Week 6 of Savannah-area high school football brought rivalry clashes, weather delays, and standout performances across the Coastal Empire. From Jenkins vs. Calvary region battle to Benedictine finally getting back in action and Bethesda Academy blazing homecoming, Friday night delivered plenty of storylines.
Get all the coaches quotes, scores, stats, and recaps from every game reported tot he Prep Sports Report below.
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Long County 22, Beach 21
Beach edged out in a closely contested Region 3-3A matchup.
Beach High dropped a tough 22-21 decision to Long County in Region 3-3A play Friday night, despite a gritty effort on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs battled for four quarters but could not hold off Long County’s late push.
Head coach Michael Thompson praised his team’s effort but stressed the importance of execution in close contests.
Coach Thompson: “Our kids played hard, but we have to execute better down the stretch. Long County is a tough opponent, and in close games, it comes down to who can eliminate mistakes.”
He also emphasized the growth process for his team moving forward.
Coach Thompson: “We are showing flashes of what we can be, but we have to be more consistent. These are the kinds of games that can teach us how to finish, and we have to learn from them.”
Next Up: Beach (1-3) hosts Islands (1-3) on October 3. Game time to be announced.
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Benedictine 56, Westminster 7
Cadets shake off rust, pile up 540+ yards of offense in win.
After nearly three weeks without a game, Benedictine showed a little rust early, but it did not take long for the Cadets to shake it off and dominate in a 56–7 victory over Westminster on Friday night.
Head Coach Danny Britt said the layoff showed briefly, but he was proud of how quickly his team settled in.
“Yeah, I thought we came out a little bit rusty right at the beginning which is to be expected, but I thought once we got greased up there we played well, very physical and fast. I thought it was a good game for us,” Britt said.
The Cadets’ offense was balanced and explosive, finishing with more than 540 total yards. On the ground, Stanley Smart led the way with nine carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Bubba Frazier added 30 yards and a touchdown on just two carries, while Josh Washington, Eron Mallard, and Thomas Brennan each reached the end zone as well. In all, Benedictine rushed for 375 yards and six touchdowns.
Through the air, quarterbacks Stephen Cannon, Omari Burse, and Thomas Brennan combined to complete seven of nine passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Burse connected on a 78-yard scoring strike, and Frazier hauled in three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Special teams added to the scoring with Frazier returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, and Parker Lewis going eight-for-eight on extra points.
Defensively, the Cadets controlled the line of scrimmage and shut Westminster down. Cam Cody finished with four tackles, including one and a half tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures. Isaac Scott made five tackles with two for loss and one sack, while Jayden Houston had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a half sack. Larson Little added six tackles with one tackle for loss and one quarterback pressure. The Cadets kept Westminster from sustaining drives and held them to just one score.
Looking ahead, Benedictine will travel to face Ware County in what Britt knows will be a major test.
“We are going to have to realize we are going to be in a major battle here and you know they are going to throw punches, we are going to throw punches, and it will be the ones who can sustain and do it for four quarters. We know it is going to be a major battle,” Britt said.
Next Up: Benedictine (2-2) will face Ware County (5-0) on the road Friday. Game time will be provided.
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Bethesda Academy 56, Patrick Henry 0
Blazers impress with balanced offense and strong defense in a shutout.
Bethesda Academy celebrated homecoming in style with a 56–0 win over Patrick Henry on Friday night, moving to 4–0 on the season.
QB Jordan Turner threw for 118 yards and four TDs, with Raleigh Wesley (54 yards, two TDs) and two others catching scores.
On the ground, Jeffrey Armstrong ran for 79 yards and a touchdown, with Cheever and Adkins adding rushing scores.
The defense was dominant, led by Nicholas Jackson (eight tackles, five for loss) and Isaiah Jones (seven tackles).
Head Coach Antwain Turner praised his team’s ability to stay focused: “We started slow, but we finished strong. Proud of the way our kids responded, especially in front of our home crowd. Our defense set the tone early, and the offense maintained the pressure. We still have areas to clean up, but this was a big win for us.”
Next Up: Bethesda Academy (4–0) is off till October 3 at Beaufort Academy (5-1)
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Statesboro 38, Bradwell Institute 28
Bradwell Institute battles hard in a Region 1-5A matchup loss.
