Kipp Branch
Pirate Rally
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Down 21-0 going into the second quarter, Head Coach Sean Pender inserted KJ Lee at QB. Lee turned in a memorable performance and rallied the Brunswick High Pirates to a dramatic 31-27 over New Hampstead at Glynn County Stadium.
Lee led the Pirates on an 88-yard game winning drive with 1:54 remaining in the contest as he connected with Che Foy on a spectacular 20-yard TD pass with 12 seconds left.
Foy caught a pass near the sideline faked a defender then leaped the final 3 yards into the end zone.
The Pirates outscored the Phoenix 31-6 over the last three quarters. Freddy Towns leaped up and knocked down a last second Hail Mary toss to secure the win.
The win improved the Pirates record to 2-3 on the season while New Hampstead dropped to 2-2 on the season.
The comeback win may be just what the doctor ordered to jump start a playoff run by Brunswick moving forward.
Pirate Report Card.
Offense: B+. The Pirates were held scoreless in the first quarter, then once Lee was inserted in the game the Pirates scored 13 points before the half.
After the half the Pirate offense completely dominated the second half by running the football right down New Hampstead’s throat and the Phoenix wore down as the game progressed.
KJ Lee was the player of the game. The BHS offensive line dominated the contest. Che Foy had his best game as a Pirate. Xavier Bean caught his 4th TD pass of the season and the backfield combo of Jaylen Trimmings and Chucolbe Hill chewed up yardage in chunks in the second half.
This unit wore New Hampstead down as the game entered the later stages. This unit now has confidence moving forward. The intensity and execution of game plan is a welcome sight as region play starts in two weeks.
Defense: C. The unit looked awful in the first quarter and gave up an 89-yard TD pass in third quarter but this unit hung in there and did enough to put BHS in position to win the football game late in the contest.
Yes, improvement needs to be made in all areas of defense. It starts with giving up too many big plays.
The defense was minus two key starters in the contest. The unit played with much more intensity from a week ago and it showed in the second half.
Special Teams: C. A missed PAT forced the offense into having to go for two three times in second half. The kick coverage was ok and kick return made a couple of nice returns.
Coaching: B+. The game plan worked as planned with the up-tempo style on offense. The Pirates had New Hampstead worn down with game on the line.
Play calling was great and despite some key starters missing for BHS the staff made the right adjustments at the half to slow down the New Hampstead offense.
Coach Pender stressed intensity and execution all week in practice and everything went as planned with game on the line. Nice rebound from the Camden game.
Overall: B-. This team needed a win badly and they got it. It wasn’t pretty at times but it was effective when it counted.
BHS may look back and on this win as the one that jump started the season. This was a big win for the program.
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show w Sean Pender September 19
Pirates Sunk By Camden
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Camden County rolled into Glynn County Stadium and ruined the BHS home opener by blowing out the Brunswick High Pirates 37-0.
It was a total lackluster effort by the Pirates who suffered an embarrassing home loss.
Coming off a bye week the Pirates were just off all night on offense and as the game progressed the defense wore down and gave up some big plays.
Anthony Mountain came off the bench and led the offense on a couple of nice drives in the second half in relief of KJ Lee. Mountain’s performance may have created a QB battle moving forward.
Pirate Report Card:
Offense: F. The offense was offensive. The offensive line got manhandled. The QB play was not much better and forced a QB change in the third quarter.
Mountain came in and did some good things and maybe earned the opportunity to start next week. The wide receivers had key drops and the Pirates had two more turnovers. The Pirates were held to 58 yards rushing and 225 yards of total offense.
Defense: D. This grade would have been higher but I felt this group mailed it in during the 4th quarter of the contest.
You can’t beat anyone when you give 7.8 yards per play in a football game. BHS had talented defensive backs getting beaten too easily and the run defense was good in spots but just got worn down due to lack of production from the offense.
Special Teams: B. Mitchell Richburg had a good night punting the football and you know it is a long night when your punter is a candidate for player of the game. The opening kickoff was a touchback. A nice Improvement made in this area.
Coaching: D. This team did not play well. And late in the first half Camden ran the same play three straight times for a TD, Camden stoned the BHS offense.
The Pirates had nine penalties on the night and came out after the halftime break flat. Being on a running clock in the 4th quarter is never good.
Overall: D. Back to the drawing board for BHS.
This was just an awful performance and there is nowhere to go but up now. This team has the talent and potential to be a good football team but it needs to become mentally tougher.
