High School Football
Unbelievable
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The City Championship Game between the Brunswick High Pirates and Glynn Academy Red Terrors makes for great Friday Night Football most years.
The 2025 edition was more than a great game; it may go down as the greatest City Championship game ever and with that launched Brunswick QB Grant Moore into legend Stratosphere.
Going into the game the Brunswick High Pirates were huge favorites. The Pirates came in with a 4-1 record and were undefeated in Region 1-5A.
Meanwhile, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors came in 3-2 and already lost a region game in an upset to Bradwell Institute.
The game was back and forth in the 1st half and the Red Terrors took a 14-13 lead into the locker room at the half.
The 3rd quarter and early 4th quarter belonged to the Red Terrors as they extended their lead to 37-21 with about 7 minutes left in the football game.
Red Terrors Coach Rocky Hidalgo had pressed all the right buttons, 2-pont conversions, trick plays, a fake punt and more importantly had limited the Pirates’ offense playing a ball control type of game.
Glynn was driving late in the 4th and had the ball inside the Brunswick 20-yard line and were about to score the back breaking touchdown that would have created chaos in the region and given the Terrors an inside track to a region title.
Then things got crazy. Glynn fumbled the ball when they were about to score the knockout blow and the Grant Moore Show took centerstage at Glynn County Stadium.
Moore marched the Pirates down the field making big throw after big throw. The Pirates scored again on a TD pass from Moore and cut the lead to 37-34.
The Pirates attempted an onside kick and recovered with just under 2 minutes to play. Once again Moore made clutch pass after clutch pass before Nigel Gardener scampered into the end zone with 31 seconds to play giving the Pirates a miracle 41-37 lead.
Moore finished the football game 14/18 passing for 336 yards and 4 TDs.
The Pirates would intercept a desperation throw from Glynn QB Max Noonan to seal an improbable come from behind 41-37 win to remain unbeaten in the region and more importantly win their second consecutive City Championship.
Both Rocky Hidalgo and BHS coach Garrett Grady coached their tails off in this game and proved once again they are elite coaches in the state of Georgia.
If Grant Moore does not receive more Division 1 offers after his performance against Glynn I am not sure what scouts are looking for.
Grading The Boro
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Now that we are at the halfway point of the regular season (some slightly passed the halfway point, it’s time that we get a progress report on the Bulloch County football teams for the 2025 season.
Southeast Bulloch (3-3; 3-2 Region 3-3A) | Grade: B-
This grade would have been very different this time last week. The Southeast Bulloch offense took a step back this past Friday after falling to Liberty County 10-7 on the road in Hinesville.
The Yellow Jackets defense held their own as they have all season long. However, the Jackets offense struggled to get anything going. Southeast Bulloch is hoping the offensive woes (including two fumbles) were an anomaly, because the Jacket offense has been good this year at times.
Led by Colby Smith and Jayden Murphy at running back, Southeast Bulloch has used the ground game to dominate wins over Islands, Windsor Forest, and Johnson.
The only blemish in region play entering the Liberty County contest was a fantastic high school football game but ended in a Calvary win 28-24.
The Jackets opened the year falling to cross-county rival, Statesboro, but has grown exponentially since that weather-altered matchup.
While the defense has been knocking on the door of the “A” territory, the offensive struggles against Liberty County knock the grade down slightly, but the potential for this team is unmistakably there in Brooklet.
Statesboro (3-2; 2-1 Region 1-5A) | Grade: B+
Statesboro has been a little of Jekyll and Hyde this season with most of the time seeing vast improvements under third year head coach Matt Dobson.
Sophomore quarterback Beckham Jarrard has dazzled through four games played including a performance against Greenbrier that saw the young signal-caller throw for 156 yards and a score while also leading the team with 134 yards rushing as well.
The Blue Devils were thrown a curveball when Jarrard missed the Statesboro matchup with Bradwell Institute with injury.
The offense picked up the slack with Keon Childers (leads the team with nearly 600 rushing yards (587) and 10 touchdowns who converted from wide receiver to running back this offseason.
The Devils hope to get Beckham Jarrard back in the next few weeks after a coincidentally well-timed bye week this past weekend and the next match-up coming against a winless Lakeside team next week.
