Bradwell Institute will host Savannah High tonight for homecoming and the Liberty County Panthers head to Richmond Hill for their first region game as the high school football season reaches week six.
Tigers host Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets will invade Olvey Field tonight in search of their first win of the season. With a 0-5 overall mark and a 0-3 Region 3-AAAAA record, the Blue Jackets likely will throw caution to the wind against a Tiger team that also is struggling.
Tiger coach Jim Walsh said the Blue Jackets shouldn’t be judged by their win/loss record.
"We know they have some athletes and they have a good running back and a tight end that is a pretty good receiver," he said. "Defensively, we know they are going to crowd the box and dare you to throw."
The coach said the Blue Jackets also will try to get BI players to commit to the outer perimeters where the visiting team thinks they have athletes able to protect that area.
Last week, the Tigers were beaten by region powerhouse Camden County. However, Bradwell avoided a shutout and started to mount sustainable drives in the second half, mostly thanks to newcomer Kelton Jacobs.Walsh said Jacobs reminds him of former standout running backs Sheldon Barnes and Jarell Crawford.
"We put him into what we already started doing with our kids and he made a big difference," the coach said of his new addition to the roster. "I think he ended up rushing for 134 against Camden and then he had over 100 yards in kickoff returns. He has the burst that we need. He knows what to do when he gets out in the open field and he is very shifty. This is his senior year. He is an experienced back and he is not afraid to block."
With the Tigers’ overall mark of 1-4 and 1-2 region record, Walsh said tonight’s game is critical to getting his players back on track.
"We have to quit shooting ourselves in the foot with stupid penalties and bad snaps," he said. "The kids have fought tooth and nail and they are ready to turn things around. And on Friday night that is our goal — to turn this around.
Panthers at Richmond Hill
The LCHS Panthers are still riding the victory wave after their stunning 29-0 shutout against Statesboro two weeks ago.
Tonight, they head to Richmond Hill where they begin their 2A-AAAA sub-region run. While the Panthers have defeated the Wildcats every year since 2004, LCHS coach Kirk Warner said his team will face a new and much improved Wildcat team on the road.
"They run and use five or six different guys so you can’t really key in on one or two guys," he said. "They are a much improved team from years past and they can move the ball on offense."
The coach said his defense has to come out aggressively to neutralize the Wildcats option offense. The Liberty team had a bye week last Friday, giving their players an opportunity to heal injuries, but Jovan Bennett is still nursing a foot injury and will sit this game out. Tucory Rhodes, who injured his back during the Statesboro game, is questionable for the game, according to the coach.
"This is the most important game of the year so far," Warner said. "It’s the start of our sub-region play and we can still accomplish our goals and make the playoffs. But it has to start Friday night. Whatever happened in the past is behind us and this is our second half of the season."