CANEY BAY — Brantley County head coach Matt Hickox and his staff must move on from Friday night’s loss to No. 1 Toombs County with just four games remaining in the 2026 regular season.
The Herons (2-4 overall, 12 region) still have hopes of a post-season berth. It starts this week as BCHS prepares for a road trip to Johnson-Savannah (1-5, 0-3), losers of five straight games since a 20-6 win over Savannah in the season opener.
“Johnson has some athletes,” said Hickox. “We’re (team) going to flush that game out of our system after looking at the film. But just like a win, we’re going to look at the film and correct our mistakes. You always learn something whether you win or lose.” The meeting is the seventh between the two programs since first meeting in 2012. Each program has taken turns in winning two straight — the Atomsmashers have done it twice including the last two meetings in 2022 and 2023 by a combined eight points. Brantley County’s only victories in the series came in 2014 and 2015. Since winning the season opener, Johnson-Savannah has fallen 39-0 at South Effingham, 43-19 to Liberty County, 48-6 at Pierce County in the region opener, 24-6 at Tattnall County and 50-6 to visiting Appling County last week.
The Pirates are the only common opponent between the two teams. Appling County bested the Herons 45-6 at home two weeks ago.
The Atomsmashers enter the game averaging just 9.5 points per Friday night and six points in region affairs.
After allowing just 48 points in the first four games (12 points per), the Herons have surrendered 116 over the last two games shooting the average to 27.5 per Friday night.
“They (Atomsmashers) run the spread and will get under center in a double slot formation,” said Hickox. “They (Johnson coaches) want to get the ball to their athletes in space.
Senior Shamari King (5-foot-6, 175 lbs.) is the quarterback in the Johnson offensive scheme. He is also the teams’ leading rusher.
King is dangerous with the ball in his hands as a passer and a runner escaping pass rushes.
Sophomore Darryl Heyward (5-10, 210) is the running back. Senior wide receiver Jayden Young (59, 155) and senior slotback Zaevon Gray (5-9, 155) are dangerous on the outside.
Johnson’s offensive line could be one of the biggest, next to Toombs County, in the region with five players on the roster weighing 275 pounds or better with two tipping the scales at 315 and 345. Three measure 6-2, 6-3 and 6-3.
“We’ve got be in our spots, play assignment football and not have dirty eyes (looking in the backfield),” said Hickox. “We’ve got to be physical at the point of attack, keep our eyes clean and be where we’re supposed to be.”
Defensively, the Atomsmashers have shown a 33 and 5-2 alignment all season. Johnson is allowing 35 points per game. The Herons enter averaging 9.9 points per outing.
“We’ve got to control the line of scrimmge,” Hickox said. “We’ve got to execute and get first downs. We’ve got to take what their (Atomsmashers) defense gives us, get the ball to our playmakers and take care of the football.”
Senior linebacker/safety Cory Byrd (5-6, 165) leads the team in tackles (32) and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (three). He has a team-high two quarterback sacks.
Heyward, who plays linebacker, is second with 28 tackles. He has a TFL and a sack. Senior safety Maurice Knight (6-foot, 160) has 27 stops and an interception.
Junior defensive end/linebacker Marquise Cooks (6-2, 225) is fourth with 25 tackles, three TFLs and a sack.
BCHS vs. Johnson Atomsmashers lead 4-2 BCHS JSHS 2012 ............7 ............40 2013..........34.............39 2014 ..........31 .............14 2015 ..........42...............6 2022..........19 .............21 2023..........12.............18
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