Bryan County will be looking to get back on the winning path in a big way on Friday night when it opens Region 3A-DII play at Savannah High.
The Redskins (1-1) dropped a 42-20 decision at Aquinas last Friday night. The loss did not come as a surprise as the Class 3A Irish (1-1) were a three-touchdown favorite. Acquinas, which last had a losing season in 2008, had the added incentive of playing its first game ever on its new home field, an $8 million complex that also includes soccer and softball fields.
As in its opener, a 20-12 win over Johnson, Bryan County was again plagued by turnovers. Unfortunately, this time out the opponent was too good and took advantage of the miscues to build an early lead which proved to be insurmountable.
“It got away from us early,” Coach Cherard Freeman said. “We came out a little flat and it got away from us quick. We held them to start the game then had a turnover and gave up a big play.
“We just couldn’t move the ball,” Freeman said. “Then when we would get something going, we would turn it over.”
The Irish, playing before a sold-out crowd, stung the Redskins with two long touchdown passes in the first half and returned a fumble for a touchdown to take command against a Bryan County team struggling to establish an identity.
Bryan County got touchdowns, Freeman said, from quarterback Trevor Lanier and running backs Anndreas McKinny and Ger’bravion Collins.
Freeman said he had no qualms or second thoughts about scheduling Aquinas, which has become a private school power since Richmond Hill coach Matt LeZotte got the program turned around.
Aquinas was a perennial loser when LeZotte was hired in 2009. He was 5-5 his first season and then turned in back-to-back nine-win seasons before leaving a program that went 14-0 the following year.
“I knew it was going to be a good test for us going into region play,” Freeman said. “I looked at it as a game which would help us prepare for our region and give us a chance to find out about ourselves.
“We found out we’ve got some kids who can step up and play,” Freeman said. “We found out we’ve got some kids who are ready and some who aren’t…we found out some things about Bryan County. This was a game that will do some good for us.”
Freeman said he was pleased with the way the Redskins continued to battle after falling behind by three touchdowns early and he noted cornerback Mike Smith had another solid game as he had an interception giving him four takeaways in two games.
“I was happy with the way we came out in the second half,” Freeman said. “The kids did not quit. They played hard and we saw a lot of positives.
“Mike Smith is off to a good start for the season,” Freeman said. “He’s just playing good football. He’s always aggressive, always finds himself around the football and is playing with a great motor. He’s a good athlete.”
The Redskins will be heavily favored to beat a Blue Jackets team which is mired in a 28-game losing streak and has given up 96 points in two games
This will be the only game between region teams this week. In non-region games Metter (1-0) is at Swainsboro and Portal (0-1) is Twiggs County. Everyone else is open.
Metter is ranked ninth by the AJC this week’s Class A-DII rankings while ECI (2-0) is 10th. Bryan County, ranked No. 7, dropped out of the rankings after losing to the Irish.