By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It is football time in Coastal Georgia, and with all of the hype in Glynn County pointing to the south end of town the Brunswick High Pirates located on the north side of Brunswick are left wondering where is the love.

The Pirates coming off a very disappointing 3-7 season in 2015 look to rebound in 2016 returning 18 starters who started at one time or another in 2015.

Coach Larry Harold enters his second season on Altama Avenue with the ingredients returning to make a run at a region 2-AAAAAA championship.

On offense the Pirates have all 5 starters returning on a big and athletic offensive line headed by UGA commit 6’6 319 pound senior D’Antne Demery.

Jemarious Stevens will bring a strong arm and athletic ability to the QB position. Shawn Smith the senior WR/QB/RB/KR will stretch any opponent defense. The speedy Smith is committed to play for the University of South Carolina.

At running back the Pirates have Ben McCloud, Shaq Robinson returning for their junior seasons and also Camden County transfer and national recruit Brandon McMaster.

On defense the Pirates have Reggie Jackson coming back on the DL along with Rudy Nixon who missed last year due to injury.

The LB unit is solid with Kam Futch and Sherrod Frazier leading a group that may be the best in Region 2-AAAAAA.

Jaylen Jackson is back for his junior year after missing last year with a knee injury and has locked down one of the safety positions and is a real ball hawk.

The schedule is tough and here are my game by game predictions:

8/26: Coffee visits Glynn County Stadium and typically struggles on the road with BHS. Many predict a Coffee win but I see the Pirates sending a message and winning 28-20.

9/2: @ Cook. The Pirate power running game wears down Cook in second half. Pirates win 28-14.

9/9: Wayne County comes to Brunswick and will get beat like they always do here. Brunswick 35-20.

9/16: Camden travels up I-95 to visit. Brunswick has not beat Camden since 1999. I have to see it to believe it. Camden 31-21.

9/23: The 3-1 Pirates hit the road to Guyton to play South Effingham. Pirates lost in Guyton last year and will not repeat that in 2016. Brunswick 35-10.

10/7: 4-1 Pirates cannot get caught looking ahead playing at Bradwell in region opener. Pirates struggle and win 20-14. Pirates go to 5-1

10/14: Glynn Academy. Glynn is loaded and this game will be for the Region 2-AAAAAA championship. Talent is not that far apart. Glynn has Dee Jay, Randon, and Kendall Cross and the experience from the Dome is the difference. Geez, it pains me to say this Glynn 24-21 over the Pirates. This is a shaky pick though in a rivalry game that has bad blood involved in it after the events of 2015.

10/21: @ Effingham. Ok I have a bad taste in my mouth on how the Pirates were treated in Springfield last year. If Coach Harold needed me I would suit up and play these people. I don’t respect them and their bush league tactics from last year. What kind of leaders do they have up there that would not allow their kids to shake our kid’s hands after the game last year? Pirates win 24-7.

10/28: Richmond Hill travels here with athletes and BHS better be on its game. Senior Night at Glynn County stadium and the Pirates find a way to win in a wild one 42-35. Games with Richie Hill are always wild scoring affairs. Pirates go to 7-2 on the season and lock down a number 2 playoff seed and host a playoff game in Brunswick.

11/4: Pirates travel to Atlanta area to play Osborne and get playoff ready and win 35-21.

Pirates will host a State Playoff game the weekend of November 11^th. Pirates finish the regular season at 8-2 and get ready for a Region Championship in 2017.