By: Josh Aubrey

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It may be only two games into the season but it looks like the Statesboro Blue Devil football team may be back. On the heels of a 7-3 victory at Greenbrier, the Blue Devils welcomed in a highly touted Liberty County team and whipped them pretty soundly 23-6.

“These kids have really bought into what mental toughness is all about,” said Statesboro coach Jeff Kaiser. “We finished, we finished it the way we are supposed to. This is the way things are supposed to go at Statesboro High School,”

Once again it was the Blue Devil defense leading the charge. Liberty came in featuring one of the state’s top running backs in Kris Coleman, who was coming off a 350-yard, five touchdown performance. The Blue Devils held him to only 93 yards and held the Panther offense to just 124 yards of total offense.

“Our defense came ready to play once again, and never hung their head,” Kaiser said. “Liberty made an adjustment in the third quarter but we came right back and countered that move and I’m so proud of them and our entire coaching staff.”

The Blue Devil offense, who struggled mightily last Friday, rebounded nicely as they finished with 209 yards of total offense which included their first passing play of the season – which resulted in a touchdown – and their first big yardage play. That was a 74-yard Davardrion Lipsey touchdown run.

“Our offense line, who played pretty bad last week, really responded well tonight,” Kaiser said. “I know people want us to throw the ball but I think we are running it pretty well.”

The Blue Devil defense actually came up with the first points of the game, which was set up by the special teams.

A Hunter Saussy 48-yard punt pinned the Panthers on their own five-yard line. Two plays later Dake Williams wrapped up Coleman in the end zone for a safety.

“Hunter Saussy is just a tenth grader, but he has ice water in his veins,” Kaiser said. “He punted great and he typifies what we want out of all of our players.”

“Sometimes even kids who are just 16 or 17 years old say enough is enough,” Kaiser said. “Tonight, we saw the kind of fight I’ve been wanting to see out of this team. I couldn’t be prouder of this team, this coaching staff, this school, and these fans for turning out.”

The emotional game was capped off by an emotional moment after the game as coach Kaiser handed out his first ever game ball to O.J. Watson, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

“He’s a tenth grader and is a part of our team whether he’s out there or not,” Kaiser said. “He’s got a hard battle ahead of him, and I feel like our kids were as excited to see O.J. out here tonight as they were to win this game.”

The win improves the Blue Devils record to 2-0 for the first time since 2013. Up next, Statesboro travels to Veterans Friday for a 7:30 game.