By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

There was a point, not too long ago, where the McIntosh Academy Buccaneers’ football program was as unstable as it came. The Bucs football program suffered through 5 head football coaches in 7 years.

Then entered Bradley Warren. Warren has now been the head man in Darien entering his sixth season. During that stretch the Bucs have made the playoffs every year that Warren has been the coach for MCA.

This season’s expectations are no different. Every year for the past several MCA has been talked about as being capable of making a deep run in the playoffs and even a dark horse for a state title.

Last season, it was a bit of an underwhelming season, at least by the standards that now exist with the Bucs program. MCA went 4-6 in the regular season, including a 14-6 loss to 6A Glynn Academy and a loss to 5A Bradwell Institute. McIntosh Couty Academy also suffered a loss to rival Emanuel County Institute and took shut-out losses from Lanier, Jenkins County, and Portal.

Despite the tough losses, MCA still made the playoffs as a lower seed. However, just to add insult to a far less than stellar year, the Bucs were eliminated in the first round by Clinch County. It was the third time in four years that Clinch had eliminated the Bucs from the playoffs. Rough.

MCA was young in 2023 and 2024 promises to field a much more mature and older group. I actually think this team will be contending for a region title in 2024.

New regions were announced for the next seasons and MCA’s region (Region 3A DII) will consist of Bryan County, Claxton, ECI, Jenkins County, Metter, Portal and Savannah

Here is the schedule.

August 16-@ Islands

August 23-Charlton @ The Ship

August 30-Bye

September 6-@ ECI

September 13-Claxton @ The Ship

September 20-@ Screven

September 27-Bye

October 4-Jenkins County @ The Ship

October 11-@Bryan County

October 18-Metter @ The Ship

October 25-Savannah @ The Ship

November 1-@ Portal

Again, I think MCA will be very good and contend for a region title. It will be tough though. That region is stacked.

I think MCA will go 8-2 in the regular season.

Maybe the Bucs will see Clinch in the playoffs and shake that albatross on the way to a state title.