Ware County, looking to bounce back from a tough 2024 campaign of hard knocks, can start making amends against a perennial playoff contender Friday night vs. Brunswick.
The Pirates of third-year head coach Garrett Grady return a good nucleus of players from last year’s 10-2 Region 1AAAAA champion squad.
The Brunswick offense is explosive (46.1 points per game in 5A) utilizing a run-based scheme that churned out 3,800 yards (317 yards per game) and 42 touchdowns on the ground and over 2,600 yards (219 game) through the air.
The opening test should be stern for the Gators, who have experience in the front and back of their defensive scheme.
“Our pieces are starting to come together,” said head coach Jason Strickland. “When they get there we’ll start to see them grow and expand. We just some time with our linebackers. They are going to be alright once they get game reps under their belts.”
Drawing the attention is senior fourstar tight end Heze Kent (6-foot-7, 300 lbs.), who committed Saturday to the University of Florida. The Gators won the recruiting battle against Miami, Florida State and Texas.
Kent caught 41 passes for 983 yards (24 yards a reception) with eight touchdowns and added 211 yards rushing with another eight scores. Junior Wasean Murray (5-9, 155) caught 31 passes for 642 yards (20.7) and six touchdowns.
Senior Grant Moore (6-2, 195) threw for 2,525 with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. Junior running back Nigel Gardner (5-8, 180) finished with 995 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns recording six 100-plus yard nights.
Brunswick’s defense was seniorladen a year ago. Four underclassmen on the 2024 unit recorded 25-plus tackles.
A senior-laden offensive line should help ease the pressure on junior quarterback Isaiah White, who will be starting his first game.
“What they do affects the whole team,” Strickland said. “Those guys are truly special. Starting for two years, they’ve been through a lot of battles.”
