Bethesda Academy should play more often against GHSA football teams – if the Blazers' fans’ hearts can take it.
The SCISA program faced a GHSA opponent for the first time on Friday night, with the Blazers taking the lead on a touchdown pass with 26 seconds left to rally past host Savannah Christian 32-28 at Pooler Stadium.
“We had that mindset all week. We were going to show that we can play in any conference,” said 6-foot-6 senior wide receiver Zhyir Witcher, who reached high to snag the 31-yard TD pass from Jordan Turner for the go-ahead score.
Turner had rolled right under pressure, which signaled the Blazers' receivers to break off their curl patterns and take vertical routes.
Witcher, with his height and athleticism, was able to “high point” the ball away from defenders for the TD and set off pandemonium on the Bethesda sideline and in their fans’ section of the stands.
“We just had to stay on the same page,” Witcher said of his junior quarterback. “I saw him rolling out, scrambling. I had to get in the end zone. It wasn’t no; I had to.”
Bethesda improved to 3-0 this season after going unbeaten at 12-0 in capturing the 2025 SCISA Class 2A state championship. The team hasn’t lost since the 2A title game on Nov. 23, 2024.
“Our guys understand we’re going to have to fight. Every week is going to be a battle for us,” said Antwain Turner, Bethesda’s only head coach in 20 years of 11-on-11 football in either Georgia or South Carolina associations outside of the GHSA.
Bethesda Academy's Dervin Davis (3) delivers a tackle against Savannah Christian during Friday night's game at Pooler Stadium. (Photo by Kyunnie Shuman/RDP Productions)
There was curiosity about how the Blazers, a small, all-boys private school in Savannah that has prospered under Turner, would fare against a GHSA squad. Savannah Christian has a long track record of success. Baker Woodward, in his ninth season as head coach, has sustained the Raiders as a perennial state playoff team, whether against fellow private schools or blended with public schools at GHSA’s smaller classifications.
The fact that Woodward was an assistant under Turner at Bethesda from 2007-10 added another wrinkle to this new contest between good friends.
All of that background was set aside when the teams met in an intermittent light rain on Friday night.
Savannah Christian, which rushed for 378 yards and passed for 28 in its season-opening victory a week earlier at Athens Academy, took the opening kickoff and marched down the field – mostly on the ground. Landon Tyson ran for a 7-yard touchdown with 5:16 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders got some help when punting on their first drive of the second quarter, as the returner fumbled for the game’s first turnover. Savannah Christian took over at the Bethesda 42 and on first down, quarterback Caden Godbee faked a handoff and connected with Cain Tomlin on a 35-yard pass.
Three plays later, Godbee was under pressure when he found Ivyn Richardson open in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard TD. Karson Leake’s extra point gave SCPS a 14-0 advantage with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter.
Savannah Christian quarterback Caden Godbee looks to throw against Bethesda Academy Friday night at Pooler Stadium. (Photo by Kyunnie Shuman/RDP Productions)
Bethesda responded with a play that didn’t win the game but kept it from potentially falling into too deep of a hole.
On first down after the ensuing kickoff, quarterback Turner – son of the coach – bolted 80 yards up the middle for a touchdown. He found MJ Scott on the conversion pass to close the deficit to 14-8.
Bethesda Academy quarterback Jordan Turner breaks into the open field against Savannah Christian. Turner's 80-yard touchdown run helped spark the Blazers' comeback Friday night. (Photo by Kyunnie Shuman/RDP Productions)
“I was thinking my guys needed something,” Jordan Turner said. “I told my dad, the coach, actually, if you give me the ball, I felt I could run faster. I felt good. I got the job done.”
Antwain Turner said after the game that playing tough competition like Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day this season means the Blazers might find themselves trailing by two scores in games.
“But it’s not about being down; it’s about how we respond and how we are able to come out and be resilient,” the coach said. “I thought it was amazing that Jordan was able to take that (run) to the house. He gave our team a shot in the arm, like, ‘Hey, we got this.’”
Bethesda mixed run and pass plays on its next possession, a 75-yard drive culminating in a 25-yard toss to Scott with 2:04 before halftime. Turner’s conversion run gave the Blazers a 16-14 edge.
The Raiders failed to convert a 48-yard field goal on their last drive of the half despite a strong effort from Leake. Then they dominated the third quarter and put themselves in position to win.
Savannah Christian brings down Bethesda Academy's MJ Scott (13) during Friday night's matchup at Pooler Stadium. Scott caught two touchdown passes in the Blazers' 32-28 victory. (Photo by Kyunnie Shuman/RDP Productions)
The Blazers stumbled in an odd sequence of plays. After Jordan Turner’s helmet fell off on a run to his 16 and he had to leave the field for one play, Bethesda fumbled on that play and defensive tackle Christian Robinson recovered.
