By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

After a huge win in the region opener against Glynn Academy the Brunswick High Pirates have an inside track to win the region. Here are my mid-season grades for Brunswick.

Special Teams: B+: Anthony Elvine has become a weapon punting the football.

He is close to setting a school record for punts downed inside the 15-yard line. He is a weapon he creates a long field for Pirate opponents.

Elvine is having an all-region season at punter.

Kyle Rehberg is putting many of his kickoffs in the end zone in 2020, and the big third quarter FG that gave BHS a 17-7 lead in the City Championship game ended up being the difference in a wild 24-21 win.

The Pirates are still waiting on the big kick return for BHS in 2020, but the special teams area, which has long been a weakness for BHS has become a team strength in 2020.

Defense: B+: The defense is giving up under 20 points per game this season.

Kashawn Thomas is starting to make a name for himself on the defensive line and has become that force in the middle of the defense for BHS.

We know what Cameron Crump and AJ Wilson can do at linebacker. Zane Rosenbaum was the defensive player of the game in the City Championship.

In the secondary Devontae Gadson is having a solid season. This unit, led by DC Thomas Tedder, is much improved in 2020.

The unit gave up two long TD drives in the 4^th quarter against Glynn so there is room for improvement.

Offense: B: The offensive line coached up by OC Garrett Grady has become one of the best in South Georgia.

Caleb Cook and Kanaya Charlton are major college prospects at tackle.

Keegan Carroll, Jaquan Gibson, and David Newbauer round out a starting unit that can execute the power run game and protect the passer.

The Wolfpack or the running back group Ree Simmons and Chuckobe Hill are the best tandem in the region.

Simmons is having a great season, and Hill is back from an injury suffered in season opener.

The emergence of Leon Charlton has given BHS three great options at running back.

Tyrease Jones just made the greatest play in BHS history to win the City Championship game from that will forever be known as “The Miracle Between the Bricks” a 75-yard TD pass caught off of a deflection plus all-out sprint to the end zone that broke a losing streak in the series.

KJ Lee is having the season we all expected of him. Great arm talent.

Coaching: B+: Sean Pender has done a fantastic job with this team. The players love their coaches and there is a sense of unity on this team that stands out.

This team is still improving weekly. Pender has put his stamp on the program with the win over the Terrors.

There is still a lot of work to do with this team in 2020, but they are definitely heading in the right direction.

The goals for BHS every season are:

City Championship

Region Championship

State Championship

Goal #1 is complete now it is on to Goal #2, which will be decided over the next few weeks.

Stay tuned the 2020 football story is still being written at BHS because” It’s All About the Family” for the City Champions.