Kings Of The ACC?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
2022 Record: 11-3 overall, 9-0 in ACC
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney, 16th year: 161-39
How far Clemson goes in 2023 will depend on the QB position.
Cade Klubnik is now the man. A former 5-star recruit is in the spotlight now. Klubnik does not have to be a superstar he just needs to be productive.
Let us be honest Clemson fans you have become spoiled with the QB position. Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence will not suit up for the Tigers ever again.
Klubnik cannot fold under the pressure of trying to live up to standards in the position that may never be met again at Clemson. He played well in the ACC Championship game last season with 280 yards passing and passed for over three hundred yards in an Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee but had some growing pains in that contest.
Can he lead Clemson back to the College Football playoffs? Clemson has missed the playoffs for the last two seasons. The expectations now at Clemson are playoffs of bust.
Will Shipley is a great all-purpose running back with 1,182 yards and 15 TDs in 2022. He also caught thirty-eight passes.
Clemson always has good WR talent and a solid physical offensive line. Swinney has recruited great over the years.
On defense the secondary must improve. What separates Clemson from the rest of the ACC is what they produce along the defensive line. The combination of Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis might be the best in the country at defensive tackle.
I am hearing a lot of talk about how FSU has surpassed Clemson in the ACC. Well talent-wise that is not the case. Clemson has talent all over this roster and are the kings of the ACC until someone knocks them off the mountain top.
Schedule and my predictions:
9-4 * at Duke: Conference game opener for the Tigers on the road at Duke. Not important because Clemson will handle Duke 38-13 to go 1-0 on the season.
9-9 Charleston Southern: Home opener and CSU will be nothing more than a sacrificial lamb here. Clemson 49-7. 2-0
9-16 Florida Atlantic: Another beatdown at home for the Tigers. 55-10 and 3-0 on the season.
9-23 * Florida State: Ok FSU here is your chance to be the new kings of the ACC. There will be mega hype surrounding this one.
FSU will claim that they are a 1990’s version of the Seminoles, but at the end of the day you will be standing there watching Clemson touch that rock and run down that hill and the realization will set in that you are not there yet. Clemson wins 24-17. 4-0 on the season. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.
9-30 * at Syracuse: Upset alert for the Tigers. Be careful here. Clemson 24-21. 5-0.
10-7 * Wake Forest: Wake should be a bowl team but that will not matter. Clemson 34-20. 6-0.
10-21 * at Miami (Fla.): Tigers enter the teeth of their schedule. Could they fall here?
The pundits will try to create a narrative by predicting it, but it will not happen. 27-17. 7-0.
10-28 * at NC State: This one has me worried if I am a Clemson fan. 17-14 win. 8-0.
11-4 Notre Dame: After what happened last year in South Bend this one is circled on the Clemson schedule. Clemson wins big 34-17. 9-0
11-11 * Georgia Tech: Jackets are still rebuilding. Clemson 35-13. 10-0.
11-18 * North Carolina: Carolina is horrible on defense. Clemson wins 48-35. 11-0.
11-25 at South Carolina: The Gamecocks now have confidence in this series. I am calling for the upset. South Carolina wins 21-17. Clemson finishes the regular season at 11-1. The loss will not affect Clemson’s playoff chances, as the Tigers win another ACC title the following week.
* – ACC regular-season game.
A 12-1 Clemson gets in the College Football Playoff as the ACC champion along with Georgia, Michigan, and Texas or USC.
Killer Cocks
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC East has an odds-on favorite to take the crown for the third straight year in the Georgia Bulldogs, but one team that looks to rival the Dawgs comes up third in the SEC preseason media poll in the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Head Coach Shane Beamer begins year three at the helm in Columbia looking to build on the 8-5 record a year ago.
After the Gamecocks totaled 6 wins in 2019 & 2020 combined to end Will Muschamp’s tenure, “Beamer-ball” has brought in a seven win and an eight-win campaign.
The 2022 season embodied the old adage “Play your best ball at the end of the season”. The Gamecocks round out the year winning three of their last four games including demolishing #5 Tennessee 63-38 (albeit a Vols team without QB Hendon Hooker) and knocking off the in-state rival and then #7 Clemson 31-30.
