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The fifth annual Savannah Football Media Day, hosted by Optim Orthopedics and Prep Sports Report on Aug. 2, was an opportunity for Coastal Empire teams to talk about their prospects for the 2025 season.

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Coaches and players gave their opinions on football-related questions posed by local media members. Prep Sports Report surveyed representatives of the 12 programs in attendance with the same questions and will share their responses in a series of articles.

The order of responses is based on the randomly chosen lineup at the event.

 

Today: Question 2: Which coach in the Coastal Empire deserves more praise for the job he is doing?

 

Savannah Christian coach Baker Woodward:

PHOTO: Savannah Christian head coach Bake Woodward speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Antwain Turner, Bethesda Academy. I worked with him (there) from 2007 to 2010. When we worked together, we weren’t just coaching. We were taping ankles, we were the trainers, the water boys, we were whatever we had to do to get it done. Antwain has done a great job at Bethesda, not just because he’s such a hard worker, but because he doesn’t just talk about Jesus Christ, he lives it. He is a true Christian, a true servant. He’s a great football coach. I wish one day we could work together again because he’s got it together and he does a great job with what he’s got at Bethesda.”

 

Bethesda Academy coach Antwain Turner:

PHOTO: Bethesday Acadmey head coach Antwain Turner speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Everyone pretty much knows Savannah Christian. I think the world of Baker Woodward. That’s my guy. We’ve coached together. I love what he’s doing with his program. Even when he mentioned about their trust. The Proverbs 3 scripture, just making sure all of his teammates are understanding of about trusting God, trusting each other, trusting your team. I think it’s phenomenal. I think he’s doing a great job along with a lot of other coaches in the Coastal Empire.”

 

St. Andrew’s School coach Wes Worthington:

PHOTO: St. Andrew's head coach Wes Wetherington speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Cherard Freeman, Bryan County. They seem to be doing a really good job out there. … They’re doing a lot with what they have. I’ve been really impressed with what they’re doing.”

 

Bradwell Institute coach Deshon Brock:

PHOTO: Brsdwell Institute head coach DeShon Brock speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Coach (Cherard) Freeman at Bryan County does a tremendous job with what he has. I know he kind of gets overshadowed with Richmond Hill in the same county, and some of the private schools in the area. (Bryan Count got) close to the state championship game the year before.”

 

Liberty County coach Tony Glazer:

PHOTO: Liberty County head coach Tony Glazer speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Tony Welch at Jenkins does a great job. We watched them play (Friday) night. The fact that you have 140 kids on your sideline, that says a lot about the program you have and the program you’re building and how you do things. I know he does things the right way. He’s a disciplinarian and he wins football games.”

 

Benedictine coach Danny Britt:

PHOTO: Benedicitne Military School Head Coach Danny Britt speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“There’s a number of guys, and I think everybody around here does a good job of noticing (that). I think the Effingham (County) coach (John Ford) has done an incredible job.”

 

Calvary Day head coach Jason Cameron:

PHOTO: Calvary Day School head coach Jason Cameron speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“Coach (Antwain) Turner at Bethesda. I think he does an amazing job. Any time there’s a kid that may be out there and needs to find a home and needs to find someone that is a true mentor, he’s my first phone call. He’s a leader of men, a man of faith and he runs a phenomenal program.”

 

Bryan County offensive coordinator, running backs and linebackers coach Chad Roberts:

PHOTO: Bryan County offensive coordinator, running backs and linebackers coach Chad Roberts speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025.Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“I think all the coaches that are coaching the public school teams in Savannah have limited resources, a lot of limited coaches. That’s just a difficult, difficult thing to do, to be able to do everything. We’ve been to Bradwell for 7-on-7 and Beach came and they had one coach. This guy was doing everything. Any school that’s dealing with that, that’s just a tough, tough ask. My hat’s off to those guys.”

 

Effingham County head coach John Ford:

PHOTO: Effingham County head coach John Ford speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025. Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“I think he gets attention, but I think Matt LeZotte at Richmond Hill gets the absolute most out of his kids every year. Playing in that region he plays in, for him to beat some of the teams in that region that he’s beaten – no disrespect to the Richmond Hill kids. … (LeZotte) has flipped that place into a football school and he gets the absolute most out of the 11 that are on the field at all times for him. I think in the terms of how he develops them in the weight room in the offseason. I’ve never seem them practice, but I’ve coached against them, so I know what that practice produces. They’re fundamentally sound, they’re well-coached, they play hard, they don’t beat themselves, they don’t make many mistakes. He does as good a job coaching his team as anybody we go against.”

 

Richmond Hill coach Matt LeZotte:

PHOTO: Richmond Hill head coach Matt LeZotte speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025. Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“I think John Ford (at Effingham County) does one of the best jobs of anybody. He’s not coaching an all-star team. Players win ballgames. He’s able to manufacture and they compete for a region championship every single year. They’re in a very tough region, and he does a very good job of taking what they have and what they do well in and getting that to play on the field. He does a really great job of getting the most out of his kids.”

 

Savannah Country Day coach Joey Blackmore:

PHOTO: Savannah Country Day head coach Joey Blackmore Matt LeZotte speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025. Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“I really feel strongly that Benedictine is doing an incredible job. I think Savannah Christian is doing an incredible job. That’s something that we’re always trying to strive to catch up. I love when they’re successful because we’ve got to raise our level of competition. I’m excited to evaluate ourselves against them. We’ve got a couple of former players at Richmond Hill that work at Country Day with the operations crew. I’ve been paying attention to (the Wildcats). Their schedule is no joke. It seems like they’re raising their level of play each year.”

 

South Effingham coach Loren Purvis:

PHOTO: South Effingham head coach Loren Purvis speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025. Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

“John Ford – I hate that he’s doing it in my county – has done an incredible job at Effingham. Also, Matt LeZotte at Richmond Hill. Making it to the semifinals out of that region is so tough. And John, what he’s been able to do, taking them to the playoffs every year. … He’s done a heck of a job. Both of those guys in this area, they deserve all the respect and all the praise because they’re doing a wonderful job with their kids.”

PHOTO: South Effingham head coach Loren Purvis speaks during the 5th Annual Optim Orthopedics/Prep Sports Report Football Media Day, 2025. Photo courtesy of Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department.

 

Photos: Courtesy Optim Orthopedics Marketing Department

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All football coverage sponsored by Optim Orthopedics!

From the gridiron to the hardwood, Optim Orthopedics stands tall as a dedicated supporter of high school athletes across Savannah. They're not just sponsors—they're game-changers, delivering top-notch medical care to nine standout 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 care, Optim Orthopedics fuels Prep Sports Report's basketball and football coverage. Because when the game's on the line, Optim Orthopedics gets you back in it!