One of, if not the best high school football games will take place here Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
Fourth-ranked Benedictine (22) comes to town to face fifthranked and unbeaten Ware County (5-0) in the 7:30 p.m., Region 1-AAAA opener for both schools.
The meeting is the sixth between the two schools since 2020 and the fifth time they have been ranked among the Top 5. The Cadets were one classification lower than Ware County during the 2020-23 meetings before becoming region mates in 2024.
Unranked Ware County posted a 38-14 upset victory in Savannah last season with BC the No. 2 team in the Class 4A poll.
The meeting is the ninth between Gators’ head coach Jason Strickland and the Cadets’ Danny Britt with the first matchup in 2013. The head coaches have split the eight previous meetings alternating wins and losses. Britt was 2-1 vs. Strickland’s Fitzgerald teams with a second round win in 2013 and finals victory in 2016. Strickland’s Purple Hurricanes beat BC in the 2015 semifinals.
“They (Cadets) are really good,” said Strickland. “There’s a ton of talent along with great coaching. They’ve played a very, very tough non-region schedule against Colquitt County (No. 9 in 6A; lost 27-24 on last second field goal) and Buford (No. 2 in 6A; ranked in seven national polls as high as No. 3, lost 42-14 at home). “It’s going to be tough. We can’t turn the ball over. We’ve got to be at our best or it could be a running clock finishing.”
Benedictine is loaded with major college talent. The Cadets have 12 Division 1 commits and the No. 1 junior recruit. BC has played just one game in September, a 56-7 beating of Wesminster in Atlanta last week. That followed a 41-0 victory over then Class AA fourth-ranked Burke County the last Friday in August. The Bears are currently ranked No. 7.
Senior Stephen Cannon (6-foot-3, 200 lbs.), a Texas Tech commit, leads the offense. He has completed 58 percent of his passes (30-of-52) for 383 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions without the Westminster game stats added in.
“He looks better than he did last year,” Strickland said.
Senior Bubba Frazier has committed to Notre Dame. He lines up in the backfield and out as a wide receiver.
“He has world class speed,” said Strickland. “It seems like he has played for six years. We’ve got to somehow limit the big plays that they seem to dial up.”
Junior Stanley Smart, Jr. (5-10, 190) returns as the No. 1 running back and the junior is drawing Power 4 offers with his combination of speed and power. He ran a personal best of 10.63 in the 100 meters last spring and finished sixth in the Class 4A state meet.
Smart also runs a leg on the Cadets’ 4x100-meter and 4x200m relay squads who won state.
The Cadet offensive line returns four starters, providing a strong base for the offense.
“They’re massive in the trenches,” Strickland said, “and they are very solid. Their skill guys are so explosive and with the speed its something you can’t simulate in practice. They (coaches) do a terrific job of getting their playmakers the ball out in space and one on one situations.
“They take advantage of one on one situations. Can we make make them just play another down? They just spread the ball out all over the place and just do a really good job of making you defend an entire field. That’s going to be the tough thing.”
Senior defensive tackle and Clemson- bound Kam Cody (6-3, 300) is the “man” anchoring the Benedictine 3-4 defense. He played at Savannah Christian a season ago.
Senior Carlton Hall (7-4, 330) has offers from Kentucky, Georgia State and Western Kentucky. Junior defensive lineman Collyn Ward (6-1) left Wayne County for BC. Sophomore defensive lineman Jamir Lee (6-3, 260) has fought to get into the defensive front rotation.
“They (coaches) do such a good job of moving their front,” said Strickland. “They play with such good leverage. We’re going to have to be able to run the football if we’re going to beat them. We can’t throw the ball 30 times with the people they’ve got and keep them off our quarterback.
“Our offensive line played against them last year. I feel good about how they’re playing right now and how they’re communicating.
“Our (coaches) biggest questions are can we find some some seams, some formations that can create some confusion and be able to win the football?”
Senior linebacker Larson Little (510, 205) and classmate Jayden Houston are the inside linebackers.
Senior defensive back Micah Williams (6-1, 165), who will play at Appalachian State, headlines the star-studded defensive back group. Senior Wyatt Estabrook (6-1, 155) is a ball hawk. Senior Jojo Sutton (6foot, 170) has an offer from Eastern Kentucky.
Junior transfer LaDamion Guton (6-3) could fill the spot with the departure of Herbert Scroggins, who is now at the University of Miami.
Sophomore Jonathan Black, senior Joshua Washington and Frazier are also in the defensive rotation.
“Offensively, we’ve got to try and put some drives together and finish,” said Strickland. “We’ve got to limit their (Cadets) offensive touches and try to get turnovers to steal possessions.
“They’ve got playmakers at every level on the defensive side. They are very multiple at the back end (secondary). I think they are better at the linebacker positions as well. They are a physical group in the box.”
BC vs. WCHS Gators lead series 3-2 BC WCHS 2020................21 ....................43 2021 ................49....................42 2022................10 ....................14 2023................31 ....................24 2024................14 ....................38
