By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

On a beautiful night for football at Glynn County stadium the Brunswick High Pirates dropped a hard fought 35-28 to the arch rival Glynn Academy Red Terrors for the third consecutive year. The loss marks the first time Brunswick High has dropped three in row in the series since 1983.

BHS set the tone early with a magnificent 83-yard kickoff return by Shawn Smith to put the Pirates up 6-0 as the Pirates went for two and did not convert.

Brunswick High gave up a whopping 361 yards rushing to the Terrors. I never saw that coming as the BHS defense has been rock solid all year long. The Pirates had absolutely no answer for Kendall Cross and Dee Jay Dallas who both had over 100 yards rushing each with Cross putting up 190. The Pirates gave up 440 of total offense to Glynn Academy.

Jamarius Stevens continues to develop into a quality QB for BHS. His running skills improve each and every week.

Pirate Report Card

Offense: B. Nice balanced effort by the BHS offense with 166 rushing and 139 passing.

Points were left on the board however in first half after a partially blocked punt that set the Pirates up on the GA 22-yard line failed to produce points, and a highlight reel interception by Sharrod Frazier produced nothing after the Pirates we set up a midfield.

The offense did respond with a nice 66-yard drive that tied the game at 21 after the Pirates converted the two-point conversion. The offense did answer down 35-21 with a DJ Whitfield 53-yard TD catch where he ran away from the GA secondary.

I wish the Pirates would have taken more deep shots at Terror secondary, and we have to figure out more ways to get Whitfield the ball in space.

The two-minute offense needs some work on picking up the pace. The effort was there and Coach Harold put in some nice wrinkles. Offense played well enough to win. Nice solid effort in a championship game.

Defense: C-. The theme for the BHS season in 2016 was run with the Pirates or get run over. Well the Pirate defense got run over all night long. The Pirates defensive line got pushed around all night, and Cross and Dallas attacked our linebackers all night long.

Dallas killed the Pirates on the edge as they could not set it most of the night. Cross got most of his 190 right up the gut of the defense. The effort was solid and you can’t find fault in that.

The defense did give the offense one last shot by getting a stop late and gave Brunswick a chance to drive the field for a tie or win late. Worst performance of the year by this group. Give Glynn credit at the end of the day their offense was just better than Brunswick’s defense. I know this group will rebound though. They work too hard to not bounce back.

The eight-minute TD drive to start the second half by GA made me realize they were just better than the Pirates.

Special Teams: A. A very solid effort. A return TD to set the tone early and great kick coverage all night long. This is where going into the game I thought Glynn might expose us but Brunswick outplayed GA on Special Teams.

Coaching: B. The Pirates were ready to play and were in position all night to make plays but players play and have to produce when opportunity presents itself. The ‘I’ set on the goal line is something I would like to see incorporated more on the offensive side. Nice game plan on offense.

Overall: B. I hate losing to Glynn Academy in anything. Marbles, dominos, checkers, etc you get my drift. The kids played the best team I have seen at GA in my 51 years of existence down to the wire. Brunswick will be fine.

Next up Effingham. A must win in Springfield next Friday. Brunswick will absolutely have to have this game.

Well, I guess I will have wear the GA colors again next year to pay off a long standing wager with the GA Principal. I just hope Benadryl is not out of stock when that day comes next October.