There is no excuse to get beat 37-0 at home. This team will improve and get better when region play starts in October. Time to forget this one and move forward. This teams needs its talent to play up to its talent level.
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show With Sean Pender September 12
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show with Sean Pender September 5
NFL Nostradamus
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s that time of year again where men retreat to their man caves and marriages get put on hold for football season.
College football kicked off in force this past weekend and now the NFL kicks this week.
My fantasy team is set with Aaron Rogers as my QB and Julio Jones is my top WR. I should be in contention for my 4th Brunswick Fat Boys League Championship. Did I mention that I have won my fantasy league three times in its’ 12-year existence?
The Atlanta Falcons are poised to have the best offense in the NFL. Can Matt Ryan get back to MVP form? Is Julio about to become the NFL’s first $200 million man? If the Falcons play enough defense they may capture the AFC South.
My NFL Predictions.
AFC East:
New England: This division is garbage and Brady even at 41 years of age will lead the Patriots to another AFC East title
Miami: QB is an issue in Miami. Decent defense, but can they score points?
NY Jets: Rookie Sam Darnold will be the youngest QB in the NFL.
Buffalo: From playoffs to the cellar in 12 months.
AFC North:
Pittsburgh: Big Ben’s last chance?
Baltimore: QB controversy may be brewing in Baltimore.
Cincinnati: I hope AJ Green gets traded to a winner before his skills start to deteriorate
Cleveland: Hue Jackson needs to go. Baker Mayfield will find out quickly that the Big 12 was like playing recreation ball in Glynn County.
AFC South:
Jacksonville: This team is a Super Bowl contender. Can you know who not mess it up?
Houston: How do Watson and Watt bounce back from injuries?
Tennessee: Could Colin Kaepernick help the Titans at QB?
Indianapolis: All this team has is Andrew Luck and he is coming off a shoulder injury.
AFC West:
San Diego Chargers: I’m not calling them Los Angeles. Philip Rivers and a very good defense.
KC: Andy Reid teams are always in contention.
Denver: Will get Broncos get good enough QB play to make playoffs?
Oakland: You pay a coach $100 million who won a SB with Tony Dungy’s players and you can’t find money to pay Khalil Mack? Really Oakland?
Playoffs: Jaguars, Steelers, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, Chiefs
AFC Champ: Jaguars
NFC East:
Philadelphia: The champs need Carson Wentz back healthy because Nick Foles is like fool’s gold.
Dallas: if Zeke stays healthy the Cowboys will push the Eagles.
NY Giants: This team is in rebuild mode
Washington: I don’t think the Redskins are very good.
NFC North:
Minnesota: Vikings have a better defense than Green Bay.
Green Bay: Aaron Rogers is the best QB in football.
Detroit: Where is the pass rush? Will contend for a wild card.
Chicago: The pieces are being put into place for 2019 and beyond.
NFC South:
New Orleans: The Saints have the most overall talent in the NFC and they have Drew Brees.
Atlanta: Falcons will make playoffs as a wild card.
Carolina: Can they protect Cam in 2018?
Tampa Bay: Could start 0-3 without Jameis, and not get much better when he returns.
NFC West:
Los Angeles: The Rams are a Super Bowl contender
Seattle: Big drop from Rams to Seahawks.
San Francisco: I’m not drinking the 49er Kool-Aid.
Arizona: Long season in the desert.
Playoffs: Eagles, Vikings, Saints, Rams, Packers, Falcons.
NFC Champ: Saints
Super Bowl: New Orleans vs. Jacksonville
Super Bowl Champ: Jacksonville Jaguars
Righting The Ship
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick High traveled to Darien and beat a young MCA squad 49-7.
The Pirate offense set the tone right after the opening kickoff with a 77-yard TD drive, all on the ground to race out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back.
The win put BHS at 1-2 going into a bye week before the home opener with Camden at Glynn County Stadium on September 14th.
Pirate Report Card:
Offense: A-. The Pirates did it all tonight on offense against MCA.
KJ Lee tossed a 90 and 28-yard TD pass to Marlon Carmena. Freshman Chucolbe Hill got the start at RB and did not disappoint.
Carmena has become the number one receiver in the program and threw the key block on Lee’s 73-yard TD in the third quarter.
The offensive line dominated MCA up front as the Pirates rushed for over 230 yards on the night.