After tough losses to Veterans in week 2 and against Glynn Academy, Statesboro responded nicely with the win over Bradwell leading into the bye week and has momentum going down the back stretch.
Bulloch Academy (5-1; 0-0 Region) | Grade: A
Bulloch Academy…ahem…pardon me, that’s “2024 State Champion” Bulloch Academy has picked up where they left off in a championship claiming 2024 season.
Even through their first loss in two years, BA bounced back with convincing wins on the road against Strong Rock last week then at Tattnall Square Academy 52-13 in the most recent victory.
Danye Garvin (RB) and Sam Hubbard (QB) have led this team to a 5-1 record. There have been a couple of blemishes with some penalty issues, but playmakers have overcome that with names like Braylon Cone anchoring the D-Line with at 6’2” 294lbs. Look for BA to make some noise when postseason play rolls around.
Portal (2-4; 1-3) | Grade: C-
It’s been a tough go of it for the Portal Panthers this year but look to have some momentum after a big overtime win this week against Savannah 21-14 to cap off homecoming.
The Panthers, however, have had some impactful players emerge with three running backs with at least 250 yards rushing and combining for 12 touchdowns on the season as Zeke Percell leads the way with over 350 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns along with Jason Crawford and KJ Hunter adding quality depth.
The Panthers now head into a bye week and look to build off the homecoming win to make a playoff push in the final four contests.
While there have been some speedbumps for all four teams, there is also a real possibility that all four Bulloch County teams head into the postseason and keep the trend on the upward trajectory for all four programs.
King Bee Down
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Wednesday morning, the Wayne County School System announced that Wayne County Football Head Coach John Mohring has resigned in agreement with the school board.
The news comes after a 0-5 start in the second season under Mohring.
With a bye week this week for the Yellow Jackets, Wayne County will transition to new leadership this week as Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Justin McDonald will take over as the interim Head Coach for football.
In the 15 games under Mohring since he took over prior to the 2024 season, Wayne County was winless on the field.
One caveat to that was the 2024 matchup with Appling County. Appling defeated Wayne on the field, but Appling County was forced to vacate wins for the 2024 season due to GHSA violations in regard to recruiting and an ineligible transfer player.
There have been plenty of folks that have been unhappy around the Wayne County program with the on-the-field product, and rightfully so.
Since the beginning of 2024, Wayne County has been outscored in those 15 games by a mark of 584-100 including a 390-41 discrepancy last season. In the 10 games of 2024, Wayne County only scored more than 7 points once (the season opener against Glynn Academy) including being shutout 4 times on the year.
The offensive struggles continued this season through the first 5 games of the year as the offense only producing 106.8 yards of total offense per game (national average is 261.0 for reference).
A team that once dominated teams on the ground is now only averaging 62.4 yards rushing per game and putting up only 44 yards passing per game.
One of the most surprising numbers is this year, the Wayne County offense has only put up 28 points (including extra points), while the defense has elevated a couple scores with 2 defensive touchdowns.
Mohring took over the program after Jaybo Shaw left following the 2023 season.
Mohring left his position at Savanah Country Day in March.
At Savannah Country Day, Mohring led the Hornets to two playoff appearances and a 16-16 record in 3 seasons.
Now Mohring becomes the third GHSA coach to step down/be fired this season already with Banks County Todd Winter fired and Windsor Forest’s CJ Frazier stepping down for “personal reasons.”
Interim Head Coach Justin McDonald joined the Wayne County community when he took over the Wayne County baseball program in 2012.
Since then, he has added the Athletic Director title and also amassed over 300 wins on the diamond and is the all-time winningest baseball coach in Wayne County history.
Along the horizon for Wayne County, they open region play after the bye week with Warner Robins coming to Jesup on September 26th before 5 straight weeks of region matchups.
This year, three of the 5 region contests are set to take place at Jaycee Stadium with road trips going to Benedictine and Ware County.
I’m never a huge fan of making coaching moves in-season, but this felt like one that needed to be made.
Now Wayne County still has everything in front of them with an entire region schedule.
Does this turn around the season? Time will tell, but I know that Justin McDonald is not only a great coach, but a fantastic person and leader of men that can hold a team together.
At The Top
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We are almost midway through the high school football regular season. Let’s take a look at some of the top teams in 6A.
