When Cherard Freeman was hired as the head football coach at Bryan County, he expressed more than once in his initial press conference how excited he was for the opportunity to coach the Redskins.
Now as Freeman gets ready to start his fifth season, that level of excitement has not waned.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Freeman said. “This is a unique team…we’ve got some kids that are working hard. I’m excited about seeing them play.”
Coming off the greatest season in school history, a new-look Bryan County football team will make its debut at 7 p.m. Friday at Redskins Field when it hosts Butler, Claxton and Beach in a pre-season get-together.
The four teams will each play a two quarters scrimmage with a running clock. The Redskins will square off against Butler to start the evening and will later face Beach. Claxton, a Region 3A-DII rival, will scrimmage Butler and Beach.
“We’ve had a good summer,” Freeman said. “We’ve averaged about 45 kids working every day in the weight room and right now we’re sitting at 52 kids. We’ll probably be the smallest team (in numbers) in our region but you give me 52 kids that want to play football and I’ll be happy.”
As anyone within shouting distance of North Bryan County knows by now the Redskins were 12-2 last year in advancing to the Class A-DI Final Four while winning the school’s first ever region championship.
Several key individuals who fueled that spectacular season are gone, taking 92 percent of the offense with them. But Freeman said the cupboard is not bare.
“We lost a lot of talent,” Freeman said. “But I feel like we’ve done enough over the years to where we have built a program.
“We’re not looking to be a one season type deal. We want to build a program that keeps getting better every year. I think we’re doing a great job in the weight room. The kids have gotten stronger and faster and they believe in what we’re doing and they believe in this coaching staff.”
The leading returning rusher is junior Anddreas McKinny who had 189 yards on 31 carries. Junior Ger’bravion Collins had 63 on six attempts as the backup quarterback and senior Gaige Javis had 47.
Collins is faced with the task of replacing Sean Kelly Hill who threw for 679 yards and teamed with Austin Clemons and Tanner Ennis to give the Redskins not only three outstanding athletes but leaders as well.
The Redskins completed the GHSA mandated conditioning practices last week and were able to go in full pads starting on Monday as they prepare for what could be a much more demanding schedule as they move into Region 3A-DII.
Bryan County opens regular season play on Aug. 16 when it hosts Johnson of Savannah and the following week plays at Aquinas before opening region play against Savannah High.
The Redskins will be looking to make the state playoffs for a third straight season for only the second time ever (2013-2015) and it won’t be easy as they are in a region that in addition to the Blue Jackets includes Portal, ECI, Claxton, Screven County, McIntosh County Academy, Jenkins County and Metter.
The schedule:
Aug. 16: Johnson; 23: at Aquinas.
Sept. 6: Savannah High*; 13: Portal*; 20: at ECI*; 27: Claxton*.
Oct. 4: at Screven County*; 11: McIntosh County Academy; 18: at Jenkins County.
Nov. 1: at Metter; 8: State Playoffs TBD.