Bradwell Institute came up short in a 38–28 loss to Statesboro in Region 1-5A action Friday night, despite several strong individual efforts.
Jah’Barri Felix passed for over 200 yards and 3 TDs, with Jacobi Pasley grabbing two scores and Cameron Keeve rushing for 134 yards and a TD.
Defensively, Bradwell showed fight against Statesboro, but big plays by the Blue Devils proved too much to overcome.
Head Coach DeShon Brock praised his team’s effort despite the result:
“Our kids played extremely hard and never gave up. We made some big plays, but we also had opportunities where we didn’t finish drives, and that was the difference. Statesboro is a well-coached team, and we’ll learn from this as we get back to work.”
Next Up: Bradwell Institute (1–3) travels to Ware County (3–1) on Friday, Sept. 26.
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Emanuel County Institute 30, Bryan County 12
Redskins slowed by turnovers in Region 3A-DII setback.
Bryan County’s run game could not overcome turnovers and missed opportunities in a 30–12 loss to Emanuel County Institute on Friday night.
The Redskins moved the ball well at times, finishing with over 200 yards on the ground. Gerbravion Colling led the way with 124 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Anddreas “Buck” McKinney added 84 yards. Kicker Will Summerford went a perfect 2-for-2 on extra points, continuing his perfect season on PATs.
Defensively, Eli Koskela and Ryan Harrington once again anchored the unit, each finishing with 10 tackles. Still, ECI capitalized on Bryan County’s mistakes, turning fumbles into points.
Defensive Coordinator Tim Adams, speaking on behalf of the staff, pointed to execution as the difference:
“We played very well at times, but we were our own worst enemy. Holding on to the football was key. We need to play the counter better on defense and take care of ball security. That’s what will turn these games our way.”
Next Up: Bryan County (3–2) hosts Claxton (0–5) on Friday, Sept. 26.
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Jenkins 41, Calvary Day 33
Warriors secure Region 3-3A victory with balance and key defensive stops.
Jenkins and Calvary Day traded blows all night in a Region 3-3A showdown at Memorial Stadium, but the Warriors had just enough firepower to pull away late in a 41–33 victory.
Quarterback Demetrius Holloway paced the Jenkins attack with 140 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-11 passing while adding 69 rushing yards and another score on eight carries. Ryan Scott was the workhorse, carrying 22 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylon Elliot added explosive plays, breaking loose for 64 rushing yards and a touchdown on just two carries, while catching two passes for 57 yards and another score. Domonique Johnson pulled down four catches for 83 yards, and Ke’Mari Wright rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown.
The Warrior defense also rose to the occasion. Brandon Brown racked up 10 tackles, while Aujshawn Izzard matched him with 10 stops, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Calvin Wallace locked down the secondary with four passes defended, and Ahmontae Crawford made six tackles in the trenches. Johnson also contributed three tackles and an interception.
On special teams, kicker Joshua Woodley went 5-for-6 on PATs and delivered 5 touchbacks to keep Calvary backed up.
Head coach Tony Welch praised his team’s approach: “We decided to approach this season with a championship game mentality. We treat every game as a championship game and this one was no different. We must continue to stay focused and execute the basics and play mistake-free football in all three phases of the game.”
For Calvary Day, quarterback James Mobley IV delivered 217 yards and two touchdowns through the air on 15-of-22 passing. Running back Zay Middleton powered the ground game with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Through the air, Marlon Knight Jr. caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, Jalen Hicks hauled in four receptions for 92 yards, and Ty Pinckney had four catches for 40 yards and a score.
Defensively, Kenny Baker led with nine tackles and a tackle for loss, while Deshawn Wylie contributed eight tackles, an interception, and a blocked punt. On special teams, kicker Grady Shiver nailed all four of his field goals and added three touchbacks on kickoffs.
Head coach Jason Cameron highlighted the importance of teamwork: “It doesn’t matter who does it as long as it gets done. If we continue to stay unselfish and put the team first, I like our chances to be successful.”
Next Up: Both teams have bye weeks. The next game is on October 3, as Jenkins (4–1, 4-0) visits Windsor Forest (1-4, 0-4), and Calvary Day (4–1, 3-1) hosts Long County (4-1, 3-1).
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Effingham County 49, South Effingham 21
Rebels run wild to claim a rivalry win.
