By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

If you asked any coach they’d tell you every game is a must win. If I was being completely literal I’d tell you only region and playoff games are must wins.

But every team has games on their schedule that hold more meaning than just the win and loss columns; games that can swing the entire momentum of your season. This is a look at the three games that can be the difference between another exceptional season for Glynn or a mediocre one.

Benedictine at Glynn Academy (Glynn County Stadium 8/18)

Last August the Cadets used the Terrors as a launching pad for an undefeated, state championship season. The game was a 17 point punch in the mouth for a heavy favorite Glynn, who was coming off an appearance in the state championship the year before.

Now the Terrors are the ones who get to wear the chip on their shoulders. Benedictine has to play “between the bricks”, in a Glynn Stadium that will undoubtedly be at a fever pitch.

The Cadets lost starting running back John Kennedy III, but return starting quarterback Nick Iannone, as well as their all-purpose yardage leader Tyleek Collins. This team will be just as good, if not better, than a year ago.

In what will be a close contest, home field advantage might be the deciding factor. Expect Glynn to come out with their hair on fire. This is a loss they’ve been chewing on for 12 months and a huge win week one would be an amazing momentum boost to start the year.

Brunswick vs Glynn Academy (Glynn County Stadium 10/13)

“The Red River Shoot Out”, “ The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”, “The Game”. All great rivalries have a name, but the one that mostly closely describes this annual battle would have to be “Clean Old Fashioned Hate”.

To put it mildly, these schools don’t like each other. All that separates them is a quick three mile ride on MLK. These dudes see each other every day, everywhere. And Glynn has owned the Pirates since head coach Rocky Hidalgo’s arrival three years ago.

The senior class at Brunswick will be doing everything they can to avoid a career sweep against Glynn. Add in the facts that it’s a huge region game, and the Pirates will have a full seven games under new head man Sean Pender, and you have all the makings of a classic.

This game will be a prize fight. Everyone statewide will be interested to see who can emerge from the slugfest. In my opinion, this will be the game that decides the region.

Richmond Hill vs Glynn Academy (10/20)

The second to last game of the regular season will pit the Terrors against the most experienced team they will face all year. The Wildcats return twenty starters including their quarterback (Kasey Green), running back (Maurice Smith), and top three receivers (Sam James, Justin Jeffrey, and Aaron Bedgood).

Coming off what is sure to be an emotionally taxing game against Brunswick, the Terrors will have to jump right back into regional play. Richmond Hill only won a lone game in the region last year, but most of that can be attributed to the fact that nearly half of the team was made up of underclassmen. The Wildcats are another year older and another year stronger, and due to the fact that the region only consists of five teams, every regional game is crucial.

If Glynn can avoid a hangover from the week before they should be a favorite. However, if they come in off their game, even a little, expect this one to be very close. A win would be huge going into the last game of the regular season, and could maybe even offer them a chance to rest some guys the last week.

Again, every game is huge in a ten game season. But, if Glynn can find a way to win these three key matchups, they’ll be in a great position heading into the playoffs.