A huge reason for the resurgence of the Gamecocks squad in the back half of 2022 was transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma. Rattler finished the season with 438 yards and 6 passing scores against Tennessee and threw for 360 yards against Clemson.
The offense for South Carolina seems to have picked up where it left off to finish last season with Rattler along with 5 other starters back on the offensive side of the ball that helped South Carolina average 44 points per game in their last 3 regular season games (all against top 25 opponents).
Defense has been a struggle for Beamer’s club the past few years and gave up an average of over 400 yards per game last year. The rush defense is going to have to step up after opponents netted almost five yards per rush in 2022.
The schedule is not favorable for Beamer’s bunch with Phil Steele rating the Gamecock’s 2023 schedule as the 2nd toughest schedule in FBS football (only behind Florida).
The season gets kicked off with the battle of the Carolinas on September 2nd in Charlotte against the Tar Heels.
After a week 2 matchup with the FCS Furman Paladins, the Gamecocks hit the meat of the schedule in week three when they head between the hedges in Athens, Ga.
The first month of the season is no joke with that week three matchup at Georgia, then after a home game against Mississippi State, the Tennessee Volunteers will welcome South Carolina into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
After the trip to Knoxville, South Carolina will get a much-needed bye week to start October. Then it’s a homecoming matchup with Florida at Williams-Brice Stadium, before back-to-back weeks on the road at Missouri and Texas A&M.
The saving grace of the schedule for South Carolina comes in November where the final four regular season games are in Columbia starting with the first ever Gamecocks vs Gamecocks meeting with Jacksonville State coming to Williams-Brice.
Meetings with Vandy and Kentucky will sandwich the four-game home stretch before finishing off the regular season against Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
If South Carolina is going to have a successful 2023 season they will have to go about it a different way than 2022.
Last season began 5-2 and the national polls had the Gamecocks ranked for the first time since 2018, but I don’t see that happening in 2023.
I do expect Rattler to have a huge year leading the Gamecock offense, and to give Georgia more of a run than the 48-7 routing that the Dawgs handed the Gamecocks last year, but the schedule is brutal.
This team can take a huge step forward on the field and still end up with less wins than the 8-win 2022, but South Carolina will be in that 7-9 win range. The difference between the 7 and 9 depends solely on the defense.
ACC All Gone?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC and Big Ten (right now) don’t want to expand and steal someone from the ACC or Pac-12, both commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti have stated that publicly.
The potential implosion of the ACC or Pac-12 might change that. If the Pac-12 collapses or big names like North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson and the like find a way out of the ACC Grant of Rights, the Big Ten and SEC would be concerned about the other scooping up another big market name, and that changes the dynamic.
Sankey has maintained that the SEC only added Texas/Oklahoma because the schools approached the conference and SEC would have been foolish to pass. (And yes, Notre Dame is the only obvious TV additive right now if you’re the SEC or Big Ten, sorry).
If I’m the ACC, increasing my value is top priority, therefore I wouldn’t fall far behind the Big Ten and the SEC, and keep it that way until at least the end of the decade. Smart conferences will already find new revenue streams in a new and ever-evolving market.
Would a smart conference stay in contact with the Pac-12? Would some sort of scheduling alliance or partnership be available? An eye on the Pac-12; if anyone follows Colorado out the door, it could lead to total collapse.
Already, Florida State, Clemson and others have made it clear that they believe they deserve more (money). Do they see themselves splitting the pie by another four slices? Is it evenly shared? Probably not. Could you do a tiered revenue split and add a western wing? I know things are never as simple as they sound on paper, but I’d explore any option to preserve the brightest future for the program.
Of course, there is always the possibility that someone challenges the ACC’s grant of rights and tries to exit the league. Florida State has a virtual board of trustees meeting soon.
The Seminoles would have to give notice of their withdrawal from the ACC by Aug. 15 in order to compete in a new league by fall 2024 (where would they go? How much is the exit fee?).
If the ACC breaks open, we’ll have a different conversation. The ACC could keep its current membership and become an aggressor in the media profit landscape if 1) they want a fight; and 2) they don’t open up an escape for FSU or Clemson or anyone to get out of the grant of rights.
