CANEY BAY — Brantley County faces its toughest opponent to date Friday when the Herons travel to third-ranked Appling County in a Region 3-AAA matchup.
The Herons (2-2 overall, 1-0 region) slipped past Islands 7-6 at homecoming scoring its only touchd own with 1:34 to play to hand the Sharks their first loss.
The Pirates (4-0, 1-0) also opened region play with a win beating visiting Tattnall County 49-13, the most points they have allowed in a game this season.
Appling County has built is record with a season- opening forfeit win over New Hampstead, a 49-0 trouncing of outmatched Savannah High and 56-7 over rebuilding Wayne County and the Warriors.
“Applying County’s always has great athletes,” said BCHS head coach Matt Hickox. “They’ve always got playmakers, kids that keep you up at night trying to figure out how you’re going to defend them, and they very physical, very big up front.
“They’ve got a phenomenal running back (senior Class 3A pre-season All-State selection Jaiden Knight, 6-foot-1, 195 lbs.). When he gets tired or he wants a sip of water, they (coaches) put in another huge back ... he’s a bruiser with good speed. And, they’re very athletic, very fast and very physical.”
Friday’s head-to-head clash is the 24th between the two schools in a series dating back to 1974. The Pirates have captured 15 of the last 16 encounters to build a 20-3 series lead.
Brantley County’s lone victory in the last 16 matchups was a wild 59--45 home win in 2016. The Herons won back-to-back games in 2005 and 2006.
Defensively, Appling County has moved to a 35 defensive scheme under first-year head coach J.D. Sellers and defensive coordinator Todd Ragle after years of playing a 43. “Coach Ragle has got that defense playing very physical, very downhill,” said Hickox. “They (players) know where to be, and they are extremely multiple. It makes it difficult for opposing coaches to understand where they’re coming from.
“They’re well-coached, they play hard and they play physical. It’s like they’re excited to be on the field with each other.”
Hickox said the biggest obstacle is getting guys healthy to play.
“We’ve got to get some kids back,” he said. “We’re probably not going to get everybody back this week. We’re going to limp into this game.
“Sunday during film study, we’ve (coaches) got to show those who filled in last week where they messed up, took the wrong step, went to block the wrong guy, and ran the wrong route. There are things that we (coaches) have to clean.
“We’ve got to simplify things and let the guys play fast and play with confidence. The last thing they need to do when they line up against a team as big and strong as Appling County is also second guess where they’re supposed to be.”
Appling County’s offense under coordinator Sean Jackson is built around Knight and junior quarterback Harrison Hickox (6-2, 200).
“I’ve worked with coach Jackson at Pierce County,” said Hickox. “He has an awesome offensive mind. He’s going to do all kind of different things between a run game with some heavy packages to spreading the ball out. They will throw different types of screens to get the ball in the playmakers’ hands.
“I saw them against Wayne County and they are an absolute machine. Appling County makes you have to prepare for them with a lot of different sets. They’ll get in spread then jump into a single wing set just mixing things up. “It’s my job to try to get m y crew lined u p and figure out how we’re going to get some stops. Everything starts with me first and foremost. Me and the staff are ready to go back to the drawing board to make sure we do a better job.”
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