CANEY BAY — Two rebuilding programs coming off winless 2025 seasons will meet Friday night in Claxton when Brantley County travels to face the unbeaten Tigers in a nonregion matchup.
The Herons (1-1) ended a 12-game losing streak last week by turning back Lanier County (0-2) 26-6 for its first home win since September 20, 2024 — a 28-21 upset of then-seventh- ranked Jeff Davis.
Brantley County entered this season off an 0-10 2025 campaign, the first winless season since backto- back 0-10 ledgers in 2000-2001 and fifth in school history dating to 1970’s inaugural season.
BCHS’s last regular season win was November 1, 2024 in a game halted by a brawl at Bacon County. The Herons were awarded a 14-7 victory after the game was called in the third period.
Claxton (2-0) entered this year riding a 10-game losing streak after posting an 0-9 mark in 2025, its first winless campaign since 2016’s 0-9 mark. It was just the third winless campaign in program history dating to 1948 when the Georgia High School Association was formed.
The Tigers, who were 327 the last three seasons, are under second-year head coach Phillip Richards. They won 20-7 August 21 at Twiggs County in the seasonopener.
Claxton followed with a 32-12 victory at Hardeeville (S.C.) High School last week for their best start to a season since 2019, the last time the program posted a winning record (6-5).
“This is going to be a test for us,” said first-year Brantley head coach Matt Hickox. “They (Tigers) are putting up some points offensively. It’s also their home opener, so I expect them to be excited.”
This is just the thirdever meeting between the two football programs. Claxton won the first meeting 21-6 in 2000 in Caney Bay. The Tigers rolled 5015 in 2001 at the old Pecan Grove, an 80-year-old stadium surrounded by pecan trees that closed after the 2022 season.
Claxton utilizes the wing-T offense. Through two games, the Tigers are averaging 26 points a game after averaging just eight per outing last year.
“This scheme has a lot of window dressing and eye candy,” said Hickox. “It’s a ball-control offense. Our defensive players have to make sure they’re focused on their assignments and just read their keys.
“If you’re not focused, a ball carrier can go the distance. All the ball carrier needs is to find a crease. Defenders have to know their assignments and keep their eyes up.”
Hickox does have knowledge of defending the wing-T under his former mentors — Pierce County head coach Ryan Herring and Bears defensive coordinator Swane Morris.
“Coach Herrin is one of the best defensive- minded coaches in the state,” said Hickox. “Coach Morris ran the wing-T when he was coaching in Alabama, so he understands how to stop it. That was huge for me to learn from them.
“We’re (BCHS coaches) going to put our flavor on our scheme to stop it. We’ll be ready.”
The Herons will prepare offensively to face a 3-3 stack defensive alignment from Claxton.
“The 3-3 or 3-5 allows you to bring pressure from anywhere,” Hickox said. “The key is controlling the line of scrimmage. That’s the challenge our offensive line faces. We have to be prepared for the stunts and blitzes.
“With that being said, it comes down to being aggressive and not playing passively. When we attack, like we did a couple of times at OTAs (organized team activities) and last week against Lanier County, things are pretty good. But, we had a couple of OTAs and the Bacon County game where we were passive and things didn’t go well.
“We still have a lot to clean up this week. We have to have a road warrior mentality and go take care of business in Claxton Friday night. We have to continue to get better each week and not take a night off.”
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