The ACC corner of realignment is the most intriguing off-field action. The more I watch, the more questions surface. The result of this conflict will set the tone and trajectory for the future of a historically competitive conference.
Who? KSU!
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s hard to believe Kennesaw State started playing football in 2015.
During that time, they have made four playoff appearances. The Owls have a record of 68 – 24 (.739).
KSU won the Big South Conference and went 11 – 2 in 2021. They were ranked No. 8 in the 2022 preseason poll. The season did not go as planned and they were 5 – 6, which was their first losing season in program history.
Kennesaw State is making the transition from FCS to FBS. This is the final season in FCS before they join Conference USA in 2024.
“This is a great day for all of Owl Nation as our ascent into Conference USA will help the Owls soar to new landmarks. I am most excited for our student-athletes, coaches, and staffs that have worked so hard to represent KSU. Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their talent on a larger stage. President Schwaig’s leadership played a pivotal role in this opportunity, and I am grateful for her and all those that made this possible. I look forward to new opportunities and achievements for KSU within a conference that has a history of growing the brands of its members,” KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.
FBS-transitioning Kennesaw State’s 2023 schedule features five FCS opponents, three non-D1 teams, and one FBS opponent at Sam Houston.
The leading returning rusher is graduate student quarterback Jonathan Murphy. He rushed for 468 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. He became the seventh player in KSU history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Wide receiver Isaac Foster is also a returning starter and grad student. In 2022 he rushed for 450 yards and 4 scores. He was also the leading receiver with 27 catches, 314 yards and 2 TD’s.
Junior running back Preston Daniels rushed for 423 yards, 4 touchdowns and he averaged 5 yards per carry.
Grad student defensive back Markeith Montgomery led the team in solo tackles last season. In 2022 he had 37 tackles, 5 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He is a leader on defense and he should have another great season in 2023.
The season kicks off on Thursday, August 31 against Tusculum. The Pioneers are a Division II team so this will be an easy win.
Week 2 is at Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Mocs were 7 – 4 last season so they are a good team. I think UTC will win this game.
The next game is home against Furman. The Paladins were 10 – 3 last year. Furman should win this game.
Week 4 is at Tennessee Tech. KSU is a better team than the Golden Eagles.
The second consecutive road game is at Charleston Southern. They played last season and Kennesaw State won, 30 – 20. I expect a similar result this year.
Week 6 they return home to face Tennessee State. The Tigers are coached by former Tennessee Titan great, Eddie George. This will be an easy win for the Owls.
Surprisingly, KSU has a two-week layoff before the play Division II Lincoln. This is another W.
KSU travels to Sam Houston State next and this is a loss.
The season finale is home against Division II Virginia-Lynchburg. Pencil this in as a victory.
Kennesaw State should win six of their nine games this season.
Old Familiar Sting?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Tech has a great athletic tradition. When I was growing up they were one of the few programs where the football team went to bowl games and the men’s basketball team made the NCAA tournament consistently.
From 1997 to 2014 there was just one losing season, and even then it was because the 2010 team lost the Independence Bowl. Over the last few years that has completely changed.
The last winning season for the Yellow Jackets was in 2018. That was also Paul Johnson’s final season in Atlanta.
The Geoff Collins era began after that. Collins was flashy and seemed to be more concerned with establishing a social media presence than focusing on coaching. He was fired after the team started the 2022 season 1 – 3. His overall record at Tech was 10 – 28.
Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Brent Key was named the interim head coach. He led them to a 4 – 4 record and the interim tag was taken off on November 29 as Key was named Georgia Tech’s 21st head football coach.
This seems like a perfect fit to lead the program in the right direction. Key played guard at Tech from 1997 – 2000, starting all four years. The team showed significant improvement when he took over and they hope that momentum will carry over into the 2023 season.
Quarterback Jeff Simms transferred to Nebraska. He was the starter for the last three seasons. Haynes King has transferred in from Texas A&M and he is battling Zach Pyron for the starting job. King has a 3 – 4 record as a starter for the Aggies.
Wide receiver Dominick Blaylok has also transferred in from UGA. He’s a former four-star recruit that has battled injuries. He tore his ACL as a freshman in 2019 and later re-injured it in 2020. Last season he caught 15 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown.
