Southern Sports Edition
Showdown At Womack
By: Joseph Stuckey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Friday night lights will shine brightly in Statesboro this week as the undefeated Blue Devils welcome in perennial powerhouse Benedictine Military School to Womack Field.
This will truly be one of the marquee matchups this week in the state, as both Statesboro (#6) and Benedictine (#4) are ranked among their top-10 teams in 5-A.
Statesboro has really impressed a lot of people so far this season, as they currently sit undefeated at 3-0. They have wins against in-county rival Southeast Bulloch, and they also got strong measuring-stick wins against Burke County and ECI.
They also got an early bye week before this big-time matchup, which should have them ready to go at nearly full strength.
Benedictine comes into the game 2-1 with wins over Hebron Christian and a big statement win over 7-A Camden County. Their lone loss came to the 3-A state title favorite Toombs County, which has a roster loaded with FBS commits and prospects.
Speaking of prospects, Benedictine has 2 Power-4 commits on their roster: wide receiver Eron Mallard, who is a 3-star committed to the Purdue Boilermakers, and 3-star safety Stanley Smart, who is committed to the Hokies of Virginia Tech.
Benedictine has been built as a powerhouse that has constantly sent players to the FBS level. Some argue it is the most successful program in Southeast Georgia over the last decade or so.
The Cadets have captured state football championships in 2022, 2021, 2016, and 2014. In years they did not win the state title, they have made deep playoff runs, including last year, when they finished runner-up to Creekside by just 3 points.
Speaking of sending players to college, here are a few notable cadets at the next level: Bubba Frazier (Notre Dame), Luke Kromenhoek & Za’Quan Bryan (USF), Stephen Cannon and Ladamion Guyton (Texas Tech), Third & Ralph Scroggins (Miami), Jacobe Ward (Auburn), Kameron Cody (Clemson), Bryce Baker (Georgia Southern), & Holden Geriner (Pitt).
Statesboro also has a couple of notable players currently on FBS rosters as well. Edge rusher Amonntrae Bradford is currently with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and all-purpose athlete Kam Mikell plays for the hometown Georgia Southern Eagles.
Most likely, this game will be a major factor in determining who the region champion is for class 5-A region 1. This region also consists of perennial favorites Ware County and Jenkins (Savannah).
However, with the new rankings formula being implemented in all of GHSA, a loss in this game will not be detrimental to either team if the status quo holds. I predict each one of these teams to be in the 7-9 win range, so as each team moves on after this game, their ranking should continue to improve as the other team keeps winning.
With this being a home game, the Blue Devils are hoping the hometown fan base will bring a lot of energy and rally them to a seismic win that will show the rest of 5-A that Statesboro plans to make a run at the state title this year.
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show with Tucker Pruitt September 15 2026
Can Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Recover After Tough Start?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost to #18 Tennessee at home, 45-24. They lost their first game to Colorado, so they are now 0-2.
Tech is one of only three Power Four conference teams to open this season with consecutive games against power-conference opponents.
The Vols are led by true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. I thought the Yellow Jackets had a chance to win the game because they were facing a young QB making his first start on the road. Brandon went 10 of 21 for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns.
RB DeSean Bishop rushed for 147 yards and 2 scores.
Tennessee also had 14 penalties for 142 yards.
Georgia Tech blocked a punt and scored a touchdown after Elgin Session returned it. It was their first blocked punt return for a score in 22 years. They led 10-7 after the first quarter. After that, UT scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter.
The offense finally scored their first touchdown of the season in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown reception by RB Justice Haynes. The Michigan transfer had 117 total yards and two touchdowns. The offense needs to make him the focal point.
QB Alberto Mendoza, the transfer from Indiana and younger brother of #1 pick, Fernando Mendoza has struggled. He completed 26 of 40 passes for 221 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions. One of those was a pick-six.
“Yeah, they played, they went to more of a, not the entire time, but a good portion of the time, played a three down front to be able to change up their gaps in the front, but also to bring the edge pressure” head coach Brent Key said. “And that’s what was happening a couple of times, some of the balls that were batted down even as well. And then when you’re doing that and they’re showing and they played a floater-type guy in the middle that’s a down lineman that’s playing in a linebacker-type stance, and they’re dropping different guys into coverage.”
