Brunswick High Pirates
Bedeviled
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Week nine of the high school football season was full of unexpected outcomes and the playoff picture beginning to solidify.
The Brunswick High Pirates looked as if they may coast to another region title in region 1-5A. However, the Statesboro Blue Devils had other plans hosting the Pirates at home at Womack Field.
BHS entered the game at 6-1 and they were undefeated in the region. The Pirates’ lone loss came way back in week 1 to the Camden County Wildcats. Statesboro entered the game tied for second place in the region with their lone region loss to Glynn Academy and 4-2 overall.
The Blue Devils got up early 14-0. Brunswick battled back in the second half and held a 21-20 late. However, the Blue Devils took a 26-21 lead and sealed the game with a late safety for the 28-21 final.
The win for Statesboro gives them an inside track for their first region title since 2005; they won the state title that year.
There is no better rivalry in GISA than Frederica Academy and Bulloch Academy. The Knights and Gators renewed their rivalry with Bulloch Academy a significant favorite to win the game. That did not matter to the Knights.
In this rivalry you can throw all records and stats out the window and Frederica showed us why.
The Knights Head Coach Brandon Derrick was fresh off his 100th career win the week before against the Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders.
The underdog Knights beat Bulloch handily 35-20 in the ‘Bloody Marsh’ on St. Simons.
With the win Frederica improved to 5-3 on the season and 1-0 in region play. It also makes them the favorite to win their win, which comprises of Frederica, Bulloch, Pinewood and St. Andrews.
For Bulloch Academy it was their second loss of the season and made them 6-2 overall.
The MCA Buccaneers came into their game against the Bryan County Redskins having lost four of their last five games and needing a win just to stay in the playoff picture.
The Bucs lone two wins coming into the game were against the Islands and Claxton, not exactly state title contenders.
MCA had lost a heartbreaker to Jenkins County the week before 7-0 in a region tilt. Against Bryan County they turned the tables, this time winning the game 7-0.
The loss for Bryan County more than likely eliminated them from being able to make the playoffs.
The win kept slim hopes alive for MCA in Region 3-A Division 2 as far as making the playoffs. The Bucs have games against Metter, Savannah and Portal remaining. More than likely, The Bucs must win out to get into the playoffs.
Down in Kingsland the Camden County Wildcats continued to struggle in region play. The Cats hosted the Lowndes County Vikings at Chris Gilman Stadium and were downed by the undefeated Vikings, 35-14.
Lowndes has a pretty firm grasp on winning Region 1-6A. Their final two games are both on the road with Richmond Hill and then against rival Valdosta.
Meanwhile for Camden, not making the playoffs is beginning to look like the reality. The Wildcats are 5-3 and 0-3 in the region. The Cats started 5-0 but have now lost three straight, all region games. Those losses include Valdosta, Richmond Hill and Lowndes.
Camden has Colquitt and Tift left on the schedule.
Historically, two region wins will get you in the playoffs in this region. That would not be the case for Camden. The Wildcats need to win out and have Colquitt drop their last game to Richmond Hill for a #4 seed.
Status Update
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Believe it or not we are already in the stretch run for playoff berths in High School Football.
For some the second season will start in November and for others it will be an early offseason to keep building.
Here is a rundown of some of the Coastal Georgia Teams and how they are doing.
Brunswick High Pirates: The Pirates are coming off of an improbable come from behind win over Glynn Academy in the City Championship Game 41-37.
The Pirates are 5-1 on the season and 4-0 in region 1-5A.
Brunswick’s offense is among the elite in the state and the Pirates have the inside track on winning the region and securing a #1 seed in the playoffs.
The Pirates have beaten Wayne County, Effingham, Evans, Greenbriar and Glynn Academy. The only loss for BHS came in the opening week on the road at Camden.
The Pirates still have Bradwell, Statesboro, Lakeside Evans and South Effingham on the schedule…all region games.