This season the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions have been eliminated. With the two-division setup gone, the top two teams will now play for the ACC Championship.
The offense should be better this season. In 2022, the Yellow Jackets had the worst passing offense in the ACC, were dead last in third down conversions, downfield passing, and tackles for loss allowed. The team scored more than 16 points just five times – those were the five wins, by the way.
The offensive line has to step up. They have four starters returning so that experience should help.
Transfer linebackers Braelen Oliver (Minnesota) and Andre White, Jr. (Texas A&M) are hard hitters that played roles for their former teams. They have a chance to be stars this season. Defensive lineman Etinosa Reuben transferred from Clemson and he will bring a physical presence to the D line.
Junior LaMiles Brooks is one of the best safeties in the ACC. Last season he had 52 tackles, three interceptions and he earned third-team all-ACC recognition in his first season as a starter.
Let’s take a look at the schedule and see how this season should play out.
Wins: SC State, Bowling Green, Boston College, at Virginia
Losses: Louisville, at Ole Miss, at Wake Forest, at Miami, North Carolina, at Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia
I picked the games that should be wins for the Yellow Jackets. I think they have a chance against Louisville, Wake Forest and North Carolina. If they can win two of those games they will play in a bowl game.
Walking the Plank
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There was no way for the Bucs to find another quarterback who could command the offense the way Brady did. So, they chose to give the gifted but unsuccessful Baker Mayfield a chance and allow room for the development of second-year passer Kyle Trask.
The Bucs will be dependent on much more than whoever is throwing the ball. They will need solid coaching, an improved running game, dependable receivers, and a better defense. It will take many to replace the greatest in the history of the game.
I feel like the Bucs, without Tom Brady, have fallen off the face of the earth. Has there ever been a team that went from winning a Super Bowl two short years ago to fighting for relevance within its own division this fast? (OK, let’s leave the Rams out of this.)
Let’s start with the reality that Tampa was somewhat limited by salary cap issues they knew would come due (such as $35 million in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement). Releasing running back Leonard Fournette ($5 million) and several others totaling $75 million in dead money … yikes. Nothing like biting the bullet for 2023- and Tampa Bay has lead teeth.
The Bucs defense is easiest to trust, and they will have to sustain dominance to give their tender offense the chance to score. Overall, they ranked in the top half of the league in most defensive stats last season, being top 10 in sacks and third down stops.
Devin White’s performance has tailed off a bit since his All-Pro season in 2020, nevertheless he is a supremely gifted linebacker and at 25 he probably has not yet played his best ball.
White should be more motivated than ever. He reportedly requested a trade in the offseason because he wants his contract reworked.
The Bucs exercised the option year of his rookie contract and he will be a free agent after this season, barring an extension or tag.
White knows the cost of middle linebackers has gone up in the last year with Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, and Tremaine Edmunds signing new deals. White and the defense need to play at an extremely high level for the Bucs to have anywhere close to a successful season.
I like GM Jason Licht’s philosophy of drafting BIG with his top three picks this year — two front-seven players on defense and an offensive tackle. Add free-agent acquisition Greg Gaines from the Rams at defensive tackle, and this group has gotten a nice makeover on a limited budget.
Also, it’s year 2 under head coach Todd Bowles, and roles should be defined more clearly after the awkward departure of Bruce Arians last offseason.
On offense, I struggle with Baker Mayfield. He is on his fourth team since being the first pick in the 2018 draft. I have less faith in Kyle Trask.
The Bucs’ inexperience at running back and lack of depth in the perimeter leave me with more questions than answers for this offense.
Today, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as the division winner from 2022, even if it was with an 8-9 record.
At least they have that Super Bowl trophy to shine up if all else fails. If the future’s looking bad, why not live in the past Tampa Bay?
Dragon Slayers
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The last time Coach Brandon Derrick started the season with a senior committed to a Division 1 team was 2018.
Jaylin Simpson and Jashawn Sheffield were ready to head to the plains to play for the Auburn Tigers, but first they had a State Championship to bring to St. Simons.
Fast forward to today. Record-setting running back Jordan Triplett is ready to embark on his final campaign in green & grey and is doing so as a future Air Force Academy Falcon.
