CANEY BAY — Brantley County and Jeff Davis enter Friday’s Region 1-A opener with basically the same scenario as the 2024 season.
The Herons (0-4) were winless through their first four games the same as this year. Jeff Davis (3-0) was unbeaten through four games and this year its through three games.
The Yellow Jackets were ranked seventh when they arrived in Caney Bay in 2024. This year they are 10th and playing at home.
Special teams played a huge part in Brantley County’s 28-21 upset. Antony Walker returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the opening period and Peyton Perez returned a blocked punt for a score.
Trailing 21-20, the game-winner came with 1:25 to play on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kaden Hendrix to Devein Saunders helping Brantley County end a 44-game losing streak to ranked teams in the same classification dating back to 1972.
Friday’s meeting will be the 24th between the two programs. The Herons cut the series lead to 15-8 with the victory.
Friday night will be like a mirror image of two offenses who run the “flexbone” — the ole’ Georgia Southern offensive scheme that won six national titles starting with Tracy Hamm.
“That’s a really good football team,” said BCHS head coach David Shores. “I know they’re probably out for blood this year after how things went down last year.
“We’ve got to stay in front of the things that are important, play for each other, play for the guy next to you and not worry about the scoreboard.”
The Jeff Davis offense exploded in its last game, a 63-21 win over Tattnall County. The Yellow Jackets racked up 521 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Through three games, Jeff Davis is accumulating 358.7 rushing yards while averaging 11.3 yards per attempt.
Junior running back Kobe Hill (5-foot-10, 190 lbs.) rushed for 137 yards against Tattnall County pushing his season total to a team-high 362 yards and his rushing average per carry to 13.9 yards. He has a team-high tying four touchdowns.
Senior Ian Griffin (5-9, 140) finished with 110 yards in the last game surpassing his 75 yard total in the first two games. He has three touchdowns and is averaging 16.8 yards per touch. Senior R.J. Simms is second in rushing with 202 yards and is averaging 11.9 yards per attempt. He has four touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Mark Durden, who has completed 5-of-6 passes in three games with two scores, has gained 145 yards and punched in two scores. He’s averaging 13.2 yards per carry.
“They’re an option team,” Shores said, “and we’ve got some experience in defending it since we put the scheme in last spring. I believe our guys in the box (linemen, linebackers) will be fine. “Hopefully, they will do a better job of holding their ground, not get washed down and kicked out and those kind of things. It’s responsibility in discipline football.”
The Yellow Jackets’ 3-3 stack defense is surrendering 22 points a game. Only four players have at least 10 tackles led by Hill’s 16 from his linebacker/nose guard position with three tackles for loss.. Junior Jomari Wilcox and Durden (one interception) are second with 14 each. Griffin, who plays outside linebacker has 10.
“We’re (coaches) going to make some tweaks offensively,” said Shores of the two-week preparation. “We’re going to try to make progress, try to improve in our positions and help improve the units on the field.
“It’s time to get our heads right and our bodies right. We’re licking our wounds right now and trying to find our way.”
JDHS vs. BCHS Jackets lead 15-8 JDHS BCHS
1972...........19..............0
1973 ..........48 .............6
1976 ..........63 .............3
1977...........52 .............0
1978 ..........23 .............0
1979 ..........27 .............0
1986 ..........12 ............20
1987 ..........16..............8
1994 ..........35 .............0
1995 ..........70 .............0
1998..........43 ............49
1999 ..........67 .............6
2004 ..........6 .............20
2005 .........24.............17
2006 ..........0 .............45
2007 .........20.............13
2008 ..........7 .............24
2009 ..........6 .............35
2016..........27............. 35
2017 ........DNP
2018..........34 ............22
2019 ...........7 ..............0
2020 .........14..............6
2024..........21.............28