Key also spoke about the team’s identity after the game.
“Yeah, you know, you don’t really expect anything. You don’t live in that type of world. You know, I guess you say you do it. There’s what you want. There’s the standard that you have, right, and that you play to. I will say this, last week was nothing close to a standard, an identity, whatever fancy word, you know, culture, whatever word you want to put up on social media. It was not even close to it. It didn’t even resemble anything. I thought a lot of times tonight it was a lot closer to what we want to be.”
This might be a tough season. I thought they would win the first game before the season started. I believe it will be tough for them to get six wins and become bowl eligible.
The next game is at home against Mercer, an FCS team. The Bears are ranked #22 but they are coming off of a loss to Furman. This should be an easy win for the Jackets.
The remaining schedule is @ Stanford, Duke, @ Virginia Tech, Boston College, @ Pitt, # 23 Louisville, @ Clemson, Wake Forest and @ #2 Georgia. Where will the other five wins come from?
They should be favored against Stanford, Duke and Wake Forest. I think they’re evenly matched against BC and Clemson. It’s possible they might pull an upset and beat a team they aren’t supposed to. The opposite of that is also possible.
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show with Byron Slack September 14 2026
Brunswick High Pirates Set Sail On Region Play
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
After posting a 1-2 non-region record, the Brunswick High Football Pirates kicked off Region 1-6A play on September 18.
First year head coach Dr. Byron Slack’s Pirates kicked off the 2026 campaign at home against the Camden County Wildcats, losing 35-21.
In week two, Dr. Slack’s Pirates hosted the Groves Rebels and walked away with a 63-0 shellacking.
Following a bye week, Brunswick High hosted 7-A powerhouse Grayson. Despite being a huge underdog, the Pirates played the Rams tough, even taking the lead in the third quarter before Grayson eventually prevailed, 44-31, giving BHS their 1-2 non-region record.
Coach Slack’s squad began region play with a four-hour bus trip to the Augusta area to take on the Grovetown Warriors, who were 0-3 on the season. This could have been trap game for the Pirates, as they have sometimes struggled on long road-trip games. It was not, BHS won the game 38-14.
The following Friday (Sept. 25), BHS returns to Glynn County Stadium to host the Greenbrier Wolfpack, another Augusta area school, who is currently 1-2.
On October 2, Coach Slack’s Pirates will travel to Hinesville to clash with the Bradwell Institute Tigers, currently 3-1 in 2026.
Over the years, the Tigers have not fared well against the Pirates, but Bradwell appears to be a much better football team than in recent years.
After their second bye week, Coach Slack’s Pirates will be the home team on October 16 at Glynn County Stadium against the Glynn Academy Red Terrors in the City Championship game. This promises to be a very important region tilt, as well securing local bragging rights for the next twelve months. The Terrors are currently 1-3.
After the City Championship game, the Pirates will host back-to-back games against South Effingham (3-1) and Effingham (2-2). The Mustangs and the Rebels, respectively, will continue a long-standing rivalry against the Pirates.
Brunswick closes out the regular season on November 6 by returning to the Augusta area (another trap game?) to take on Lakeside-Evans.
Senior quarterback Keygan Walker has stepped into the leadership role very comfortably for the Pirates. In the three non-region games, Walker threw for 430 yards and 7 touchdowns.
At an exclusive coach’s show with The Bishop Media Sports Network, Coach Slack lauded Walker’s performance thus far, “and he’ll continue to get better,” Coach Slack added.
Seniors Nigel Gardner and Josiah Gibbons have anchored the running game for the Pirates.
The defense has been anchored by Samir Dobbins, Zay Bennett, Zi’yan Rankin, and Chozen Owens, among several others.
Kicker Braxton Davis has been busy kicking extra points.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the playoffs get underway using a system called the Post Season Rankings Formula, concocted by the Georgia High School Association.
Unless I’m missing something, this is one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever heard.
Best I can tell, it works like this: Unless you actually win a region championship, you may or may not qualify for post-season play.
Other than winning a region championship, a team’s eligibility for the playoffs depends on its won-lost record, its opponents’ won-lost record, its opponents’ opponents’ won-loss record, and the wind direction on the Ides of March.