After helping take the Knights to a state championship appearance in his freshman year, “The River” has his teammates ready to finish the job in 2023.
“They’ve committed themselves early on to come in, bust their butts,” says Head Coach Brandon Derrick, set to start his 11th season at the helm of Frederica Academy Football.
“They worked really hard in the off season, and then when I say off season, we started in January, when we started working out, we’ve had 125 possible days in the weight room. Everyone has been there for at least 120. They’ve worked really hard.”
The preseason roster sits at close to 40 players, which is higher than most seasons. The ability for the team to scrimmage against itself as opposed to the coaches will be a big relief, as will giving some in-game relief for some players that have been every down players on both offense & defense for the last few years.
Replacing graduated quarterback Sutton Ellis will be either Davis Durkin, Stanton Beverly, or Jalin Baldwin. According to Coach Derrick, it’s a three-way race between them at the moment, and Jordan Triplett may slide in and play some as well.
Here’s what the game-by-game results should look like for what should be another historic season in Frederica lore.
8/18 Brookwood School – Facing Brookwood at home and hopefully not during a multi-hour lightening delay should make a difference this year. The Knights open with a win, 31-13.
8/25 Tiftarea Academy – The Panthers are always a challenge, but a second straight week of home cookin’ takes the Knights to 2-0 to the tune of 28-17.
9/1 @ Valwood – Frederica gets it’s first of four road games on the season, heading over to Hahira. The Valiants play hard at home, but the Knights are already rolling & notch their third in a row 17-14.
9/15 John Milledge Academy – Holding fast to the 2018 parallels, Coach Derrick has his squad up against the reigning state champs under the oaks. Although the team finally lets one in the L column, the on-field performance proves to be a confidence builder. Knights lose a barnburner 42-38
9/22 @ Clinch County – The score is closer than last year’s 45-6 drubbing, but the Green & Grey can’t quite break back into the win column, falling 31-27.
9/29 @ Tattnall Square Academy – The Knights hit the road and bring home a signature win, getting the upset win over Tattnall 28-17.
10/5 Robert Toombs – It’s a happy homecoming as the Knights string together another win over one of their oldest rivals. Jordan Triplett has a massive game and a 49-9 blowout.
10/19 Bulloch Academy – The heated, hated rivalry with the Gators fires up once again. The road team historically has the advantage in this series, but the Knights are too focused at home. The March to Mercer begins with a 35-24 win.
10/27 Pinewood – It’s Senior Night, and the class of ’24 leaves their mark. The Patriots fall to the Knights big time, 41-28.
11/3 @ St. Andrew’s – The Lions still have a long way to go before they’re competitive in the region. Knights wrap up the regular season in a 45-9 slobber knocker.
FINAL RECORD – 8-2, Region Champions, deep run into the state playoffs.
Savage Bears
By: Garrison Ryfun
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Pierce County has been a powerhouse in 3A and 2A for years, winning their last state title in Fall 2020 while in 3A.
This year will be a rebuilding year for the Bears as they lose their top three rushers, starting quarterback, and three of their four top receivers from the 2022 season. I expect the Bears to bounce back fast as they seem to have in years past.
August 25th – Pierce vs Jeff Davis: I expect Pierce to win this game, though probably not to the margin they did last year. Expect some growing pains for the Bears but for them to win handily here.
September 1st – Pierce vs Metter: Pierce handily won over a decent Metter team in 2022. Look for a closer contest but still ultimately a win for the Bears, helping them get on track with a lot of new skill players.
September 8th – Pierce @ Liberty County: Pierce beat down Liberty County 47-6 last year, the worst loss Liberty had all season. Though I do expect some bumps in the road early in the season for Pierce, I have them winning this game against a team that will be hungry for revenge.
September 15th – Pierce vs Charlton County: The last non-region game of the season comes at home vs Charlton, another team they beat down last year 48-13. Charlton can be a solid 1A team, but I see Pierce really hitting their stride at this point in the season and picking up another win before region play starts.
September 22nd – Pierce @ Brantley County: The start of region play in 2023 for the Bears, the games that actually matter toward playoff seeding. There will be no drama in this contest between the Herons, the Bears will pick up their first region win in their first region game.