Savannah Christian cashed in two plays later when Wesley Dinkins, who missed a large chunk of the first half with a knee issue, rushed for a 4-yard TD with 10:08 left in the third quarter and a 21-16 advantage.
Bethesda gave SCPS a very short field again after a short punt, and the Raiders went 29 yards to the end zone – covering the last 20 on a pass from Godbee to receiver Cam Yeldell for a 28-16 lead. Dinkins had powered in from 15 yards on the previous play, but a penalty nullified the score.
When Turner threw an interception to Kellen Carbone on the next possession, the Raiders were back in business at the Bethesda 21, but the drive stalled, and a 38-yard field-goal attempt failed.
The Blazers closed to 28-24 on Turner’s 10-yard TD pass to Scott, and the quarterback’s conversion run with 11:01 left in regulation.
After a defensive stop, Bethesda nearly fumbled away a punt return but recovered. That led to a short series and a punt with 5:53 remaining.
Savannah Christian took over at its 33 and Dinkins rushed three times for a first down, then rumbled 25 yards for another to the Bethesda 27 as the ground attack chewed up clock. But on the next play, with exactly three minutes left, Dinkins fumbled and defensive back Sammy Childs III recovered at his 21.
Given new life from the Raiders’ lone turnover, the Blazers reached their 48 and converted a fourth-and-8 on a 9-yard bullet pass to a diving Shawn Williams Jr.
A personal foul set the Blazers back 15 yards to their 42, then needing 25 yards, Turner lobbed to Witcher for a 27-yarder to the 31 with 40 ticks left.
After Turner saw his next pass dropped in the end zone on a tough play, he delivered the clutch TD pass to Witcher, then hit Jeffrey Armstrong for the two-point conversion and the four-point lead.
After the kickoff, Savannah Christian had 79 yards and 31 seconds to go but got as far as the Bethesda 49 before time expired.
“Obviously, we could have played better,” said Savannah Christian’s Woodward, noting the Blazers’ size, strength and speed. “We had a chance to win the game but turned it over. Hats off to Bethesda. They’ve built a really good team. They’ve got 55 guys in the program. They’ve got kids from everywhere. They’ve got really good athletes and a good coach.”
Bethesda Academy head coach Antwain Turner celebrates with his team during Friday night's 32-28 win over Savannah Christian at Pooler Stadium. (Photo by Kyunnie Shuman/RDP Productions)
Turner coached the game with a heavy heart, as his older brother Andrew Turner Jr. died on Thursday at age 50. The coach said he went to see his family, based in Atlanta, and returned for the game on Friday.
The coach said after the game that his brother inspired him in the sport.
“He’s actually the reason why I started playing football,” said Antwain Turner, a former cornerback at Savannah State. “I watched him play. He played at Georgia Southern, just a phenomenal player. He trained me. He’s a big-time football guy. I knew he would want me to be here. I needed to be here for (son) Jordan as well. I needed to be here for these guys. Sometimes, it’s important for them to see even in the midst of life, we have each other.”
BETHESDA ACADEMY 32, SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN 28
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 32 |
| SCPS | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
First Quarter
SC—Landon Tyson 7 run (Karson Leake kick)
Second Quarter
SC—Ivyn Richardson 11 pass from Caden Godbee (Leake kick)
BA—Jordan Turner 80 run (MJ Scott pass from Turner)
BA—Scott 25 pass from Turner (Turner run)
Third Quarter
SC—Wesley Dinkins 4 run (Leake kick)
SC—Cam Yeldell 20 pass from Godbee (Leake kick)
Fourth quarter
BA—Scott 10 pass from Turner (Turner run)
BA—Zhyir Witcher 31 pass from Turner (Jeffrey Armstrong pass from Turner).
Records—Bethesda Academy 3-0, Savannah Christian 1-1.
WEEK 2 FINAL SCORES
Thursday, Aug. 27
Appling County 7, New Hampstead 0
Islands 11, Savannah High 0
Friday, Aug. 28
Richmond Hill 42, Liberty Co. 7
Bradwell Institute 65, Wayne County 14
Tift County 25, Effingham County 22
South Effingham 39, Johnson 0
Benedictine 48, Hebron 17
Calvary Day 30, Jenkins 13
Windsor Forest 31, Tattnall Co 21
Portal 28, Bryan County 14
Bethesda Academy 32, Savannah Christian 28
Pinewood Prep 52, Savannah Country Day 13
First Baptist 53, St. Andrew's 14
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Aug. 29
Islands 11, Savannah High 0, resumes at 3 PM
Groves at Brunswick, 6 PM
Photos courtesy of rdpproductions
Follow Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.
Optim Orthopedics wants you in the game.
Keeping Savannah-area athletes healthy and ready for gameday all season long.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
