By: Christian Goeckel

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

For the second time in two seasons, Glynn Academy welcomed the defending 6A State Champion to Glynn County Stadium. And for the second year in a row, they systematically dismantled that team.

Behind an unforgiving defensive performance, Glynn took down defending champ Valdosta 27-3.

This was the most complete performance, 1^st quarter all the way through the 4^th, of the season. At no point did Valdosta even sniff a chance of victory.

Offensively, Glynn attacked Valdosta the exact same way they do every other team; hard, downhill dives, and a triple option to get the ball to the boundaries.

The factor that was different in this game was Randon Jernigan.

Throughout the season, good teams have been able to smother the triple option attack. Not in this game.

Jernigan ran the option game as smoothly and aggressively as he has all year, including breaking an eighty-yard touchdown run on a keeper. It really seems like this portion of the offense is really finding itself at the right time.

A couple of recurring concerns do linger for the offense. Low snaps cost the Terrors yards twice and a fumble gave Valdosta a short field and their only points of the game.

Those kinds of mistakes can hurt you in the regular season, but they’re fatal in the knockout format of the playoffs.

Another concern must be the passing game. Granted, they didn’t need to throw, but when he was asked to Jernigan couldn’t complete the ball. The fact remains though, Jernigan is deadly running the ball. Anything you get past that is a bonus.

Defensively, Glynn pass rushers consistently used Valdosta’s quarterbacks like cheap piñatas. This defense has a ton of team speed, and that was more than obvious in this one.

On Valdosta’s first play from scrimmage the quarterback threw a bomb to a seemingly wide-open receiver only to watch Marvin Dallas cover 10 yards and come close to picking the ball off.

It was going to be that kind of night. Hunter Hall had his best game of the year. The senior inside linebacker didn’t miss a play or a tackle, and sealed the game with an interception.

Valdosta had absolutely no answer for Glynn’s pass rush. Every time a quarterback would drop, someone was hitting him before he could get rid of the ball.

This was absolutely the best performance of the year from the defense. The one time they were challenged (Valdosta received a short field after a fumble by Glynn) the defense pushed Valdosta back and forced the Wildcats to kick a long field goal.

All night, they forced Valdosta to be one dimensional, throwing the football, and then pinned their ears back and got after the quarterback.

This is a unit that this team can lean on moving deeper into the playoffs, and they’re peaking at exactly the right time.

On special teams, the Terrors had a very good night. The ball was kicked out of the endzone on kick offs, Glynn was able to pin Valdosta deep a couple of times on punts and besides one punt, they did a great job of keeping the ball out of Valdosta’s danger men’s hands.

2-2 on field goals was clutch and will be huge moving forward.

Speaking of moving forward, Glynn will next host Heritage High School out of Conyers.

The Patriots enter this match up as the number 3 seed in region 3 6A, and are coming off a big win over Stephenson 20-7.

Heritage enters the contest against Glynn at 7-4 on the year, and will be looking to pull a huge upset.

That means we need you to get out to Glynn County Stadium and support this team who has put its’ collective body and soul on the line and are playing some dang good football.

This team is turning into something special. Don’t miss your chance to see it.