September 29th – Pierce vs Appling County: Appling County was one of two teams to beat Pierce last season, made it to the state semi-finals, and was also the winner of their region. With Appling returning more of their top talent, this game should favor the Pirates. Though I do expect Pierce to be back in gear by now, I think they drop this game to a tough Appling County team.
October 6th – Bye Week: This bye week comes at an opportune time after their first loss, and what will likely be a very physical contest.
October 13th – Pierce @ Toombs County: Toombs played Pierce very close last season in a 31-28 contest. In another rebuilding year I might call for an upset, but Toombs is losing their top two running backs from last season. Pierce will be in high gear at this point and will pull out a win at Toombs County.
October 20th – Pierce @ Windsor Forest: Windsor Forest has long been a punching bag in this area of high school football, with many teams making them a homecoming opponent over the years. Do not expect that to change this season, Pierce wins big in Savannah.
October 27th – Pierce vs Vidalia: Vidalia just missed the playoffs last season after losing to Tattnall County in October. This will be a team that will be hungry for that rematch. Between Pierce and Vidalia on the other hand, I have Pierce winning once again.
November 3rd – Pierce vs Tattnall County: Pierce vs Tattnall was not much of a contest last year as the Bears won 37-7. I think the game will be closer this year but I see Pierce winning this game to once again secure a home seed in the 2A playoffs.
I have a rebuilding Pierce County Bears team going 9-1, heading into the playoffs with a chance to make some noise.
Wave Of Terror
By: Garrison Ryfun
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Glynn Academy finished the 2022 season with a record of 6-5, after losing a close game in the first round of the playoffs at Northside-Warner Robins.
Throughout the 2022 season, Glynn evolved as a team and really found their offensive identity in the latter half of the season with a focus on getting the ball into their best playmakers’ hands.
Two of those playmakers will be back this season in junior Greg Peacock and recent Georgia Tech commit, senior David Prince.
This shift in offensive philosophy took the Terrors from averaging 20 points per game in their first seven games to 31.5 points per game in their last four.
August 18th – Glynn vs Statesboro: Last year in Statesboro, the Terrors won in a 43-42 shoot-out to begin their season. Since that game, the Terrors found their offensive identity and ended 2022 looking like a better team. While the Blue Devils of Statesboro ended their season on a disappointing note, finishing the year 3-8. I have Glynn picking up the win at home this year.
August 25th – Glynn @ McIntosh County Academy: The MCA game in 2022 was a game that felt like Glynn had full control of, but Glynn never pulled away. MCA is a solid 1A team, but I have Glynn picking up the win in Darien.
September 1st – Glynn vs Camden County: Last year’s Camden County game felt like a wake-up call for the Terrors. They were shut out until a long run from Hank Noonan in the fourth quarter. I expect the game to be closer this year, but don’t know if they will pull off the upset.
September 7th – Glynn vs Baker County (FL): A part of the 2nd Annual Florida-Georgia Border War Classic, this will be a Thursday night game for the Terrors. Last year they took on Creekside (FL) in the first Border War, losing 21-20 in a torrential downpour. Baker County beat Richmond Hill in the Classic last year and seemed to be a solid team in their division in Florida. I expect this to be a tough contest for the Terrors, and the homer in me wants to say they’ll pick up a hard fought win before the bye week.
September 15th – Bye Week: Region play starts after this bye week.
September 22nd – Glynn vs Brunswick High: Glynn will be the home team this year for the City Championship. Glynn has now lost three in a row to Brunswick, but last year was the widest margin of the three with Brunswick winning 55-21. Glynn will need to dominate time of possession and get some key turnovers if they want to win this year’s City Championship.
September 29th – Glynn @ Effingham County: Last season, with worries of Hurricane Ian threatening to impact South Georgia, the game was moved up to a Wednesday. After a disappointing loss in 2022, I expect Glynn to be hungry to get after Effingham this season.
October 6th – Glynn vs South Effingham: Though the scoreboard does not reflect it, this may have been the game where Glynn figured out their offensive identity last year. I expect this to be a bigger win for Glynn in 2023.
