CANEY BAY — Brantley County gets one last opportunity for a victory in the 2025 campaign when the Herons host Bacon County in the regular season finale Friday night.
The Herons (0-9 overall, 0-5 Region 1A), who have lost 10 in a row dating back to last season, will be trying to avoid their first winless campaign since posting backto- back 0-10 records in 2000 and 2001 and fifth overall. BCHS went 0-9-1 in 1977 and 0-9 in 1994.
The Red Raiders (4-5, 14) have lost three straight and four of five since opening the season 3-1 against non-region foes. Bacon County dropped its season opener before winning three straight games entering region play.
Friday’s season-ending matchup will be the 34th between the two schools. Brantley County has won two straight and six of the last seven meetings to cut the Red Raiders’ series advantage to 23-10.
The 2024 encounter in Alma was called with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter with the Herons leading 14-7 because of “unsafe conditions” after a melee broke out in front of the Bacon County bench.
The score reverted back to the halftime score with the second quarter the last period completed per Georgia High School Association (GHSA) rules.
The game had been marred from the outset with continued tussles after whistles blew plays dead before the benchclearing event occurred.
Brantley County head coach David Shores is preaching discipline to his team this week.
“We have to learn to play with more DISCIPLINE and that can’t begin on Friday night,” he said. “We have to be disciplined in all the little things that we do, during the week, to carry over on game day.
“DISCIPLINE is our word of the week if we expect to have a chance against Bacon County. Self-discipline has to be most important. It will certainly be enforced in everything that we do this week.”
The two teams enter with five common opponents — all in region play. Bacon County’s lone region win, a 17-12 decision, came against Berrien in Nashville. The Herons fell 33-6 on the road to the Rebels last week.
Brantley County fell 310 at Jeff Davis with the Yellow Jackets doubling up Bacon County 34-17 in Alma. The Herons fell 500 to Worth County while the Red Raiders dropped a 52-14 tilt in Sylvester.
Brantley County fell 480 at Fitzgerald with the Purple Hurricane shutting out Bacon County 35-0 last week. Thomasville beat the Herons 45-0 in Caney Bay and walloped the Red Raiders 74-13 in Alma.
Bacon County’s offense, is producing 16.2 points per game with the Herons allowing 37.4 points a game.
The Red Raiders allow 31.4 points while Brantley County averages 2.8.
