By: Buck Blanz

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers went 7-3 a year ago with their season ending in the first round of the playoffs against Clinch County 23-17.

The Buccaneers, after finishing the season with a 1-9 record in 2018, have made two consecutive state playoff appearances as they look to take the next step forward as a program.

What does that next step look like for the Buccaneers? Well, when I spoke to Head Coach Bradley Warren, he emphasized that they need to learn how to win ‘the big game’ as their team goal is “to go from good to great”.

Before Bradley Warren arrived at McIntosh County Academy, the football program seemed to be in disarray and didn’t have much determination and enthusiasm surrounding them.

However, since Coach Bradley Warren arrived at McIntosh County Academy, the football program has definitely seen promising progression from more areas than just one.

To start, Coach Warren has taken them to their first playoff appearances since the 2016 season and hoping to continue improvement. Also, with Warren’s double-slot offensive scheme, as well as how many players play both offense and defense, it allows for many, if not all, of his players to show their dynamic playing-making ability on both sides of the ball.

When I asked Coach Warren about who has impressed him the most throughout this offseason, without hesitation he answered with Austin Crosby.

The 6’1” 185-pound Senior from Darien, GA will be one of the Buccaneers most dynamic players all season long and is certainly a kid to keep tabs on.

Crosby plays quarterback, running back, as well as safety for the Buccaneers giving him many chances to showcase his versatility on the field as a top playmaker.

For the third straight season, the Buccaneers will open their season against two Glynn County powerhouses in (8/20) Glynn County and (8/27) Brunswick High, both of which are also from the much larger 6A GHSA classification and should prove to be their biggest test of the season.

The bright side of playing your toughest games early in the year is you will know what kind of team you have early, however, what is different about this season is how they will have both games played in the comfort of their own home stadium.

The Buccaneers have five of their first six games of the season scheduled to be home games, with their only away game being against Claxton, who finished third place right behind McIntosh County Academy in the region-3 standings a year ago.

McIntosh County Academy faces arguably their toughest test outside of Glynn County on October 15th, the Buccaneers must travel and face-off against the reigning region champs, the Metter High School Tigers, who made it to the final four before losing to Irwin County 44-10.

The Buccaneers will close out their regular season campaign with two road games against Portal, who forfeited a year ago, as well as Jenkins County who the Bucs beat 41-20 last season and should expect largely the same result.

Look out for Coach Bradley Warren and the Buccaneers led by Austin Crosby, as they look to take their program from “good to great”.