The Effingham County Rebels leaned on a dominant ground game to defeat cross-county rival South Effingham, 49–21, in a Region 1-5A clash Friday night.
Running back Jmere Doe-Davis powered the Rebels with 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Tucker Perkins kept the offense balanced, throwing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-16 passing and adding a rushing score. J.R. McKenzie chipped in 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Effingham piled up points behind strong offensive line play.
Head coach John Ford praised his team’s ability to control the game:
“Our kids responded really well after a tough stretch of games. We did a great job establishing the run early, and the offensive line deserves a lot of credit for controlling the line of scrimmage.”
For South Effingham, the offense had several bright spots. Khyran White carried 20 times for 118 yards, while Danny Murtha scored on a short run and finished with 27 yards on 7 carries. Maddox Vasquez added 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4 carries, and freshman quarterback Liam Coburn also punched in a rushing score. On defense, Corey Woods stood out with 10 tackles.
Mustangs head coach Loren Purvis noted the effort but pointed to missed chances:
“We battled, but turnovers and missed assignments hurt us. These rivalry games are always tough, and we’ll learn from it. I’m proud of how hard our guys played to the end.”
Next Up: Effingham County (3-2,2-1) hosts Lakeside Evans (0-5, 0-3), while South Effingham (1–3, 1–1) is at Evans County (1–3, 1–1).
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Liberty County 34, Islands 8
Panthers capitalize on early turnovers to top Sharks.
Liberty County built a big early lead and never looked back in a 34–8 win at Islands. The Panthers took advantage of two early turnovers by the Sharks, converting both into touchdowns in the first quarter, deep in their own territory. Liberty added two more scores in the second quarter and another in the third before Islands finally broke through with a late touchdown in the fourth.
Senior running back Elijah Brown was once again the workhorse for Liberty, rushing 21 times for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Ja’Eir Roberts kept the Panthers balanced, going 10-of-15 for 148 yards and a touchdown, with Aaron Brown catching 4 passes for 77 yards and a score.
On defense, Liberty was anchored by Tyrese Alexis (11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss), David Bacon, and Rashard Woods, who combined for 15 tackles to keep the Sharks in check.
Head coach Tony Glazer credited his team’s ability to settle in after the fast start:
“We didn’t start as fast as we wanted, but our guys kept fighting. Elijah had another big night, and our defense stepped up when it mattered.”
For Islands, turnovers proved costly. Head coach Russell Perry acknowledged the early mistakes but praised his team’s effort:
“Liberty is a talented team. We hurt ourselves early with turnovers and penalties. Our team played hard for four quarters but could not overcome our early mistakes. We have a bye next week. We will continue to focus on ourselves. It’s a back-to-basics week.”
Offensively, Jaron Rhinehart led the Sharks on the ground, while Michael Cooler was the top target through the air. Quarterback Mason McLaughlin connected with his receivers late as Islands pushed across its lone touchdown in the fourth.
Defensively, Patrick Dowling was everywhere with 11 tackles, while Jackson Tripp added 8 stops, and Zyon Patrick came up with an interception.
The win lifts Liberty County to 4–1, while Islands falls to 1–4 heading into its bye.
Next Up: Liberty County (4-1, 3-1) hosts Southeast Bulloch (3-2,3-1) while Islands (1-4,1-3) has a bye week before returning Oct. 3 to face Beach (1-3,1-3).
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Savannah Country Day 34, Tattnall County 21
Hornets rally with 34 unanswered points after a slow start.
Tattnall County jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead as Savannah Country Day’s defense adjusted to the speed of the Warrior offense. The Hornets settled in by their third drive, found the end zone, and never looked back—scoring 34 straight points to secure the win.
Senior Najee Young paced the ground game with 14 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Thomas Holland had a strong night with 14 rushes for 106 yards and a touchdown, while also completing 10 of 14 passes for 197 yards and another score. James Pannell hauled in five receptions for 95 yards, and Boone Wiesner added a 54-yard touchdown catch.
Defensively, senior Hayes Beaver made the play of the game, recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown to swing momentum. He also finished with eight tackles and an interception. Aiden Frazier added six tackles, including two tackles for loss, a sack, and another fumble recovery, while Wiesner chipped in five stops.
On special teams, Cash Ramirez converted 4 of 5 extra points.
