Southern Sports Edition
Piracy
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates sailed into the 2nd round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs with a 78-30 thumping of the Winder-Barrow Bulldoggs. (You read it correctly, 78-30, and it wasn’t a basketball game.)
The 78 points is a single-game record at BHS. The previous high was 70 points in 1998 and again in1999, against Windsor Forest and Liberty County, respectively.
As region champions from 1-5A, Head Coach Garrett Grady’s Pirates earned a #1 seed and hosted the #4 seed—Winder-Barrow—from Region 8-5A.
Taking advantage of failed onside kicks by the Bulldoggs, the Pirates used the short field to score on their first four possessions, building a 30-15 advantage after one period.
Winder-Barrow pulled within eight points at 38-30 midway through quarter two, but didn’t score again, as the Pirates posted 40 unanswered points.
Brunswick High led 54-30 at the half and 70-30 after three quarters, sending the game to a running clock for the fourth quarter.
A Pirate TD with 2:40 to go in the game put the final 78-30 tally on the scoreboard.
Senior quarterback Grant Moore entered the game needing 443 yards passing and 3 touchdown tosses to surpass 2017 BHS quarterback Jamarius Stevens in those categories for best all-time.
Already holding the Pirate records for career passing yards and career touchdown passes, Grant Moore rose to the task against Winder-Barrow. He completed 12 of 14 passes, shredding the Bulldogg defense for 344 yards passing and 5 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
He now needs 99 yards passing to complete a sweep of individual passing records for quarterbacks at Brunswick High, and he will get that opportunity Friday night when BHS hosts the Gainesville Red Elephants at Glynn County Stadium in a second-round matchup.
With 78 points showing on the scoreboard against Winder-Barrow, you would expect that many Pirates had big nights, and they did.
Dontre Butler, Nigel Gardner, Josiah Gibbons, Heze Kent, and Waseem Murray all scored touchdowns for the Pirates.
Kent and Gibbons each scored three TDs, while Gardner had two.
Brunswick High also converted 9 of 10 two-point conversions following touchdowns.
Defensively, Zi’yan Rankin had two official interceptions, but he also had a pick-six nullified by a penalty.
Samir Dobbins also had an interception.
The Pirate defense was tasked with limiting the success of Winder-Barrow running back Demetrius Dowdy. Dowdy was the leading rusher in all of 5-A, averaging 185 yards per game, while scoring 20 touchdowns.
He ran for 98 yards against the Pirates in the first half, but the Pirate D held Dowdy to only 14 yards rushing in the second half, for 112 on the night.
The Pirates defeated South Effingham in the regular-season finale on October 31. That victory, coupled with Effingham’s upset of Statesboro the same night, put Brunswick High at the top of the region standings.
The Pirates will undoubtedly find a much tougher opponent in Gainesville this Friday night at Glynn County Stadium.
The Red Elephants will come in with a 9-2 record. They are the #2 seed from Region 7, and defeated Dunwoody 48-3, the #3 seed from Region 4, in the first round.
Quest Over
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Although it heartbreakingly ended one week from the goal, the 2025 season for the Frederica Knights was one of legend.
As with seemingly every Brandon Derrick-coached squad, the 15th edition of football under the oaks had to do more with less.
Entering the season with around 30 players on the roster, the goal was the same as always; win the region and complete the March to Mercer and a trip to the State Championship game.
The season kicked off with a trip to Savannah and a lightning-delayed matchup with the Savannah Blue Jackets. Junior QB Stanton Beverly threw for three touchdowns, Jaylen Baldwin and Jayden Gibson added two scores on the ground, and the Knights defense took a shutout late into the fourth quarter and left Chatham County with a season opening 34-7 win.
Problems with the weather continue into week two, when lightning in the area once again impacted play, this time delaying and eventually canceling the game against West Nassau with minutes left in the first quarter and a 14-7 deficit on the scoreboard. The controversial loss would impact the Knights and their playoff seeding later in the season.
A pair of familiar foes were on tap for weeks three and four. The Valwood Valiants would stretch their win streak against the Knights to 5 games in the form of a painful 33-14 home loss, while the Tiftarea Panthers would fall to Frederica a week later in a complete team effort 24-21 come-from-behind 4th quarter victory.