#1 Grayson: The Rams are the defending state champions and are off to a 4-0 start. They started the season with a 51-3 win at Colllins Hill. They beat Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 24-19 and Thompson (AL) 24-23. Their last game was September 5th against Mallard Creek (NC) and they won 63-13.
The Rams start region play this week against Grovetown (3-1). Grayson is by far the best team in Region 4 AAAAAA and they are the only ranked team in the region. I expect them to finish the season undefeated.
#2 Buford: The Wolves (4-0) just beat #4 Douglas County 34-26. This game featured at least 25 players with Power 4 offers. Florida State coach Mike Norvell and Georgia State coach Dell McGee attended this top five showdown.
The Wolves started the season with a 20-13 win over Milton. They followed that up by beating Benedictine on the road, 42-14. They destroyed Roswell 65-21 in Week 3. They begin region play this week against Discovery (0-3). Buford does not face any other ranked teams in Region 8AAAAAA.
#3 Carrolton: The Trojans (5-0) lost the 2024 state championship to Grayson. Five-star quarterback Julian Lewis graduated and he plays for Colorado now. Carrolton is showing they are an elite program and they were not just successful because of Lewis.
The only game that was decided by one score was the Week 3 win at Rome, 28-21. In the other four games, the closest margin of victory has been 22 points.
They are in Region 2AAAAAA with #4 Douglas County. They will play in the season finale. Region play will start 10/3 at Westlake. I think the winner of the last game will be the region champs.
#4 Douglas County: The Tigers (3-2) have a lot of talent but they have played a tough schedule. They lost to the #2 team in 5A on the road, Hughes 44-31. They lost to #2 Buford on the road the following week, 34-26.
They started the season with wins over #6 North Gwinnett, Jonesboro and Newton.
Their next game is against 2A Columbia (0-4), so they should blow them out. Like I said above, their next challenge will be in the season finale against #3 Carrolton.
#5 Valdosta: The Wildcats (5-0) are looking to win their first state title since 2016. The only close game they have played was against Jesuit (FL) 21-14. They have beaten Tucker 63-19, Mundy’s Mill 60-14, Dougherty 52-3 and South Gwinnett 41-3.
They are in the toughest region in the state, Region 1AAAAAA. They have a bye this week and start region play 9/26 at #10 Camden County. The following game is at #9 Colquitt County and the season finale is against #8 Lowndes. If you are keeping track, that’s four top 10 teams in the state in the same region.
I don’t think Valdosta will make it out of region play unscathed.
The Long-Snapping Way
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When you think about impacts on a football team, specialists aren’t usually at the top of the list.
One position that gets even less love and really goes un-noticed until something goes wrong is the long snapper.
However, the Southeast Bulloch long snapper is absolutely drawing attention not only from the Brooklet community, but from college recruiters in a positive light.
Talon Stokes is a couple of games into his senior year for SEB, but the path has been far different than what he envisioned when he began the journey as a Jacket.
Stokes began his high school career as a tight end and a pole vaulter for the track team, but the path to starting quicky changed. After being buried on the depth chart as a tight end it sparked a conversation with Southeast Bulloch Special Teams Coordinator Randy Lee.
“In ninth grade, Talon, a wiry 5’6”, 140-pound kid, walked into my office dreaming of making an impact on the football team. The varsity field seemed a distant goal for him, but I saw his fire,” said Lee. “Our long snapper was graduating, and I told Talon that role could be his if he worked for it. Never having snapped a ball before, the odds were steep, but Talon didn’t flinch.”
Stokes dove in headfirst. He began working with a snapping coach, going to camps and doing everything possible to learn the niche craft. Which paid off.
“By June, he wasn’t just filling a role; he was dominating it,” explained Coach Lee. “In my 17 years of coaching, Talon’s become the best long snapper I’ve ever seen.”
From what started as an idea to get on the field, it turned into a passion for Talon. Putting in countless hours and hundreds of snaps outside of SEB practice each week and working with one of the premier snapping instructors in the country in Rubio Long Snapping, Talon has turned SEB special teams into a coach’s dream of not having to worry about the snap.
“Unnoticed by the stands but invaluable to our staff, he grinds daily, perfecting his times and lace placement on PATs and field goals,” said Lee.
