher seed and will be at home in the friendly confines of Glynn County Stadium. Glynn Academy is undefeated at home this season.
It will be a great game. In my opinion, the winner of that game will be the team the limits the running game of the opposing offense the most as both teams are heavily run oriented teams.
Glynn Academy Red Terrors Advance
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Glynn Academy Red Terrors took their first step toward a state title Friday night in the GHSA playoffs.
Glynn hosted the #4 seed Jonesboro Cardinals and dominated the football game from start to finish. The Terrors took the opening kickoff and scored on the third play from scrimmage.
That started the rout and ended in a 45-3 score. The Terrors had their JV and freshmen in the game toward the end of the second quarter and went to the half with a 35-0 lead.
Rocky Hidalgo had his team focused and ready to play against the Cardinals. Jonesboro came into the game averaging around 10 points a game and were no match for Glynn’s swarming and fast defense.
The game ended up on a running clock in the 4th quarter.
The Terrors played without RB/WR Randon Jernigan who sat out with a sore hamstring for the second week in a row and his absence made absolutely no difference in the offensive output against Jonesboro’s defense.
Jernigan should be ready to go next week according to Glynn’s coaching staff.
That game will be against the defending state champs, the Allatoona Buccaneers.
The game will be a state title game rematch from last year. Allatoona claimed the trophy last year in the Georgia Dome beating the Terrors 10-6 in a defensive struggle.
However, the Buccaneers lost a good bit to graduation and most feel they are not as talented as last year’s team. Meanwhile, Glynn is a much better team; especially on the offensive side of the ball. If Allatoona attempts to execute the same game plan from last year’s title game they will likely get beat by 50 by the Terrors.
Last year, most knew if you could limit the damage from Glynn QB DeeJay Dallas you gave your shot a chance to win. This year that is not the case. Defensive coordinators can no longer game plan around stopping Dallas as the Red Terrors have too many other offensive weapons who will go off if the focus is primarily on Dallas.
The Buccaneers will also have to take the five hour trip south to Glynn County Stadium from Acworth, a north Atlanta suburb.
After Friday night’s games the teams that are left in Glynn’s bracket are the aforementioned Buccaneers, Northside Warner Robins, and Hughes.
Hughes, a four seed took down the other number one seed in the Terror’s bracket, Johns Creek. The final in that game was 34-10.
Hughes will square off against Northside Warner Robins and the winner will get the winner of Glynn and Allatoona with a place in the final four on the line.
The Terrors have the last two state champs in their bracket in Allatoona and Northside Warner Robins and will likely have to go through both to reach the Final Four.
Buckle up Terror fans, it should be a fun and long ride toward another state finals appearance and potentially a trophy this time.
Rough Seas….Again
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Word spread quickly that Larry Harold had resigned as Head Coach of the Brunswick High Pirates.
The Pirates finished the season at 5-5 and came in 5th place in a five team region. Tie breaker scenarios kept the Pirates out of the playoffs in 2016. Harold finished his tenure at BHS with an 8-12 record and was 3-9 in region contests.
Let me just say that Larry Harold is a friend and a good football coach that came into an unstable situation from the beginning with a divided fan base that has been divided since I was a child. FYI, I get AARP card applications in the mail frequently now.
Part of me feels like I am at fault because I refused to be on the search committee that recommended Harold for job because I felt at that time it was a mistake to replace Victor Floyd, who had just led BHS to the playoffs in 2014 with a freshman QB who set all kinds of records in that season.
So BHS brought Larry Harold and his family into this environment and let him loose and basically said go out and conquer.
The problem is that issues that need fixing surrounding the program were out of Larry Harold’s control and have been for over 40 years. So, when the won/loss record is not up to standard a football coach gets replaced again.
The 2016 Pirates lost 5 games by a combined 14 points and Coach Harold will be the first to tell you that the Pirates had no business losing to Effingham or Bradwell with the talent assembled on that football team.
Glynn Academy was the only team on the schedule that was better than BHS. This team should have been 9-1 and hosting Stephenson on Saturday night at Glynn County Stadium in the playoffs.
Instead, I am going fishing on Friday morning with my friend Scott Spence instead of getting ready to broadcast Pirate Football with Teddy Bishop.
Larry Harold will land on his feet and go on and have a fine football coaching career in a place that is much more stable than Brunswick High School is at this moment in time.
I wish Harold the best. He is a good man who has God as his spiritual foundation and he will be successful. He has handled adversity with class and dignity that only comes from above.
Here are the issues I see surrounding Brunswick High Football and it has nothing to do with players and Maurice Freeman, Victor Floyd, or Larry Harold.
It has to do with bitterness, jealously, race, and selfishness all of the symptoms of our broken society that have been in place for all 49 years of Brunswick High’s existence. Let me explain and only a Brunswick High graduate will understand what I type below.
Black and White are not the BHS school colors Blue and Gold are. When Brunswick High School was opened in the late 1960’s and integration happened Risley High School was closed and Risley’s school population was split between Glynn Academy and Brunswick High.
This myth that BHS was an extension of/or new Risley High School is wrong, but that has been the perception in Glynn County for 50 years.
That is wrong, get over it people. I have said this all along that Brunswick High’s worst enemy over the years have been our own people. That has to change and change now.
I am tired of running off football coaches because the Pirate fan base is divided along racial lines for the benefit of selfish people in the community who use division and fear to divide and control people.
We maybe should play Michael Jackson’s Black or White every Friday Night over the PA system to help heal these deep-rooted divisions.
Little Brother Syndrome. Many BHS fans and alumni have this little brother syndrome and go around and say that Glynn Academy gets the biggest and best of everything, but stick their head in the sand when they drop their kids off at a new state of the art $57 million dollar Brunswick High School on Altama Avenue every morning during the school year.
Let me let you in on a little secret, Brunswick High leads the all-time football series with Glynn Academy 37-34-2 and has lost 3 straight years to the Red Terrors.
New baseball field, new school, new track and the list keeps going on. Get over it people. Glynn Academy’s campus floods when we have over two inches of rain. Stop making excuses for your own insecurities Pirate fan base.
John Willis is retired. If I died tomorrow I would want Coach Willis to speak at my funeral. I love the man. He was my football coach and was Brunswick High to me.
Coach Willis led Brunswick to the State Title game in 1999. Pirate fans have to stop living in the past as it relates to football.
Vince Dooley will never walk the sidelines again in Athens. Phil Fulmer is not coming back to Knoxville, and John Willis will not walk the Pirate sidelines at Glynn County Stadium again, but he can be a great ambassador for Pirate Football moving forward.
Victor Floyd never should have been fired. Victor Floyd’s track record of winning, putting kids in school, and discipline brought a lot of pride and respect to BHS from around the state, and this community.
December 17th, 2014 should have never happened and the program has not been the same since. Biggest mistake the Pirates have ever made with our football program was letting him go.
This article may ruffle some feathers but I am tired of having it eat at me. The BHS football job is potentially a gold mine, but Brunswick fans have to get out of their own way first and leave their fear and insecurities behind. You cannot have a bright future until you stop living in the past.
Go Pirates and Thank You Larry Harold for your work here.