Week Five came in the form of a painful road loss to Stratford Academy. A pair of red zone INTs cost the Knights a comeback attempt as they fell to the Eagles 28-13. The game was a catalyst for Frederica, however, as they went on to finish the regular season on a five-game win streak.
After a 42-13 dismantling of Brookwood, the Knights traveled to Lyons, GA to give Robert Toombs a 28-12 defeat, as well as give Coach Brandon Derrick his 100th career win as a head coach.
Region play started with a highly satisfying 35-20 home win against the hated Bulloch Academy Gators and continued with wins against the Pinewood Patriots to the tune of 28-14 and the annual shellacking of St Andrews: the 49-16 victory being the second largest win margin in the history of the rivalry.
With the regular season wrapped up, region honors were handout and the Knights were very well represented. All in all, eight Frederica players were given All Region honors – Fuller Wimberly, Gavin Grantham, Jaylen Baldwin, Eli Middleton, Jayden Gibson, JC Wessel, Eric Alford, and Hudson Carter. Stanton Beverly was unanimously selected as Region Player of the Year.
Once the playoffs were set, the Knights drew the 5th seed, which meant a first round bye and a second-round matchup on the road, again Valwood. This was a tough draw, considering the Valiants had knocked Frederica out of the playoffs the previous two seasons, but the Knights responded with a game for the ages.
With the game tied 14-14 at the half, Beverly and Gibson led the Knights to a 28-21 win in front of possibly the loudest and largest road crowd the Frederica Faithful has ever produced.
Making it to the Final Four for the 6th time under Coach Derrick, the Knights’ March to Mercer would once again end at the hands of GIAA powerhouse John Milledge Academy with a 35-7 final score.
While it’s always heartbreaking for the seniors that won’t get another chance at a title, the fact that the majority of the offensive skill players and defensive playmakers are juniors and sophomores gives the Frederica family well-founded hope that the 16th season of football under the oaks will wind up with the hoisting of a third state championship trophy
Tee It Up
By: Brian Albertson
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The PGA Tour RSM Classic returns to Sea Island golf club next week November 17-23 for the 16th year.
The RSM Classic is an official PGA TOUR event hosted by the Davis Love Foundation. Since 2010, the tournament has brought together the world’s best golfers and a passionate community of fans, raising more than $48 million to support children and families in need.
Tournament Director Todd Thompson has announced another word class field of players for this year‘s event. There will be 10 winners from this PGA Tour season in the field, including two of the winners this season have won two of the last five events on the PGA Tour Fall schedule and includes Steven Fisk (Sanderson Farms Championship), and Michael Brennan (Bank of Utah Championship).
The remaining eight winners from this season scheduled to compete are Harris English (Farmers Insurance Open), Joe Highsmith (Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches), Karl Villips (Puerto Rico Open), Brian Harman (Valero Texas Open), Garrick Higgo (Corales Puntacana Championship), Andrew Novak (with Ben Griffin, Zurich Classic of New Orleans), William Mouw (ISCO Championship), Ryan Gerard (Barracuda Championship).
Two of these 2025 champions—World No. 13 Harris English, World No. 32 Brian Harman—are Sea Island residents.
Maverick McNealy is scheduled to defend his title from a year ago. In total, including the ten winners this year, there are currently 36 players in The RSM Classic field who have won in the past two seasons on the PGA Tour.
The tournament week begins with the tournament qualifier held at Brunswick Country Club on Monday, November 17.
There will be as many as 180 players playing Monday for four spots. There are many notable players in the qualifier every year.
The RSM has a long tradition of hosting wonderful and strong fields of PGA Tour Players.
This is in large part a compliment to the sponsors, the Venue at Sea Island Golf Club and Davis Love III being the official host!!!
Here is a list of past champions of the RSM Classic:
2024 – Mav McNealy
2023 – Ludvig Aberg
2022 – Adam Svensson
2021 – Talor Gooch
2020 – Robert Streb
2019 – Tyler Duncan
2018 – Charles Howell
2017 – Austin Cook
2016 – MacKenzie Hughes
2015 – Kevin Kisner
2014 – Robert Streb
2013 – Chris Kirk
2012 – Tommy Gainey
2011 – Ben Crane
2010 – Heath Slocum
We are all excited to see what the 2025 RSM Classic holds for us and look forward to celebrating a champion on Sunday afternoon!!