That dedication over the past four years has not only garnered attention from the coaching staff for SEB, but also college coaches across the country. This past summer, Talon and his mom, Shelley, went on a 10-day journey to specialist’s camps all over the country.
It began in Morgantown, WV to impress the Mountaineer coaches. Then they made the drive to Starkville, Mississippi where Talon ended up winning the Mississippi State camp for both punt snapping and Field Goal snapping in SEC country.
The excursion ended up in Jonesboro, Arkansas in the shadows of the water feature in the endzone at Arkansas State. Couple that success with visits also to Coastal Carolina, Wofford, and countless other schools, Talon is a known commodity in the college world.
Talon is the epitome of a “team guy.” Always upbeat and a smile on his face at practice but took a need of a team and turned it into a mission.
As a freshman going to Coach Lee and asking how he can get on the field, then dedicating himself to be the best long snapper he could be for SEB (which was a foreign concept at the time), now as a 4-star Rubio long snapper is an impressive journey over a relatively short period of time. It’s something that’s not lost in the Brooklet community.
“They say if you work hard, all things are possible—Talon’s living proof,” said Coach Lee. There aren’t many in the country who can touch him or out snap him. I’m glad he is a SEB Jacket, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
That future undoubtedly will be snapping at a high level in college football and it’s just a matter of where.
Gridiron Devil
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When the lights get flicked on at Womack Field in Statesboro each week, they shine on a Statesboro Blue Devils team that has been building over the past few years under third year Head Coach Matt Dobson.
A big piece of the growth being seen in Statesboro is the young quarterback Beckham Jarrard.
Jarrard has become a regular name with anyone around the Blue Devils program, and possibly even more-so around programs that have played Statesboro in the last year plus.
The now sophomore field general started right out of the gate. As a freshman, Jarrard was named the starter from the word go opening up the 2024 season with cross county rivals Southeast Bulloch and raised eyebrows.
The then 5’10” 145-pound freshman connected on 17 of 25 passing for 161 yards and a touchdown. Southeast Bulloch would end up with the win but coming away from the game both sides realized that this was the beginning of something special for the signal caller.
Jarrard would finish his freshman season with the most passing yards in the state for a freshman racking up over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns in Statesboro’s 10 games while rushing for 200 more and a couple of scores. The growth of Jarrard was unmistakable throughout the season and that’s just the beginning.
He has dove into the deep end to become the best quarterback he can be…literally. It was while he was on vacation to the beach that a random connection turned into the next step in the progression for Jarrard.
While on the annual family vacation in the summer of 2024, he started throwing the football with a family friend that was with them at the beach. A few minutes went by before someone asked if he could join. After throwing and exchanging stories and getting to know them better, turns out the random encounter would be Jarrard meet Gino English (former quarterback at Florida State and East Tennessee St).
Gino was impressed by the then rising freshman and invited him to come train with him at his childhood home nearby. There he would meet Gino’s QB coach, Pat O’Hara.
Pat O’Hara is a well-known quarterback coach in football to say the very least. After a playing career with the Buccaneers, Chargers, and Redskins, O’Hara ended up in the Arena Football League.
For a few years, Pat would be getting into the coaching side of the game while also still on the roster before a couple stints as a head coach in the AFL.
Then O’Hara would break into the pinnacle of the sport with the NFL.
In February 2015, O’Hara was hired as an assistant coach by the Houston Texans. After 3 seasons in Houston, O’Hara would be named quarterbacks coach (and later pass game coordinator) for the Tennessee Titans.
O’Hara has also worked in broadcasting for UCF radio and CBS Sports Network along with working in the movie scene as a football guru teaching actors how to play in films like The Longest Yard, Invincible, We are Marshall and most recently serving as the football administrator for the TV Series Chad Powers.
So, from the football mind that helped mold Paul Crewe, Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tennehill, Brock Osweiler, Deshaun Watson, O’Hara’s insight is now going into Beckham Jarrard. While it’s not feasible to make the trip to Florida much during the season, O’Hara works weekly with Jarrard via zoom on breaking down game film, helping teach how to break down defenses along with the mental side of being a quarterback.
While other rising sophomores in the summers are playing video games, going to the pool, Jarrard is heading to Florida to work with Pat O’Hara.
The commitment to the game is as impressive as the skills he has already (again, reminder, he’s a sophomore).
