By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I’m going to ask everyone to do me a favor. I know, you’re still full from Thanksgiving and tired from Friday Night’s game, but hang with me.

I want everyone to think way back to the beginning of the school year. All the way back to week one, when Josh Anderson went viral for doing the worm from his tackle position (It actually worked). Glynn fell to Benedictine that day 31-8. The Terrors looked like a team that had lost it’s 5-Star Quarterback and Benedictine looked like it’s State Champion self.

Fast forward to Friday night, the day after Thanksgiving. Both of those teams had advanced to the Elite Eight in their respective divisions. One advanced to the Final 4, can you guess which?

Glynn Academy demolished Harrison 31-7, advancing to the Final 4 for the second time in 3 years. Behind one of the top defenses in the state and a devastating option attack, Glynn has an absolutely real chance to bring a title to the Golden Isles.

So why the trip down memory lane? Well, Glynn did not look like a contender in week one, but the old adage is that a season is a “marathon not a sprint”.

The Terrors started the year hurt, young, and starting a ton of guys at new spots. Since that time they’ve gotten stronger, in what Coach Hidalgo calls the greatest in season growth in weight room strength he’s ever seen.

They’ve become much more comfortable at their positions. At this time last year Randon Jernigan was a slot receiver and Caine Crews was in the secondary. Instead, Jernigan led a clean option attack, while Crews led the backfield with 30 carries for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns against Harrison.

The final few weeks of this season, this team has found itself. It may not be as flashy as last year, but it’s better.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a team that can move the ball on this defense consistently. Names like Marlon Taylor, Hunter Hall, and Marvin Dallas would all be 3 or 4 stars in North Georgia, but still put on their hard hats and lay the wood to opponents week in and week out.

Harrison High School was just the latest to run into the buzzsaw that has begun spinning in Brunswick.

Sure, the Hoyas were without the best player in the Country in Justin Fields, but I doubt it would’ve made a huge difference on Friday night.

See, you actually need the football to be successful as a quarterback and Glynn put a stranglehold on the time of possession with drives lasting 15, 7, 10, and 8 plays respectively.

The Hoyas started the 4th quarter with a 3 and Out and didn’t see the ball until their were five minutes left on the game clock. Harrison simply couldn’t get the Terrors off the field.

Harrison also added a new wrinkle in how to attempt to stop Glynn, when they decided to just not cover Glynn’s receivers. Glynn was able to connect on one deep pass, and should’ve had another walk-in touchdown.

If these Terrors are to continue on to the Mercedes Benz Stadium, they must clear one final hurdle and it’s their biggest one to date.

For the first time in the playoffs, Glynn must pack up and hit the road as they head over to Lee County High School for their Final 4 matchup.

The Trojans are a very good football team, sitting at 12-1 on the season. Though their one loss did come against a Valdosta team that Glynn dominated to start the playoffs. To be fair, Lee beat Richmond Hill, but we aren’t going to talk about the Richmond Hill game.

So, the road to the Benz is very simple: beat Lee and you’re there. The Terrors are ready, are you?