By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Brunswick High Pirates kicked off their 2016 season in front of a enthusiastic home crowd at Glynn County Stadium against the Coffee High Trojans and came up on the short end of a heartbreaking 21-20 final score against the highly ranked Trojans.

The Pirates with new running back Brandon McMaster broke into the scoring column with a highlight film 31 yard TD run to get the Pirates on top 7-0 with 8:52 left in the first quarter.

McMaster followed that up with a 15 yard TD run with 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter to put the Pirates up 13-0 heading into the second period of play. The Pirates missed the PAT.

The speedy Pirate defense led by LB Sherrod Fraizer played well throughout the entire contest.

The second quarter was a slug fest until Coffee scored a TD with 36 seconds left in the first half to cut the Pirate lead to 13-7. The Pirates had a huge Reggie Jackson sack on third down erased due to a personal foul call that kept a Trojan drive alive.

Kalvin Godette returned the second half kickoff to the Trojan 38 yard line then 8 plays later McMaster scored from 6 yards out to make it 20-7 with 7:45 left in the third quarter. His third TD of the night.

The Pirate defense forced a fumble and the offense could not convert and botched a fake punt on fourth and 3 from around their own 40 yard line giving Coffee a golden opportunity inside the Pirate 40 yard line. That was short lived as Danijah Gammage picked off a Trojan pass in the end zone to stop a Coffee drive.

On the next drive Brandon McMaster rolled his ankle and did not return to the contest midway through the third quarter. The third quarter ended with Brunswick leading 20-7.

With 6:58 left in the contest Dalrone Donaldson burned the Pirate secondary on a beautiful double move and caught a 35 yard TD pass from Max Hughes to cut the lead to 20-14.

Without McMaster the Pirate offense sputtered in the 4th quarter and Coffee forced a three and out and took over on their own 29 yard line after a booming 54 yard punt from Pirate punter Seth Neugebauer.

Facing a second and long Coffee threw a swing pass to RB Meaty Davis that was dropped and contact was made by a Pirate defender which resulted in a controversial personal foul call that kept another Coffee drive alive that resulted in the go ahead touchdown a 23 yard TD pass to Milton Jackson from Max Hughes to tie it at 20 with 3:24 left in the game. Coffee converted the PAT to go up 21-20.

One last Pirate opportunity ended with a dropped pass on 4th and 7 and the Trojans ran out the clock for the win.

Pirate Report Card:

Offense: C. The offense did some great things early in the rushing game. McMaster had 16 carries for 105 yards and 3 TD’s before he left the game. After his injury this unit struggled.

Shawn Smith had 5 catches and Terrell Carmena had two clutch first down receptions that kept drives alive.

Defense: B. This unit is solid. Fast and athletic it caused Coffee issues all night. Forced 3 turnovers and was on field the entire 4th quarter. Held Coffee to 43 yards rushing. Gave up 280 passing yards.

Special Teams: B-. Missed extra point was big. Kick coverage was fantastic and Godette set up a TD with a great kickoff return.

Coaching: B+. This team was ready to play. Was in good position all night to make plays on defense, and play calling was very good on offense.

Overall: B. Brunswick lost by one point to a team that is highly ranked that they should have beat. Clean some little things up and this team will contend for a region championship.

Pirates will figure out how to win these type of ball games in 2016. This is a very good football team folks.