Now as a sophomore at 6’0 and 165 pounds (gained 20 pounds from the start of Freshman year), Jarrard has developed relationships with so many high-profile quarterbacks’ coaches and soaking up as much as he can.
Charley Loeb of QB Country (former Syracuse QB) is the main mechanical coach to help mold the young quarterback to someone that is now a big problem for defenses.
Having seen him live a handful of times, in addition to on film and through the eyes of others, there’s no doubt in my mind that on June 15th (the date that college coaches can legally begin full contact with recruits), the phone of Beckham Jarrard will be lighting up almost constantly with coaches from all of the southeast.
Low Country Brawl
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One of South Georgia’s fiercest high school football rivalries reignites on August 15, as the Camden County Wildcats host the Brunswick Pirates in what has been called the “Lowcountry Brawl”.
Though separated by just 30 miles of I-95, these two powerhouse programs bring decades of pride, passion, and playoff aspirations to their annual clash. This year’s matchup could be one of the most anticipated yet.
The rivalry has seen 12 meetings over the past 20 seasons, with Camden County holding a 9-3 edge.
However, Brunswick has begun closing the gap, winning two of the last three matchups, including a gritty 21-17 victory in 2023 and a 16-10 win in 2022.
Last year’s opener was a shootout, with Camden County rallying from an early 14-3 deficit to defeat Brunswick 51-41.
A string of special teams miscues by the Pirates, which included four consecutive failed punts, allowed Camden to storm back and seize control before halftime. It was a game that showcased the unpredictability and intensity that define this rivalry.
Despite Camden’s historical edge and state championships in 2003, 2008, and 2009, Brunswick’s recent resurgence under Coach Garrett Grady has added new fire to the series.
Coming off a 10-2 campaign and an undefeated region record in 2024, Brunswick enters 2025 with sky-high expectations.
Senior quarterback Grant Moore returns after a stellar junior year, where he threw for 2,525 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding another three scores on the ground.
His top target? None other than Heze Kent, a 6’5”, 265-pound four-star tight end/wide receiver hybrid who recently committed to Florida.
Kent hauled in 16 touchdowns last season and will draw double teams all year, potentially freeing up fellow receiver Waseem Murray, a speedy route-runner primed for a breakout.
In the backfield, Nigel Gardner and Josiah Gibbons form a potent 1-2 punch, combining for over 130 rushing yards per game and 16 touchdowns in 2024.
Defensively, Brunswick leans on senior cornerback Aviyon Addison, a ball-hawk who led the team with four interceptions last season. His leadership and lockdown skills will be tested early against Camden’s explosive passing attack.
After a 7-4 season that saw them rack up over 400 points, Camden County enters 2025 with a retooled but experienced squad and renewed optimism under second-year head coach Travis Roland.
While the Wildcats lost star tight end Elyiss Williams (now at Georgia) and several key linemen, they return six starters on defense and boast one of the region’s most dynamic offenses.
Parks Riendeau is back for his senior season after spending the last two years as the starting quarterback. In 2025, though, he’ll be playing some QB, but also look for him to lineup at running back and receiver due to the arrival of Will Jackson, a true dual-threat quarterback transfer from Florida.
Jackson is already loaded with offers from major Power Five programs.
The Wildcats offense is loaded with elite weapons, including four-star wide receiver Sean Green, who’s already caught the attention of Florida State and Georgia.
Running backs Antwan Williams and Julian Dailey round out a dangerous backfield, while linebacker Xavier Brown (129 tackles in 2024) and cornerback David Coleman Jr. (East Carolina commit) anchor a defense looking to turn potential into production.
Coach Roland’s mission to restore Camden County’s dominance is gaining traction. With depth, leadership, and high-end talent, the Wildcats are a real threat to win Region 1-6A, and this rivalry game to start the season could be a tone-setter.
Beyond the records and star power, this is a game built on pride and legacy. Both schools have sent numerous players to the college and NFL ranks.
Jarrad Davis, Stump Mitchell, and Ryan Seymour represent Camden, while Darius Slay, Tracy Walker, and Justin Coleman each suited up for Brunswick. The pro pedigree further fuels the prestige of this matchup.
As the lights shine bright in Kingsland on August 15, fans can expect another chapter in a storied rivalry where momentum shifts fast, reputations are made, and bragging rights matter all year long.