Glynn Academy Red Terrors: The Terrors took their second region loss to their archrival Brunswick High. The Terrors are 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the region. I don’t thing the Red Terrors will lose another regular season game and I predict them to claim the #2 seed in region 1-5A.
Glynn has beaten Wayne County, Statesboro and Lakeside Evans. The Terrors dropped games to Richmond Hill, Bradwell and Brunswick.
The remainder of the Terrors schedule is pretty favorable with games against Evans, South Effingham, Effingham and Greenbriar.
Camden County Wildcats: The Wildcats suffered a lopsided loss to Valdosta to start Region 1-6A play. It was the first loss of the season for the Wildcats.
Region 1-6A is arguably the toughest in the state and making the playoffs, no matter the seed, is an accomplishment.
Camden is 5-1 on the season and 0-1 in region play. The Wildcats have beaten Brunswick, East Lake, West Broward, Ribault and Royal Palm Beach.
The schedule moving forward will not be friendly for Camden as all will be region games. The Wildcats will travel to Richmond Hill, Colquitt and Tift. They only have one home game remaining, which is against Lowndes. I look for Camden to make the playoffs as a #3 or #4 seed.
MCA Buccaneers: The Buccaneers are 2-3 overall and are 1-2 in region 1-2A Division 2.
The first part of their schedule has been brutal but will ease over the last month of the season. MCA has beaten The Islands, and Claxton. The Bucs have dropped games to Charlton, ECI, and Screven County.
The remaining docket for the Buccaneers includes road trips to Jenkins County, and Metter while they will host Bryan and Savannah.
With 2 region losses the Bucs have their backs against the wall to make the playoffs. They will need wins against Bryan County and Metter in theory to get into the playoffs.
Brantley County Herons: It has been a very tough season for the Herons under second year coach David Shores.
The Herons are coming off of a 49-0 loss to Worth County. Brantley is 0-6 on the season. Losses include Charlton, Windsor Forest, Pierce, Vidalia, Jeff Davis and the aforementioned Worth County.
The 2025 schedule is brutal. The Herons still have games against Fitzgerald, Thomasville, Berrien and Bacon County.
This type of season will motivate the Herons to improve and strive to be a playoff team in 2026.
Frederica Academy Knights: The Knights opened the season on the road against GHSA Savannah and won convincingly 34-7.
Frederica is 3-3 on the season and will be entering play in October. The GISA does not seed teams based on region record but instead on Max Preps Power Rankings.
Frederica has beaten Savannah, Tiftarea, and Brookwood. The Knights of St. Simons have dropped games against West Nassau, Valwood, and to Stratford Academy.
In my opinion Frederica is a playoff caliber team and will prove that in the remaining game against Robert Toombs, Bulloch Academy, Pinewood and St. Andrews.
I look for Frederica to finish with a 6-4 record.
Unbelievable
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The City Championship Game between the Brunswick High Pirates and Glynn Academy Red Terrors makes for great Friday Night Football most years.
The 2025 edition was more than a great game; it may go down as the greatest City Championship game ever and with that launched Brunswick QB Grant Moore into legend Stratosphere.
Going into the game the Brunswick High Pirates were huge favorites. The Pirates came in with a 4-1 record and were undefeated in Region 1-5A.
Meanwhile, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors came in 3-2 and already lost a region game in an upset to Bradwell Institute.
The game was back and forth in the 1st half and the Red Terrors took a 14-13 lead into the locker room at the half.
The 3rd quarter and early 4th quarter belonged to the Red Terrors as they extended their lead to 37-21 with about 7 minutes left in the football game.
Red Terrors Coach Rocky Hidalgo had pressed all the right buttons, 2-pont conversions, trick plays, a fake punt and more importantly had limited the Pirates’ offense playing a ball control type of game.
Glynn was driving late in the 4th and had the ball inside the Brunswick 20-yard line and were about to score the back breaking touchdown that would have created chaos in the region and given the Terrors an inside track to a region title.
Then things got crazy. Glynn fumbled the ball when they were about to score the knockout blow and the Grant Moore Show took centerstage at Glynn County Stadium.
