By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The BHS season opener against Coffee County got delayed by 24 hours because of a terrible lightning storm that rolled through Douglas on Friday night, the kickoff was moved back to Saturday evening and when it was all said and done the Pirates fell to the Coffee Trojans 30-13.

The Pirates did some good things and some not so good things in the game. Here is you’re the first Pirate report card for the 2017 season:

Defense B-: Coffee is very good football team, let me just say that.

They had a 230-pound running back that ran down hill like a grown man. In the first half, the Pirates struggled on run defense as the Trojans ran right at the middle of this defense.

Three long drives in the first half were given up mostly on the ground. Nice adjustments were made at the half and the defense bailed out the team early in the third quarter when the offense turned the ball over on two straight possessions inside their own 35-yard line and did not allow a point off those turnovers.

Sean Ward played well in the middle. Kam Futch had a huge sack in the first half and Sharrod Frazier was all over the field. George Mincey had a couple of nice plays on the DL, but Brunswick needs more folks to step up on the DL.

This group played as well as could be expected in the second half against a ranked team. The offense turned it over 5 times and this unit stayed on the field too much and gave up some points in the 4^th quarter. This unit will get better as it just played the best team it will see during the regular season.

Offense C-: This grade may seem harsh because this group moved the football against a quality defense up and down the field all night long, but you just can’t beat quality teams when you turn the ball over 5 times.

The offense was in the red zone 5 times and only came away with 13 points. This really must be eating at Coach Pender this morning, but these are things that can get fixed. The positive is that we saw the potential of this offense.

Jamaruis Stevens did some good things and some not so good things. The arm talent is there but he forced the ball into a couple of windows and got picked twice, one of which was in the end zone.

He will be a solid QB in this offense. Shaq Robinson ran the ball well. Alonzo Brown is a beast at WR and we must get him the ball more. The OL did a pretty good job against a good defensive line.

This unit will improve and the Air Raid offense will be a force to be dealt with in 2017.

Special Teams D: Kickoff coverage was fine. A missed XP and 27-yard field goal cost BHS 4 points. The turning point in the game, in my opinion, was being down 10-7 in second quarter and forcing Coffee to punt on 4^th and 3 around mid-field the Pirates lined up offsides on a punt and gave Coffee a first down and they go in and make it 17-7.

Coaching B: The plan was in place to beat Coffee. It was a pretty good game plan developed by Pender and his staff, but five turnovers will kill any game plan.

Overall C: Typical opening type game with mistakes. This is a good football team that will get better each game. Don’t be surprised if Coffee and Brunswick meet again in 2017.

Up Next: Cook County in the home opener at Glynn County Stadium on September 1^st.