The Beach and Savannah High School football programs head into an early bye week next week feeling quite differently after their game Friday night.
The visiting Beach Bulldogs snapped a six-game losing streak going back to last season in a big way with a 41-0 victory over the crosstown-rival Blue Jackets to improve to 1-1 this season.
“We finally put a full game together,” said Beach’s fourth-year head coach Michael Thompson, whose team was 1-9 in 2023. “These guys have been working hard. We were down bad for three years. I think we have the chemistry now to just try to compete in Savannah.
“Everybody’s going to have to put Beach on the map because we’re coming,” he continued. “I told my kids, we’ve got the talent. We’ve just got to keep ourselves focused and motivated and go out there and do what we know how to do.”
The Blue Jackets, conversely, have lost 28 consecutive games with the non-region outcome – the last win coming against Groves on Sept. 17, 2021.
Second-year coach Anthony Tolliver, after an 0-10 debut in 2023, sees Beach making the incremental progress needed to build a program.
“We’re trying to build up as well. They’re a little bit further than us,” Tolliver said. “They’re a really good team. I’m expecting big things out of them in their region (3-3A). It’s definitely a big, tough region for them, but I think they’re going to be pretty good going into that.”
Beach lost its region and season opener a week earlier at Calvary Day in a game stopped at halftime because of fights involving spectators.
The Bulldogs not only got in a full game – and a shutout featuring James Johnson’s defensive score on an interception return to close out the scoring – they didn’t waste any time getting their first score of 2024.
Beach took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards – covering 40 on the first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Chandler Reid connected with a wide-open Dakari Smith over the top of the defense. After three running plays, Beach went for it on fourth-and-9 from the 24, with Reid under a heavy rush when he found Smith over the middle for a touchdown with 9:58 left in the first quarter.
“We saw some things on film that we could take advantage of,” Thompson said. “It presented itself tonight in the game, so we just exploited what we saw. My guys did an excellent job at the start.”
Reid, usually the starting wide receiver, filled in at quarterback while Jayvion Williams served a one-game suspension because of an incident in the game against Calvary, Thompson said. The coach said Williams shouldn’t have been ejected, as the game film proved he didn’t throw a punch in a scuffle with an opposing player.
Thompson said with one week to prepare for Savannah High, the staff turned to Reid because of the senior’s intelligence and all-around ability. He’s also a standout defensive back.
All Reid did was complete his first three passes for 74 yards and a touchdown and finish the first half 7-for-10 for 124 yards as Beach led 28-0. He threw only four times in the second half before exiting in the fourth quarter on a 9-for-14 night for 148 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.
Asked who will start in two weeks against Windsor Forest as the Bulldogs begin a run of eight region games to complete the schedule, Thompson said, “It looks like we got a battle, and that’s always a good thing to have.”
Tolliver was hoping the Blue Jackets would provide more of a test for Beach, but turnovers and penalties were major factors in their undoing.
Savannah High fumbled away its first play from scrimmage, though the defense then forced a turnover on downs.
A short punt gave Beach a short field – just 24 yards from the end zone. The SHS defense couldn’t consistently stop the run, particularly behind the left side of Beach’s offensive line. LaDonte Bright went over from 2 yards out with 1:03 left in the first quarter, and Reid connected with Shareefe Morgan for the two-point conversion and a 15-0 lead.
Bright finished the first half with 12 carries for 63 yards, and the game with 16 carries for 81 yards.
The Blue Jackets had a solid kickoff return, only to fumble it away. They threw an interception on their next possession.
The Bulldogs took advantage by driving 57 yards, culminated by Ke’juan Ferguson’s 2-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds before halftime.
That was still enough time for another Savannah High fumble on a kickoff, and Beach’s Ferguson to score on a 1-yard TD run with 3 seconds before halftime.
Savannah High took these blows and didn’t have a response.
“We never did,” Tolliver said. “It’s a rivalry game. We never got a response out of our guys. It sucks. It happened two weeks in a row (including a 55-12 loss at Frederica Academy on Aug. 16). We overcame it at Islands (in a preseason scrimmage), so we know we can do it. It’s just we have to do it now.”
When the Blue Jackets did execute a big offensive play, it was negated by a penalty.
“I told them this week, we’ve got to be disciplined,” Tolliver said. “We’re not disciplined. We weren’t disciplined right there on a couple of holds. We’re going to back and look at the film and see if (the penalties) were really bad or not. We have to clean it up.”
Tolliver said three players sustained shoulder, ankle and eye injuries, and he’s hoping the team can use the bye week to get healthy and ready for the eight Region 3-A Division 2 games to complete its schedule.
Thompson said Savannah High has definitely improved and will be competitive in its region.
“I think Coach Tolliver is doing a hell of a job with those kids,” Thompson said. “Both of these programs, it’s a big turnaround for both of us.”
As for his Bulldogs, Thompson said they need to be humble and not lose focus because they haven’t had a lot of success. He sees their hunger to win.
“But at the same time, I see inexperienced players who don’t recognize or know how to win,” Thompson said. “It’s our job as coaches to evaluate and make sure we go through the process to get them where they need to be.”
BEACH 41, SAVANNAH HIGH 0
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Beach | 15 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 41 |
| SHS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First Quarter | |||||
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B—Dakari Smith 24 pass from Chandler Reid (Angel Gonzalez kick) |
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B—LaDonte Bright 2 run (Shareefe Morgan pass from Reid) |
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Second Quarter |
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B—Ke’juan Ferguson 2 run (kick failed) |
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B—Ferguson 1 run (Gonzalez kick) |
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| Third Quarter | |||||
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B—Smith 23 pass from Reid (conversion failed) |
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B—James Johnson 27 interception return (Gonzalez kick) |
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RECORDS - BHS 1-1, SHS 0-2 |
FINAL SCORES WEEK 2
August 23 (Friday)
Richmond Hill 31, Glynn Academy 12
Westover 40, Bradwell 7
Houston County 44, Effingham County 41
Buford 29, Benedictine 28
Savannah Christian 35, New Hampstead 7
Beach 41, Savannah 0
West Laurens 28, Groves 0
Windsor Forest 20, Brantley County 8
Athens Academy 35, Savannah Country Day 0
Aquinas 42, Bryan County 6
Hilton Head Prep 19, St. Andrew's 0
Georgia Christian 48, Memorial Day 0
Thomas Heyward Academy 41, Bethesda 32
PHOTO CREDIT: Prep Sports Report
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Optim Orthopedics is a familiar face on Savannah's prep sports scene, extending their support from the gridiron to the court. Their dedication to local athletes goes beyond logos, offering crucial medical support to nine powerhouse high schools:
- Dr. Don Aaron: Bryan County Middle/High School
- Dr. David Sedory: Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County
- Dr. David Palmer: Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham
- Dr. Thomas Alexander: Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent's
As Southeast leaders in fellowship-trained orthopedic surgery, Optim Orthopedics proudly sponsors the Prep Sports Report. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