Coach Joey Blacmore: “We really put together a complete game of complimentary football. Offensively we did a great job of sustaining drives and put up over 400 yards of total offense. Defensively we forced three turnovers, which was key as we were able to capitalize on them with scores.”
Next Up: Savannah Country Day (2-3) has a bye week before hosting Savannah Christian (3-2) on Oct. 3.
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Southeast Bulloch 50, Windsor Forest 15
Knights find bright spots in tough loss.
Windsor Forest dropped a region matchup to Southeast Bulloch, 50-15, but the Knights showed flashes of fight on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback JR Rowland finished 16-of-23 passing for 198 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also rushed 10 times for 25 yards. His top targets included Jayden Thomas, who hauled in 6 receptions for 77 yards and a score, and R. Richardson, who added 3 catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. Cam Campbell had a 40-yard grab, Kamari Duncan caught 4 passes for 40 yards, Rysuan Braxton added a 6-yard reception, and Dayvon Griffin chipped in with 2 yards.
On defense, Ja’shawn Green led the way with 10 tackles. Ibn Bizzard recorded 6 tackles, Malachi Daniels and Andrew Mitchell added 5 apiece, and Samuel Mickel contributed 5 tackles with a sack.
Coach Zane Rowland: “We’ve got to get back to work. SE Bulloch is a strong, physical team, and we have to respond by cleaning up mistakes and playing more consistent football.”
Next Up: Windsor Forest (1-4, 0-4) has a bye week and hosts Jenkins (4-1, 4-0) on October 3.
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Buchholtz (FL) 21, Richmond Hill 0 (called at halftime – weather)
Richmond Hill falls in a contest shortened by severe weather.
Richmond Hill’s unbeaten start ended in Gainesville, Fla., where the Wildcats trailed 21-0 at halftime against Buchholtz before severe weather forced the game to be called.
Despite only two quarters, the Wildcats' highlights included a 53-yard pass from Thomas Fanning to Eli Grant, 51 rushing yards from Amire Miller, and steady defensive/special teams play.
Coach Matt LeZotte: “It was a great overall team performance, with tons of tape to teach our young team how to finish an opponent. It was another strong performance by our defense, while we were able to play nearly 17 players in our starting rotation. Our young offense sputtered in the second quarter but fixes were made at halftime and we had a very explosive second half.”
LeZotte also praised his special teams, adding: “Cannon saved two possessions by getting punts off deep in our territory with snap mishaps.” 5 weeks of region play in the toughest region top to bottom in the state. Go Cats
Next Up: Richmond Hill (4-1) will travel to Tift County Academy for its next game. Check local listings for date and time.
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OTHER GAMES:
Johnson 35, Groves 26
Atom Smashers rack up 418 rushing yards in region win
Johnson earned a 35-26 Region 3-3A victory over Groves on Friday, fueled by a dominant rushing attack and key defensive stops.
Junior quarterback Shamari King carried 15 times for 252 yards and four touchdowns, setting the tone for the Atom Smashers. Sophomore back Devrin Davis added 157 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, giving Johnson a two-headed rushing attack that Groves struggled to contain. On defense, freshman tackle Roland Parker turned in a breakout performance with nine solo tackles, an assist, and half a sack, helping slow Groves’ run game.
Groves kept the game close behind the arm of quarterback Kaleb Detty, who threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Kadin Drayton hauled in two of the scores, while Kaylib Holmes added another to keep the Rebels within striking distance.
Johnson improved to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in region play, while Groves dropped to 0-5.
Game information via Dennis Knight, Savannah Morning News.
Next Up: Johnson has a bye week before traveling to Liberty County (4-1, 3-1) on Oct. 3. Groves (0-5, 0-4) will also return Oct. 3, hosting Southeast Bulloch.
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Who Plays Who in Week 7
Sept. 26
Richmond Hill at Tift County *
Bradwell at Greenbrier *
Lakeside-Evans at Effingham County *
South Effingham at Evans *
Benedictine at Ware County *
Perry at New Hampstead * (TBA)
SE Bulloch at Liberty County *
Blessed Trinity at Savannah Christian at Georgia Southern
Bryan County at Claxton *
Savannah High at Portal *
St. Andrew's at Robert Toombs*
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Photo: Courtesy AaronHoffmanphotography
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