It’s the Lowcountry Brawl, and it’s must-watch football to kick off 2025.
Battle Of The Boro
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 High School Football season kicks off with a bang across Bulloch County.
Not only does Bulloch Academy and Portal High clash in the Erk Russell Classic on August 16th, but the night before what’s been tabbed as the “Battle of Bulloch” gets the 6th all-time meeting between the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets and the Statesboro Blue Devils.
This is a series history that’s an interesting one in the sense of two schools separated by only eight miles, but the two have only faced each other five times previously and all coming since 2004.
The Jackets and Blue Devils clashed back-to-back years in 2004 and 2005 that saw SHS (who was ranked #2 in the state both years) dominate to a combined score of 57-0 over Southeast Bulloch.
The two wouldn’t meet again for 17 years when SEB’s Jared Zito and Statesboro’s Jeff Kaiser pitted the foes together in 2022.
The two programs have played each of the past four years now (including the 2025 matchup) since 2022 with the first two of the renewed rivalry coming as part of the Erk Russell Classic at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on campus at Georgia Southern.
Both of the matchups at the “Prettiest Little Stadium in America” went the way of the Blue Devils but in vastly different ways.
2022 was ALL SHS in every sense. The final score ended 55-14 and Statesboro dominated from the word go. The 2023 rendition was a much tighter affair Statesboro still pulled out the victory at Paulson, but it took a defensive stand by Statesboro on an eight-minute drive for SEB to secure the 12-7 win for the Blue Devils.
In 2024, Statesboro and SEB decided to move away from the Erk Russell Classic to have the series back to campus sites.
It started last year at Fred Shaver Field in Brooklet to open the 2024 season. After a Chris Jones scoop and score two plays into the game to give the Jackets a 7-0 lead in front of a capacity crowd in Brooklet, SEB would mount a 23-6 lead after rushing scores by Colby Smith and Jayden Murphy.
Statesboro battled back to cut it to 23-18 after a Ty Chambers rushing score. Three first downs later, Southeast Bulloch secured the first win in the series by a final of 23-18.
Despite the discrepancy in level that the programs play at (SEB a 3A program, SHS a 5A), both coaches have been adamite that this series is important to not only the teams, but the community.
Going into last season, Coach Zito from SEB talked in the preseason about needing to “make this series a rivalry, but we have to win to do that.” After the win for the Jackets, it feels like SEB has done just that.
While I love the Erk Russell Classic and the impact it has, I love that this series is back on campus sites. Last season at Fred Shaver Field was one of the most electric atmospheres I’ve seen in that stadium in the 5 years I’ve been calling games for the Jackets (rivaled only by maybe the home playoff game in 2021).
This season, I can only expect the same fantastic atmosphere at historic Womack Field in mid-August.
This rivalry doesn’t have the number of games, but the last two seasons have been incredible matchups, and with the programs both having skyrocketing trajectories it adds another layer.
Both of these programs are led by incredible coaches that are elevating the young men on and off the field.
When the lights get flicked on, and boot meets ball in the Boro, the Battle of Bulloch clashes again in what had built to a fantastic rivalry in Southeast Georgia.
Tiger Hunt
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We are only a few weeks away from the start of the 2025 high school football season.
Douglas County (Douglasville) is a talented team that has a chance to compete for the 6A state championship.
Last season the Tigers were 11–3 and advanced to the state semifinals. They lost to the eventual state champions Grayson, 35–28. They were 13–1 in 2023. They are led by head coach Johnny White.
Their best player is Edge Jordan Carter. Carter is a four-star recruit and the No. 11 player in Georgia for the Class of 2026. He is committed to Texas A & M. He’s 6’4, 235 pounds so he has the prototypical size for a defensive end. As a junior he had 62 total tackles, 35 solo, 17 TFL and 13 sacks.
Wide receiver Aaron Gregory is also a four-star recruit and a Texas A & M commit. He’s 6’3, 170 lbs. so he’s a tall and athletic receiver. In 2024 he had 914 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. He also played defensive back and had 61 total tackles, 42 solo, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 pass deflections.
