By: Colin Lacy

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Hard to believe already but the regular season for high school football in Georgia is at the halfway point of the year.

Today we’ll take a look at the report card for the four Bulloch County high school football teams; Southeast Bulloch, Statesboro, Bulloch Academy, and Portal.

Southeast Bulloch (4-1; 3-1 Reg3-3A) | A-

Southeast Bulloch has been off to a great start to the season with the only blemish on the card being the road loss at Calvary Day School.

The Jackets offense has been steadily growing despite a couple of injuries and culminated three 100 yard rushing performances so far.

Jacket Country saw Jayden Murphy rush for 160 yards and two scores against the Atom Smashers and Colby Smith following up with 130 yards and a score in the contest against Johnson. Smith followed the Johnson game up with 124 rushing yards against Windsor Forest last weekend.

Sophomore Quarterback Rhett Morgan is growing up before Head Coach Jared Zito’s eyes with two passing scores on the year and 5 explosive plays the past two weeks thru the air.

The Jackets defense led by Senior Kyle O’Brien, and Sophomore Brant Horst at the linebacker spots have held their own only allowing just over 100 rushing yards per game on the year and forcing 12 turnovers in the first five games.

Statesboro (2-3; 1-2 Reg1-5A) | C+

Second year Head Coach Matt Dobson has had a tough go at through the first half of the year.

After falling to cross town rival SEB in the opener, the Blue Devils picked up their first victory against Veterans 21-10 in week 2.

SHS then dropped their first two region matchups against Greenbrier and Glynn Academy but picked up their first region win against Bradwell Institute last week 41-36.

Quarterback Beckham Jarrard has taken the boro by storm in his freshman season already with over 800 passing yards and completing 62% of his passes with Keon Childers the favorite target racking up 298 receiving yards and two scores.

Statesboro has a tough road ahead down the back stretch but look to build off an impressive game against Bradwell Institute.

Bulloch Academy (6-0) | A+

The Gators have come out hot as ever in 2024 ranking #1 in the GIAA rankings after the 6-0 start.

Head Coach Aaron Phillips builds off the state semifinal appearance last season with a march to continue the winning ways in 2024.

Shamar Jenkins has been a huge boost for the Gators on the offensive side both at running back and receiver while the BA Defense has been the huge linchpin for the Gators success.

BA looks poised to enter region play then take a march deep into the GIAA state playoffs that culminate at the end of November at Allen E. Paulson Stadium for the GIAA State Championships.

Portal (2-3; 1-2 Reg 3-1Ad2) | C

The Portal Panthers continue to find the new identity after losing a number of players from a year ago to graduation and are now playing on Saturdays.

A couple of those that have stepped up is senior running back Jaylon Strickland and Brian McQueen.

Strickland recorded his first 100+ rushing yard game in the victory over Byran County last week and has racked up 360 on the year with 2 scores.

McQueen who has made the shift from quarterback to receiver is accountable for five touchdowns on the year (2 rushing, 2 receiving, 1 passing).

Portal seems to be rounding into shape and looking to get back to the success they’ve shown in the past few years.