New Cat Is No Kitten
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Just days after announcing that Travis Roland will not return for the 2026 season, Camden County has wasted no time charting its future.
Jon Lindsey, a familiar and respected figure, has been hired as the Wildcats’ new head football coach.
For a community where football is woven into local identity, the move feels both forward-thinking and rooted in tradition.
Lindsey brings a wealth of experience, a history of success, and most importantly, deep ties to Camden County football. He is not an outsider stepping into a high-pressure job. He is one of the architects of the Wildcats’ proudest eras.
Lindsey served as Camden’s defensive coordinator during the 2008 and 2009 state championship seasons, and returned years later to help guide the Wildcats to the Final Four in the 2023 GHSA 6A state playoffs.
His defenses were known for their toughness, discipline, and physicality. These were the hallmarks of the Camden program at its peak.
Beyond his work in Kingsland, Lindsey has built an impressive statewide résumé. He took Irwin County to the Final Four in 2013, earning Gatorade Class A Coach of the Year honors during his tenure.
In 2014, he led Cook County to the Region 1-3A championship and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
He has also headed programs at East Paulding and Appling County, and most recently contributed to Coffee County’s rise, helping the Trojans reach the quarterfinals twice and the semifinals once in three seasons.
Camden County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tracolya Green praised Lindsey as the right leader at the right moment, citing his understanding of Camden’s expectations and the defensive tradition that has long defined Wildcat football.
“Coach Lindsey has been a critical part of establishing our identity,” she said. “His leadership is grounded in simplicity, grit, and discipline. He knows what it takes to build a championship culture.”
With Camden now on its fourth head coach in seven years, Lindsey arrives as both a steadying presence and a familiar voice. His return signals a commitment to the values that built the Wildcats into one of Georgia’s premier programs: defense, discipline, and physicality.
Though the decision to move on from Roland closes the book on a two-year tenure that included a playoff berth in 2024 and a 6–4 season in 2025, the focus this week has quickly shifted toward the future.
Camden County believes Lindsey is the coach best equipped to restore consistency and reassert the Wildcats as a contender in what will be the newly realigned Region 1-7A starting in 2026.
The Lindsey family is already deeply ingrained in the community. His wife Melissa is a member of the Camden County High School faculty, and their son Jake, a Wildcat graduate, is now a linebacker at West Point.
That community connection, combined with Lindsey’s experience and track record, gives the Wildcats confidence that they have found the leader to guide the next chapter.
A public introduction event is planned for December, giving players, families, and supporters their first chance to officially welcome Coach Lindsey home.
After a fast-moving week, Camden County has a clear direction and has put its trust into a coach who knows exactly what Wildcat football is built on.
Jason Bishop Show November 13 2025
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick November 12 2025
Brantley County Herons Coach’s Show w David Shores November 12 2025
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show w Garrett Grady November 11 2025
Head Cat Out
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Camden County Wildcats will once again be looking for a new football coach.
It has been announced that Travis Roland, Camden’s Head Coach for 2024 and 2025, will not be returning for the 2026 season.
Roland went 13-8 in his brief tenure with Camden.
In 2024 Camden made the playoffs under Roland and went 7-4 overall. The Wildcats lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2024 to North Cobb, 28-7. The Cats got into the playoffs as the #4 seed from Region 1-6A..
In 2025 the Wildcats started off 5-0 and we’re ranked in the top 10 in the state in 6A. Things did not go as well in the second half of the season as Camden notched a 1-4 record.
Camden County finished the season 6-4 and did not make the playoffs in 6A.
Roland was 0-6 against Lowndes, Colquitt and Valdosta. He went 1-1 against Richmond Hill and 2-0 against Tift County in his two years as head coach.
Travis Roland was hired out of Mainland High School in Florida. He won the 3-S State Title in Florida in 2023. Roland’s Buccaneer’s went 14-1 in 2023 and defeated St. Augustine 21-19 in the title game. He was the Head Coach at Mainland High School from 2021-2023 where he went 30-10 overall.
He was the Head Coach at Flagler Palm Coast in Florida before he took the job at Mainland High School and went 58-22 overall at Palm Coast.
Roland finishes his tenure with Camden with an overall record of 101-40 as a Head Coach.