Two fumbles in the 3rd quarter were the only negatives of the night on offense. Anthony Mountain saw his first action of the season after he sprained his knee in the Beach scrimmage and tossed a 20-yard TD pass to Xavier Bean.
MCA was just what the doctor ordered for the BHS offense after scoring only 13 points in the first two games.
Defense: A. This unit gave up a short 30-yard TD drive after the offense fumbled deep in Pirate territory.
Justin Akra and Keith Garrett played their best games of the year so far. Demetrius Hardee was much improved against MCA as well.
The pass rush was solid all night, rush defense was much improved and pass defense rebounded from a week ago. Best effort of the young season so far by this group.
The defense has an off week now to prepare for Camden County. Billy Anderson played well in his first start at CB.
Special Teams: B. Brunswick made all XP attempts, but kickoffs need to be deeper and kickoff coverage needs to improve.
Mitchell Richburg punted well once again. This unit made great strides this week.
Coaching: A. This team was ready to play. The game plan was solid and the kids responded well to a very intense week of practice.
Some starters did not start this week but the message from that was received loud and clear and when they got their opportunities to play they played with a chip on their shoulder.
Overall: A. This team beat an overmatched team handily and looked good doing it.
MCA was just in the wrong place at the wrong time on the schedule and BHS put this team away in business like fashion.
This is a young football team that is growing and will continue to improve week by week. This team will be dangerous when region play rolls around.
The Pirates are solid in the power run game and once the passing offense starts to click, look out.
KJ Lee looked very good against MCA and Anthony Mountain played well also in his first action.
Jaylen Trimmings and Hill are a solid running back core, and Marlon Carmena is having an all-region type season.
Next up, Camden County. The Pirates finally have a home opener one month into the season against the much-improved Wildcats.
Brunswick beat Camden 43-27 in Kingsland last year. This should be a good one folks and could set the tone for the Pirates for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show with Sean Pender August 29
Pirates Sunk By Bartram Trail
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick traveled into North Florida and ran into a buzz saw named Bartram Trail. The Pirates were blown out 35-12.
The Pirate offense put up some nice yardage but turned the ball over in the red zone too many times in the first that killed any momentum the unit developed.
The Pirate defense struggled all night to stop the Bears offense and gave up too many big plays on the evening. Brunswick High needs to find some answers on this side of the ball moving forward as the Pirates gear up for region play in October.
Pirate Report Card
Defense: D. Brunswick gave up a 95-yard drive after the offense fumbled in the red zone on the first possession.
Then they turned around and gave up a two play TD drive on the second possession to get down quickly, 14-0.
If not for Bartram committing penalties this game could have been 28-0 at the half.
Too many missed tackles, talented defensive backs getting toasted in passing situations, defensive line got manhandled all night, run defense needs to improve before region play.
Down 14-0 at the half and needing a stop the defense gave up an opening drive TD to go down 21-0. A scoop and score for a 63-yard TD kept this grade from being an F.
Major improvement is needed, but the positive is the unit is in position to make plays and they will as more game experience is gained.
Offense: D. Pirate rushing offense looked good all night. Jaylen Trimmings and freshman Chucolbe Hill looked good running the football.
Coach Pender stressed all week that he wanted his offensive line to take over football games this fall, as they are a team strength but in passing situations last night the OL gave up 8 sacks and gave up sacks on 3 straight plays late in the first half on a key drive.
The Pirates struggled all night in the red zone, coming away with 0 points on three trips, two turnovers and giving the football up on downs.
KJ Lee will continue to improve with game experience and Marlon Carmena is the most dynamic playmaker on offense and needs the ball in his hands more.
Seven turnovers in two football games will get better as the group gets valuable game experience under its belt.
Special Teams: C. A bad extra point snap and two huge penalties hurt and this area needs improvement, but the unit improved from the Coffee game. Mitchell Richburg punted well last night.
Coaching: C. Great game plan on offense, but execution let Brunswick down with turnovers and sacks. On defense Brunswick was in position most of the night but just did not execute.
Overall: C-. The night was full of sacks, turnovers, missed tackles. Bartram Trail was there for the taking if this team just had just executed the game plan. The team will improve by region time.
This Pirate team needs better play from some talented players in the secondary, more intensity from the offensive line and another receiver step up and join Marlon Carmena as a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.
Also, Brunswick needs more passion from a defensive unit overall. The defensive coaches may need to shake things up on that side of the ball to wake a couple talented players up.
Next up: MCA next Friday in Darien
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show with Sean Pender