Under the old playoff system, of course, the top four teams in each region qualified for post-season play, regardless of the wind.
At any rate, my prediction is as follows: Dr. Coach Byron Slack’s Pirates run the table in region play, winning the city championship as well as the region championship in his first year at Brunswick High, and then makes a playoff run, getting past the second round for the first time since 1999.
Go Pirates!
Richmond Hill Wildcats Coming Out Party
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Richmond Hill Wildcats have gotten off to a great start in the 2026 season.
Going into Friday night’s game with the Ware County Gators the Wildcats found themselves undefeated on the young season at 3-0.
The Wildcats survived a week 1 encounter with the Effingham Rebels 22-21.
In week 2 Richmond Hill flexed their might against the Liberty County Panthers to the tune of a 42-7 win.
In week 3 the Wildcats welcomed a very good Jenkins Warriors team to ‘The Hill’ and outlasted Jenkins; winning 31-27.
Richmond Hill has had the advantage of all three wins being in the friendly confines of ‘The Hill’ at Wildcat Stadium.
In week 4 the Wildcats would not have the advantage of being at home. In fact, they would travel to one of the toughest places to win in the state, Memorial Stadium in Waycross-‘The Swamp’. Many seasons have been ruined and title dreams ended in Waycross at the hands of the Ware County Gators.
This was the task in front of the Richmond Hill Wildcats, to beat Ware in ‘The Swamp’ to remain undefeated. This is a tall order.
Ware came into the game at 1-1. The Gators took down Bainbridge in week 1 22-21 and lost to rival Coffee County in week 2, 27-7.
Ware also was coming off a bye before the Richmond Hill game so the Gators had a full 2 weeks to prepare for the Wildcats.
At first look this seemed like a game that Richmond Hill would suffer their first loss of the season; playing in ‘The Swamp’, it being their first road game of the year, Ware having 2 weeks to prepare and the Gators coming off a loss. Not to mention it was the first home game of the season for the Ware County Gators.
None of these things mattered and what looked like a likely loss instead turned into a coming out party for Richmond Hill.
The Wildcats upended the Gators 13-7 to remain unbeaten and climb to 4-0 on the season. This game was one of the best games of the season.
With time about to expire and the game tied at 7-7, Ware County lined up to kick a game winning field goal.
Instead of the kick sailing through the uprights for a Ware win, the kick was blocked and pick up by Eli Grant and returned 96 yards for a touchdown with no time on the clock giving the dramatic win to Richmond Hill. Literally snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
DB/WR Eli Grant had a monumental performance to help Richmond Hill win this football game. Grant scored both touchdowns for the Wildcats; one receiving and the other returning the blocked kick. Oh, and also Grant added in an interception just for good measure.
Next up for Richmond Hill is Wando High School out of South Carolina. The Wildcats will be back at home for this contest. Wando is off to a 3-1 start so this will be another tough test for the Wildcats.
Coach Matt LeZotte has the Wildcats off to a great start and they will be a force in region 1-7A.
Bulloch Academy Gators Another Big Win
By: Joseph Stuckey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Bulloch Academy Gators came into this past Friday’s game with a 3-1 record. This game came the week after the hard-fought loss to John Milledge Academy, 23-35 in Milledgeville.
The good news is the Gators have played a really tough schedule, and their MaxPreps ranking is taking note as they came into this game #2 in the AAAA rankings and #4 in all of GIAA.
With their win on Friday over the Westfield School Hornets out of Perry, GA, the Gators improve to 4-1 and look well on their way to locking up a top seed in the GIAA AAAA playoffs.
Westfield came into the game ranked #2 in AAA and #6 in all of GIAA. This game featured playmakers in all aspects of the game.
The offense was able to control the clock by running the ball consistently and getting big runs when needed from impact players like Connor Perry and quarterback Sam Hubbard.
Hubbard continues to show how impressive his ability to make decisive runs and calculated throws is.
The offensive running game also felt an impact from Rocco Reiss, B.J. Smart, and Nick Eason Jr. The offensive line upfront also continues to show why it is the most consistent group for the Gators year after year.
The Gators’ defense was able to capitalize on the Hornets playing from behind the sticks most of the night. They allowed minimal big plays and implemented a bend-but-don’t-break mentality.