October 13th – Glynn @ Grovetown: The game where it seemed to all come together for Glynn in 2022, winning 46-13. Though the drive to Augusta will be long, I expect Glynn to pick up the win again this year.
October 20th – Glynn @ Evans: After a comeback 25-22 win against Evans last year, Glynn kept their #3 seed hopes alive. I expect Evans will put up a tough fight after last year’s win.
October 27th – Bye week
November 3rd – Glynn vs Lakeside (Evans): Glynn finished up the regular season last year, with a 42-20 win over Lakeside (Evans). A team that had some young stars, I expect the game to be a little closer this year but for Glynn to get the win.
For now, I have Glynn going 8-2 with losses to Camden and Brunswick High. This team will have a chance to make a legitimate run in the playoffs, like a lot of past Rocky Hidalgo-coached teams have.
Swash-Buc-Lers
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Coach Bradley Warren has done a fantastic job at McIntosh County Academy.
He begins his fifth season with the Buccaneers this fall. MCA finished 10-2 last fall winning the region championship.
Coach Warren said this about his football team: “We currently have 50-55 players on the roster. I feel like we have a solid core of young men to work with. They work hard and respond well to what we ask them to do. I have a great staff that devotes time to these young men and these kids respond to that. We have six starters returning on defense and four starters on offense coming back this fall. When you look at our region Jenkins County and ECI will be very good. We travel to both this fall. Portal is improving every year and Montgomery County was a playoff team last fall. I feel good about our football team and overall program. We have good younger talent coming through our program as well. Also, we have a great support system at MCA. Our fans are great, and we get great community support for all aspects of our football program.”
2023 Schedule/My Predictions:
8/18 At Johnson, Savannah: MCA opens the season in Savannah against Johnson. This game should not be much of a problem. Look for MCA to start the season 1-0.
8/25 Glynn Academy: The Terrors travel up Highway 17 to Darien to play MCA. 1A MCA always gives 6A Glynn Academy fits. Could the Bucs pull the huge upset? It is possible but not likely. MCA drops a close one to GA to go 1-1 on the season.
9/09 At West Nassau Florida (Brunswick, GA -Glynn County Stadium): MCA drilled West Nassau 42-8 in 2022 and will do the same in 2023. 2-1.
9/15 At Lanier County: Lanier County made the playoffs in 2022 and the bus must travel to Lakeland for this one. MCA finds a way to win. 3-1.
9/22 At Bradwell Institute: Another big jump in classification as MCA travels to Hinesville to play the Tigers. Bradwell is an enigma to me. Hinesville has historically been a tough place to play at. Bradwell has been down for years, but they have athletes. Based on how both programs have trended lately give me MCA in his contest. MCA beat Bradwell 40-13 at home in 2022. MCA goes to 4-1 on the season.
9/29 Atkinson County: ATCO will get drilled in Darien. MCA goes to 5-1 on the season and gets ready for the region schedule.
10/06 At Jenkins County: Coach Warren tells me that Jenkins County returns their entire offense from a 7-4 playoff team in 2022. A region opener on the road against a team that will contend for a region championship will be tough. Last season was a classic 4-OT thriller that MCA won 27-21 in Darien. MCA finds a way to win these types of games under Coach Warren. Give me MCA in another war. MCA is 6-1 on the season.
10/13 Montgomery County: The Bucs shut out the Eagles last season in Mt. Vernon and will win this one to go 7-1.
10/20 At Emanuel County Institute: ECI has been a good football program for a long time. Coach Warren corrected me when I said they were down in 2022. I glanced at their 2022 schedule, and they played Metter, Swainsboro, Lincoln County, Dublin, and Johnson County in non-region games. That is a brutal non-region schedule in single A football. This one will be tough for MCA. Going to be hard to beat both Jenkins and ECI on the road so I think ECI pulls this one out. The Bucs fall to 7-2 on the season.
10/27 Portal: MCA is not losing to Portal at home on Senior Night in Darien. MCA finishes the season at 8-2.
I have MCA, ECI, and Jenkins County all beating each other to finish 3-1 in the region standings. Region tie breaker scenarios will determine the playoff seeds 1-3 with Montgomery County being the four seed.
