By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Wayne County Yellow Jackets enjoyed a 10-win season in 2022. This was a huge accomplishment as the 2021 season had been a terrible year for the Yellow Jackets.

Wayne brought in a new Head Coach and the Yellow Jackets were a real force in 2022.

Jabo Shaw took over the reigns in Jesup in 2022 after three great years in Rabun County. A stint that saw Coach Shaw develop, now UGA QB, Gunner Stockton.

The Yellow Jackets finished second in their region and made the Elite Eight in the 4A GHSA playoffs.

Wayne bowed out to North Oconee, a traditional powerhouse.

2023 is also full of promise as Wayne County looks to take the next step and win a Region Championship.

The Yellow Jackets reside in region 3-4A, which also consists of the Benedictine Cadets, the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets, the New Hampstead Phoenix, The Burke County Bears, and the Islands Sharks.

Here is how the Yellow Jackets 2023 schedule stacks up.

August 18 Bradwell @ Wayne: This is a game Wayne dominated last season in Hinesville, 34-12. It should be more of the same, especially at home at Jaycee Stadium.

August 25 Brooks @ Wayne: The Yellow Jackets took the trip to Quitman last year and fell to the Trojans 39-25, despite not giving up a defensive TD. Brooks returns the trip to Jesup.

September 1 Wayne @ Appling: Rivalry games don’t get much better than the Jackets and Pirates. Wayne battled Appling to 7-0 win last season at Jaycee Stadium. This will be another great one.

September 8 Bye:

September 15 Wayne @ Statesboro: The Yellow Jackets will take the trip to Womack Field to take on the Blue Devils. In years past going to Womack Field was an automatic loss for everyone, it is still a tough place to play. Statesboro also has a new Coach, which means a new style.

September 22 Jenkins @ Wayne: The Yellow Jackets will finally be back at Jaycee Stadium after not playing at home in almost a month against the Jenkins Warriors.

September 30: Wayne @ Burke: Region play open for the Jackets on the road all the way up in Waynesboro, near Augusta. The winner of this game likely will be the 2 seed in the region and will have scopes focused on Benedictine.

October 6 Wayne @ Islands: The Islands is coming off probation sanctioned by the GHSA for an ineligible player and should be better in 2023. Wayne will head to Savannah to find out how good the Sharks are.

October 13 Wayne @ New Hampstead: The third straight region game on the road for Wayne County and the second straight trip to the Savannah area, this time to play the Phoenix. New Hampstead is not your typical Savannah push over.

October 20 Benedictine @ Wayne: If all goes according to plan for Coach Shaw, this game could be for the region title and it will be played at Jaycee Stadium. The Cadets took this game last season in Savannah 31-10.

October 27 Southeast Bulloch @ Wayne: Southeast Bulloch was a very young football team last season. Over a dozen freshman saw critical time for the Yellow Jackets. Wayne will be looking to get playoff ready and end the regular season at home on a high note.

I think an undefeated regular season could be in the works for Wayne County if all goes well. The Burke County game and the Benedictine game will be the biggest hurdles for Wayne.

I’m picking the Wayne County Yellow Jackets to go 9-1 in the regular season and grab the #2 seed in the region. Wayne will make another deep playoff run.