Rich Bontrager
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick December 4
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick November 28
Jousting For Title
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the third straight week in a row, the Frederica Knights football squad blew out their opponent.
With the win, the Knights have earned the chance to be GISA Champs.
In spite a game time starting temperature of 41 degrees, with windy and damp conditions, the Knights hit the field red hot.
Frederica received the opening kickoff and marched right down the field. The drive was capped off with a score as Jaylin Simpson (QB) threw a 25-yard TD pass to Denver Anthony. The extra point was no good as the Knights enjoyed a 6-0 lead.
The Heritage Hawks would respond with a quick score off their first play from the line of scrimmage. Henry Arnall (QB) threw a 55-yard TD pass as a receiver found an open lane on the visitor’s side of the field. Heritage would take the lead with the extra point, making it 6-7.
The quick TD had everyone in attendance wondering if this was a sign of an epic battle in the making.
The fact is the Knight’s defense would shut Heritage down cold the rest of the evening. With the outstanding defensive play, the Knight’s offense would find themselves with great field position and score at will. Frederica would post 39 points in the first half alone.
First half scoring included 2 TD runs by Isaiah Jackson (RB), plus other rushing touchdowns by Jashawn Sheffield (WR), Denver Anthony (RB), Harry Veal (RB).
Much of the reason the Knights could score so well was due to the offensive line pushing down field, while creating massive run holes and lanes for the running backs.
As Frederica went into half-time with a 39-7 lead, the question hung in the cold air, would the Knight’s come out cold and lose another semi-final game? Frederica would silence all doubters as series after series, the Hawks would be sacked, fumble, lose yardage and never have a sustained drive in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Knights would add 14 more points on to the scoreboard.
Senior (LB) Harry Veal had an exceptional night on both offense and defense. Veal would sack Henry Arnall, get an interception, and almost score.
Veal was an example of the entire Frederica Knights football teams focus and determination to advance to the Championship game next week.
Before the Knight’s left the field, they knew they would be playing John Milledge Academy for the second time this season, and have a shot at claiming their second GISA title.
The Knights will travel to Mercer University next Friday night for a special 8 pm start time.
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick November 21
Frederica Gallops Past Valwood
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The last time Valwood and Frederica met it was game two of the 2018 football season.
The game was a defensive battle and had to go to overtime to be decided. Eventually, Valwood would defeat the Knights 7-6.
However, that was not the case this week, as the Valiants returned to Frederica Academy in the second round of the GISA football playoffs.
Frederica received the opening kickoff, a rare occurrence this season. Several plays later, Frederica would score on a 5-yard TD pass from Jaylin Simpson (QB) to Harry Veal, who lined up as a secondary receiver. With the extra point made, the Knights led 7-0.
The rest of the first quarter settled into a seesaw battle of defensive stops by both teams, as well as many penalties.
Then in the second quarter, the Knights game plan seemed to emerge and they would score another 20 unanswered points. Many of the points came as Frederica’s defense continued to stop Valwood’s offense and force them to punt.
The offense exploded as Jaylin Simpson connected twice with fellow Auburn commit, Jashawn Sheffield, once on a 33-yard pass completion and then another on a 55-yard pass.
Senior RB Isaiah Jackson would add two other short yard TD scores, one for 2 yards and another for 6 yards.
Most of the offensive production was due to the offensive line producing massive holes for the running backs and exceptional blocking for Simpson to find open receivers.
Head Coach Brandon Derrick had said prior to the game, “For the Knight’s to win, we must get up on Valwood early and not let them find their rhythm”. It was evident that Frederica was doing just that in the first half.
As the Knights kicked off to Valwood to start the second half, they were hoping to build on their 33-0 lead and make a historical statement to one of their most heated rivals. Two costly turnovers early in the 3rd quarter gave the Valiants a fresh blast of energy as they scored off a short TD pass making it 33-7.
Valwood would try an onside kick, but Frederica would recover it and had another series of downs on a short playing field. Isaiah Jackson would add his third TD score, as he rushed for 44 yards. That play was highlighted by a great downfield block Patrick Brunson (WR). Jackson would score a total of six times and help lead the way for the decisive 60 – 27 win.
With this win, Frederica advances to the third round of the GISA playoff and will travel to Heritage Hawks in Newman, GA next Friday night.
If the Knights can defeat the Hawks they will play in the Championship game on November, 30th
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick November 14
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick November 7
Knights Claim Another Region Title
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In an epic game between two bitter rivals, the Frederica Knights surprised many fans and sports reporters with a spectacular win against Bulloch Academy, 49-12.
Coming into this Region Championship matchup, the series between these two powerhouses stood at 2-2. In each of those four games, the home team had prevailed. This season, the Knights would arrive in Statesboro, GA and dominate in most all areas of the game.
What made the victory extra unique was that Frederica had 6 players not suited up due to injury and Jashawn Sheffield (SR. WR/Safety) was limited to only offensive plays due to a minor injury from last week’s John Milledge loss.
The Knights won the coin toss and elected to start on defense, as they have done all but one game this season. Coach Brandon Derrick trusted his defense to set the tone of the game and create short field position for his offensive squad. The defense did just that.
The Knights would score 14 unanswered points in the first half. First on a 3-yard rushing TD by Jaylin Simpson (Sr. QB) and then again on a 13-yard run by Isaiah Jackson (Sr. RB). Both extra-point kicks were good by Logan Bauer (Sr. K).
In fact, Bauer would kick a perfect game and go 7 for 7, something he had never done all season.
The Knight’s defensive gave Bulloch’s offense moments of frustration. Several times the Gators carried the ball into the “red zone” only to turn the ball over on downs, or miss a field goal.
The Knight’s defense gave up plenty of rushing yards, but always found a way to shut down Bulloch’s offensive machine. Including a big first half-sack by Will Counts (So., DL).
While the Knights would miss yet another scoring opportunity just before halftime, they scored on the first offensive play of the second half as Denver Anthony (Jr., RB) scored on a 60-yard rushing play.
A few plays later, Harry Veal (Sr., LB) recovered a bad lateral by Don Aarons of the Gators. Moments later, Denver Anthony ran for his second TD (16 yds) in less than 2 minutes of the third quarter play. Those scores put Frederica up 28-0.
The defense continued to set up the offense well as Josh Meadow’s made a big 4th down stop on Bulloch and Will Thompson would sack QB Don Aarons.
In total the Knights scored 21 points in the third quarter, and an additional 14 in the fourth.
One of the of most significant factors in getting such a disproportionate win over such
an intense rival like Bulloch was the “team’s unity”, said Coach Brandon Derrick after the game. “Yes, we made mental mistakes late in the game, but our team played extremely well as a unit, and for one another”, he said.
With the Region Championship title, Frederica will enjoy a bye week before beginning playoff action at home on, Friday, November, 16th.
The Knights will have home field advantage throughout the regional play. Along with home field advantage, Frederica will be able to get the six injured and sick players healed up as the “March to Mercer” officially gets underway.
With this win, the Knights conclude the regular season with a record of 7-3, and 4-0 in region play.
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick October 31
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick October 24