They have another four-star wide receiver, Devin Carter. Carter is 6’0.5, 170 lbs. and committed to Florida State. He is the third player on the team ranked inside the top 15 in the state for the 2026 recruiting class. His father, Dexter Carter, played running back at Florida State and he was drafted in the 1st round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played for the 49ers and Jets.
Last season Carter had 41 receptions, 669 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Safety Jamar Owens is a three-star recruit and he’s committed to Indiana. He’s 6’0 and 180 pounds. Last year he had 70 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. He also had offers from Texas A&M, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Texas, Florida State, USC and others.
Running back Zamarcus Lindley is a three-star recruit. In 2024 he had 1,224 rushing yards, 14 scores and he averaged 7.4 yards per carry. He also had 11 catches for 92 yards and a TD. The 5’11, 200 pound running back is being recruited by Memphis, Boston College, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State, USF, Navy, Southern Miss and others.
Junior offensive tackle Joshua Sam-Epelle is 6’9, 340 pounds. The four-star recruit is committed to South Carolina.
The season kicks off on Saturday, August 16th in the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes Benz Stadium. They play North Gwinnett and the Bulldogs were 12–1 last year.
They have some tough non-region opponents. They play Langston Hughes in the fourth game. The Panthers were 13–2 in 2024 and they made it to the 5A state championship game. They played last year and the Tigers won, 21-14.
They travel to Buford the following week. Buford won last season’s game, 31-14. The Wolves were 12-2 last year.
The Tigers are in AAAAAA Region 2 and they begin region play October 3rd against East Coweta. Carrollton won the game last year and they were 14-1. They lost some senior talent from that team. I expect for Douglas County to win the region.
The schedule is tough so they might lose a few games during the regular season. I believe that will help them once the playoffs begin. They should make another deep playoff run if the team stays healthy.
Schedule
8/16 vs North Gwinnett
8/22 @ Jonesboro
8/29 vs Newton
9/5 @ Langston Hughes
9/12 @ Buford
9/26 vs Columbia
10/3 East Coweta
10/10 @ Westlake
10/24 vs Chapel Hill
10/31 @ Carrollton
Hoping For New Sting
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When you play high school football for over 100 years and win a lot more games than you lose, the expectations are always high.
The town of Jesup, Georgia absolutely loves the hometown Yellow Jackets. And fall in the air in Jesup means FOOTBALL.
The Wayne County Jacket faithful are some of the most knowledgeable and gung-ho around. They live and breathe it.
That makes things a lot harder to stomach when you have a year like the Jackets had in 2024. It was ugly and brutal. And those are some of the nicest things a lot of people would say.
The Jackets lost nine games. A very tough pill to swallow.
Even worse was the fact that they were largely uncompetitive in the majority of those games. The Jackets scored a total of 51 points in 9 games while giving up 356. They gave up 40 points or more in six of those nine games. Like I said, it was ugly.
Coming off of a seven-win season the year before, hopes were high with a new Head Coach in John Mohring.
Mohring is a well respected young coach. Having been a small college All-American linebacker right up the road at Georgia Southern. He knows the X’s and O’s.
What he ran into was unexpected. The Jackets were young and played a very tough schedule. It showed particularly on offense.
The question is can the Yellow Jackets rebound? A lot of young kids got playing time in 2024. Let’s hope it helped because most of those same teams are on the 2025 schedule.
Throw in a 33-9 loss to Crisp County in the spring game and It’s time to batten down the hatches in Jesup.
Below is the 2025 schedule along with results from last year if applicable.
8/15 @ Glynn Academy: (lost 16-10) Red Terrors should be better this year than last.
8/22 @ Brunswick High School: (lost 49-7) Pirates are VERY good.
8/29 Appling County: These teams don’t like each other.
9/5 @ Pierce County: (lost 35-0) Pierce was 11-2 last year.
9/12 Richmond Hill: (lost 42-0) Always a powerhouse and growing.
9/26 Warner Robins: (lost 36-3) No rest for the weary
10/3 Perry: (lost 56-7) Ditto.
10/17 @ Benedictine: (lost 40-0) Cadets are always tough.
10/25 New Hampstead: (lost 40-7) a chance here?
10/31 @ Ware County: (lost 42-7) No chance.
It is an incredibly difficult schedule with teams with an overall record of 73-44 from last year.
Work hard and play hard. Good luck Jackets.
