Bradwell Institute is gearing up for football season with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at 10 a.m. The scrimmage will be at Lewis Frasier Middle School’s Freedom Field.
Next season, the Tigers will play in Region 2-AAAAAA along with Brunswick, Effingham County, Glynn Academy and Richmond Hill. Tiger head coach Greg Hill said the new region is smaller and allows for more options.
“One of the biggest things for us in getting out of the former region is that it allows us to go find some games with non-region opponents,” he said. “I think for right now, where the stage of our program is at, we have to play teams that we can look at on paper and think we can have a chance. I think that is the biggest thing. To be able to schedule opponents we think we can compete with. With all due respect to those teams that we have (on our schedule) now Tattnall County, Long County and Southeast Bulloch. … Those guys are not pushovers either, but we can be more competitive with those programs.”
The coach said they have roughly seven starters on offense and probably eight on defense returning from last season.
“That’s a pretty good mix to have returning,” he said. “We have guys who were reserves and backups last year also returning. So we have some guys that have been around and know how we want to do things and that is good to have.”
With team leader Luther Echols graduating, the coach said he is looking at a few players to lead by example.
“Joshua Ingram has been here. I think he started as a freshman and he works his butt off,” the coach said. “It’s good to have a guy like Ingram. He has been around a long time and wants to do well. He wants to be a part of the change that takeplace this upcoming season.”
Hill added that De’marcus Bargnare has also stepped up. “He is a quiet leader, but he does everything we ask him to do,” Hill said, also noting that Terrius Crimiel is another player showing leadership.
Trying to fill Echols’ vacancy at the wing position is not going to be easy, but Hill said Kevin Harris has already taken a starting spot in the back, and Imari Hurte played the wing in spurts last year as a freshman.
“Kevin played a ton last year, so he’s got experience. We don’t have much experience in the wing position, but Imari Hurte did play that position as a freshman, so he is not a brand new guy,” Hill said. “We have a lot of young backs, but they have played for us last year.”
During the spring, the coach said his players have remained focus on their playbook.
“We have been focusing on ourselves and doing and getting our assignments right,” he said. “I have talked to the guys about execution and effort. Execution doesn’t have anything to do with talent. That is stuff anybody can do if they are dedicated and committed.”
He said once the players get the playbook down, they will start to focus on opponents.
“We still have to put in the work, but having these opportunities feels great,” he said about the upcoming schedule.
At Saturday’s scrimmage, the Tigers are asking the public to donate boxes of laundry detergent for admission.
Tentative BI 2016 schedule
Aug. 26, vs. Liberty County High
Sept. 2, at Southeast Bulloch
Sept. 9, vs. Warren County
Sept. 16, vs. Tattnall County
Sept. 23, at Long County
Sept. 30, vs. Lakeside
Oct. 7, vs. Brunswick*
Oct. 13, at Richmond Hill*
Oct. 28 vs. Effingham County*
Nov. 4, at Glynn Academy*
*Denotes region games