The defense only allowed a couple of big receptions and tried to keep everything in front of them. The defense allowed the Hornets to make mistakes and then capitalized for big stops.
The defense had several playmakers, including Jayce Farmer, Tate Williams, and Colin Grooms.
Also, the quarterback felt pressure all night from Braylon Cone at nose guard and Billy Crider off the edge. Crider also knocked down a pass late in the game to help seal the victory.
On special teams, the Gators relied on good returns from Perry and Crider as well as consistent kickoffs and extra points from Case Woodrum.
Special teams seem to be an area where the Gators find an advantage over other teams, and with a little fine-tuning, it could become their best aspect of their team.
The game against the Hornets basically ran at a 2-score deficit most of the night; even though they scored a late touchdown, which made the score look closer, the Gators controlled the game from start to finish.
Westfield also had a failed 2-point conversion towards the end of the game, which all but put the final nail in the coffin, as the Gators offense was able to run out the clock.
Outside of a few minor errors and slip-ups, the Gators seem to have rebounded well from the loss to JMA and look to have their eyes set on going for the big GIAA prize.
Now that this game is in the book, the Gators will travel next week to Robert Toombs in Lyons and hope to avoid a 3-overtime marathon game like last season. After that, the Gators will travel to Strong Rock Christian in Locust Grove for their biggest AAAA regular-season matchups of the season.
McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers Coach’s Show with Bradley Warren September 10 2026
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show with Brandon Derrick September 9 2026
LSU To Be Ousted From SEC?
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Welcome to college football in 2026.
On Saturday night, LSU looked like one of the best teams in America, dismantling Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin’s debut.
By Tuesday, the Tigers had climbed to No. 8 in the AP poll. And on that same day, the Southeastern Conference was preparing for a meeting that could potentially result in LSU being kicked out of the league. You can’t make this stuff up.
The dispute centers around Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, two former Ole Miss players who signed NFL contracts and spent time with professional teams this summer before attempting to return to college football at LSU.
The SEC says they shouldn’t be eligible. A Louisiana judge has ruled, at least temporarily, that they can play. LSU didn’t use either player against Clemson, but the fight has continued anyway.
And naturally, Lane Kiffin couldn’t resist having a little fun with it.
With LSU leading Clemson 31-3 at halftime Saturday, Kiffin joked during his television interview, “Imagine if we had pro players.”
I’m guessing SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey didn’t find that nearly as funny as Kiffin did.
Now the situation has escalated to the point where SEC presidents and chancellors are scheduled to meet and potentially consider LSU’s future in the conference.
We’re talking about LSU here. A founding member of the SEC. One of the biggest brands in college football; Tiger Stadium, national championships and generations of SEC history.
Personally, I think kicking LSU out would be a massive overreaction. But I also understand the SEC’s position.
A conference has to be able to make rules and expect its members to follow them. If the schools agree on an eligibility rule and one member can simply go to court and have that rule blocked, how does the conference govern itself?
But that’s also why this story is about much more than LSU. College football has changed almost everything about itself in a remarkably short period of time without developing a system capable of governing what it has become.
NIL changed the financial landscape. The transfer portal changed roster building. Revenue sharing changed the relationship between players and schools. Eligibility rules continue to be challenged in court.
And every time the NCAA or a conference tries to draw a line, someone seems ready to file another lawsuit.
So, who’s actually in charge of college football? The NCAA? The conferences? The schools? The courts? I’m not sure anybody knows anymore.
I don’t blame the players for taking advantage of every opportunity available to them. I don’t necessarily blame LSU for challenging a rule it believes is wrong. And I certainly don’t blame the SEC for believing membership in its conference should require following conference rules.
But college football desperately needs some consistency. That’s the bigger story here.
The crazy part is that LSU might actually be really good. The Tigers just embarrassed Clemson and suddenly look like a legitimate playoff contender.
Yet only a few days later, we’re barely talking about football.
Instead, we’re wondering whether one of the SEC’s founding members could actually be thrown out of the conference.
That’s college football in 2026. LSU may be ready to compete for an SEC championship.
First, apparently, the Tigers have to make sure they’re still in the SEC.
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