Moore marched the Pirates down the field making big throw after big throw. The Pirates scored again on a TD pass from Moore and cut the lead to 37-34.
The Pirates attempted an onside kick and recovered with just under 2 minutes to play. Once again Moore made clutch pass after clutch pass before Nigel Gardener scampered into the end zone with 31 seconds to play giving the Pirates a miracle 41-37 lead.
Moore finished the football game 14/18 passing for 336 yards and 4 TDs.
The Pirates would intercept a desperation throw from Glynn QB Max Noonan to seal an improbable come from behind 41-37 win to remain unbeaten in the region and more importantly win their second consecutive City Championship.
Both Rocky Hidalgo and BHS coach Garrett Grady coached their tails off in this game and proved once again they are elite coaches in the state of Georgia.
If Grant Moore does not receive more Division 1 offers after his performance against Glynn I am not sure what scouts are looking for.
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Travis Roland August 19 2025
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Travis Roland August 11 2025
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Travis Roland August 20
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Travis Roland August 13
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch September 22
Teachers Of Men
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I have lived in Glynn County my entire life.
I have a passion for football; that maybe my parents, wife, and close friends understand.
I was blessed as a youth to play high school football for a man that I idolize; recent Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame inductee John Willis.
Other than my father who turned 80 years old this week I consider John Willis the greatest influence in my life. The life lessons I learned playing for him prepared me for life. In my mind the things I learned from John Willis are bigger than football he helped develop me into a man.
As I look at the state of high school football in our community today, we are blessed to have three outstanding football coaches charged with developing men in our community.
Brandon Derrick/Frederica Academy: You talk about a coach who can take a little and turn it into a lot, then look no further than Derrick who has consistently developed winning teams at Frederica Academy.
With a State Championship in GISA and numerous region titles, Derrick takes teams that have low numbers and competes with schools with twice the number of players.
A trademark of Derrick football teams is tenacity. The Knights play with a mettle, spirit, and resolution that many of their opponents do not possess and late in ball games that shines through at clutch time.
The values that Derrick teaches will carry with these kids for the rest of their lives. Name me a more tenacious football team than the Frederica Knights? You have Brandon Derrick to thank for that.
Rocky Hidalgo/Glynn Academy: Coach Rock has been at Glynn Academy since 2014 and the fortunes of the program turned immediately.
By the end of the 2015 season Hidalgo had Glynn playing for a State Championship. A trademark of Hidalgo teams is that they are fundamentally sound, which speaks to discipline.
Discipline is a character trait this is seriously lacking among our youth today. Hidalgo teams are prepared down to every little detail.
All Glynn Academy teams I have witnessed are sound in all three phases of offense, defense, and special teams. If a game is tight then it is hard to bet against a Rocky Hidalgo team down the stretch.
Discipline is a trademark of Glynn Academy football and that is because of Rocky Hidalgo.
Garrett Grady/Brunswick High: You talk about a young dynamic coach who knows how to motivate his kids, look no further than Grady.
Grady is a grinder who has a work ethic that is second to none.
Since Grady was named the BHS coach in 2022, he has had the magic touch with the program. Community service, player exposure, everything Grady does he does at 100%.
The key character value I see at BHS currently under Grady is commitment. Grady is committed to these kids at BHS and the kids see that and are totally committed to him.
I’m a Pirate until I die, and Grady is the perfect man to head the BHS football program for years to come. There is a commitment to be great a BHS currently because of Garrett Grady.
Tenacity, discipline, and commitment. Strong core values. Values that are taught to young men on the football fields of Glynn County.
If you don’t think we are blessed on the head coaching front for high school football in Glynn County, then you are not paying attention.
Come out and enjoy a high school football game in Glynn County soon where you will see a collection of head football coaches that I would not want to trade for anyone.
Core values are being taught and all you must do is pay attention. For $10 you can see the hope of our future locally on Friday Nights. That is not a huge investment.
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Jeff Herron August 29
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