Roland took over the program after legendary Coach Jeff Herron retired after three seasons in his second stint with the Wildcats.
Heron took the Wildcats to the second round of the GHSA Playoffs in 2022 and then the Final Four in the playoffs in 2023.
In 2025 the Wildcats lost to Lowndes, Valdosta and Colquitt, their main rivals in the region, by a combined score of 143-61.
The next coach at Camden will be the fourth in seven years with the Wildcats.
With the tradition of the program and Camden only being two years removed from a Final Four appearance in the GHSA Playoffs, the Wildcats should have several elite coaches to choose from in the hiring process.
Wildcat 2025 Rewind
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 Camden County Wildcats season was a rollercoaster ride that started hot, hit some bumps in region play, and finished strong with a big win on the road.
Coach Travis Roland’s squad showed plenty of heart, grit, and flashes of the old Wildcat magic, closing the regular season with a 6-4 record and a lot to build on for the future.
The Wildcats came out firing in August, outlasting Brunswick 44-35 in the Frank Smith Classic.
Quarterback Will Jackson made an instant impact with five touchdown passes in his Camden debut, while running back Antwan Williams pounded out 158 yards on the ground. It was the perfect tone setter for what looked like another big year.
Week two was the David “D.C.” Coleman Show. The junior speedster returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, one 91 yards and another 97, as Camden blasted East Lake from Florida 57 to 33.
Jackson threw two more scores, and the Wildcats’ offense piled up nearly 500 yards. Coach Roland called Coleman special, and fans in Kingsland were already nodding in agreement.
Camden stayed red hot in week three, handling West Broward 32 to 13.
The defense completely shut down the run, holding the Bobcats to minus two rushing yards. Jackson tossed two touchdowns, ran for another, and special teams chipped in again when Trent Hamilton housed an 80-yard kickoff return.
By week four, the Wildcats were in full throttle mode. On Senior Night against Ribault, Camden fell behind early but then rolled to a 56 to 13 win.
Coach Roland broke out the Rhino package, a power formation that sparked a 49-point outburst. Coleman scored three different ways, and Dailey added two rushing touchdowns.
At 4-0, Camden hit the bye week averaging over 44 points per game.
Homecoming was next, and the Wildcats sent Royal Palm Beach back to Florida with a 37 to 20 loss. Jackson opened the game with a 40-yard run followed by a 39-yard touchdown pass to Sean Green, and the rout was on.
Coleman scored twice, the defense racked up six sacks, and Camden moved to 5 and 0 for the second straight season.
Then came Region 1 6A play, and the road got a lot rougher.
Camden dropped three straight to Valdosta, Richmond Hill, and Lowndes, all ranked opponents.
Valdosta racked up over 600 yards in a 63 to 19 loss, but the Wildcats bounced back the next week with a strong defensive showing at Richmond Hill, losing a close one 24 to 20 despite 285 passing yards and two touchdowns from Jackson.
Against Lowndes, Camden again fought hard, cutting a 21 to 0 deficit to 21 to 14 before the Vikings pulled away late.
Colquitt County was next, and the Packers once again proved why they’re one of the state’s top programs, beating Camden 45 to 28. Jackson accounted for all three Wildcat touchdowns, but the defense couldn’t slow down Colquitt’s ground game.
It was a tough stretch, but Roland’s team kept battling every week.
Then came a chance to finish on a high note at Tift County, and Camden took full advantage. The Wildcats capped the regular season with a convincing 35 to 17 win.
Jackson threw for 212 yards and two scores, Williams rushed for 141 yards, and Coleman added another touchdown to his growing highlight reel.
The defense came up big too, forcing three turnovers and holding the Blue Devils to just 10 points after halftime. It was the fast, physical, and disciplined kind of performance Roland had been pushing for all season.
Jackson finished the year with more than 1,500 passing yards and over 20 total touchdowns. Coleman proved to be the ultimate playmaker, scoring in just about every way possible.
Green was a steady deep threat, while Williams and Dailey powered one of the most dangerous backfields in Georgia.
The final record might not jump off the page, but this Camden County team showed resilience, toughness, and a lot of promise.
The Wildcats started strong, stumbled in the middle, and finished the right way, with a road win and renewed confidence.
As Coach Roland said more than once this fall, “Winning is hard to do, and you’ve got to enjoy your wins when you get them.”
