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.
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 3: Who is an unsung hero of your program?
Savannah Christian coach Baker Woodward:
“We have three announcers that do whatever I need, Eddie Wilson, Jason Hagan and Jimmy Kelley. They’re our three announcers but we call them the ‘Old Bones Organization’ because of the old skull (logo). They do a phenomenal job just helping us with anything that we need. They’ve coached middle school before for us, they’ve been announcers, they help out, they’ll buy team meals for the kids. My assistant coach, Christian Brantley, has taken over as our equipment coordinator. He puts up all the film, and he does the defensive line, and he cuts the fields and paints the fields. We pretty much can’t do it without Christian Brantley.”
Bethesda Academy coach Antwain Turner:
“Dan Carter is our unsung hero. He doesn’t want his name in lights, but he’s a tremendous supporter for us. He’s been with our program for over 14 years. His son’s been in the program. He’s an announcer. He was our bowling coach. He shows up at games after getting off a plane from his job. Just a tremendous supporter who I don’t think gets enough credit.”
St. Andrew’s School coach Wes Worthington:
“Our offensive coordinator Jake Clemens is a community coach, but he’s really been invested in our program and been here all summer. He played at Savannah Christian and then at Calvary during his high school prep career. He’s really coaching the boys hard and has high expectations for them. I just really appreciate what he’s brought to our program.”
Bradwell Institute coach Deshon Brock:
“Our athletic director Stephanie Howard. She works in the shadows. I’ve worked for different athletic directors, and I’ve been an athletic director myself. I don’t envy her job at all. She does a tremendous job. She finds a way for us to have what we have, and to do the things we want to do. Some people don’t want to do extra work and they’ll say no, not this time. But she always comes through for us.”
Liberty County coach Tony Glazer
“Kelzey Warner, one of (the late LCHS head coach Kirk) Warner’s sons. He does a good job with our film. He comes to all our games, does all our film and helps with laundry. Comes out to practice. He does basically whatever needs to be done. He does a good job of helping out wherever we need him.”
Benedictine coach Danny Britt:
“Susan Johnson, our football operations person. She takes care of us. Keeping us organized is a lot. We try to do it in a big-time fashion. We go play big schools. It takes a lot behind the scenes. It takes getting hotels, getting restaurants, buses – all of the things she has to do for us.”
Calvary Day coach Jason Cameron:
“My coaching staff. The head coach does the interviews and gets the recognition and stuff, but those guys sacrifice so much of their own families’ time for me and our program. It’s because they love kids and love football. But most importantly, they love kids and impacting kids. Also, Michelle Smeltzer. She’s one of our assistant athletic directors as well. She does all of our logistical travel and things like that. If we need drinks, food, buses set up, hotels booked, anything – for me as a head coach, she takes all of that off my plate. She is definitely worth the mention.”
Bryan County offensive coordinator, running backs and linebackers coach Chad Roberts:
“We’ve got a booster club that is very active with parents of former players. I think our booster club president’s son graduated two years ago. They’re staying involved in the program and staying active. That just speaks to Coach (Cherard) Freeman and the commitment those people have. I think that’s a big deal when their kids graduate and move on, and they’re still remaining involved. To me, that says a lot about them and says a lot about what Coach Freeman and the staff are doing.”
Effingham County coach John Ford:
“Joe Meglen. He’s a war hero. He’s one of our freshmen (assistant) coaches. He is just a linchpin to our coaching staff, to the community. He had a kid come through the program who graduated two years ago. He’s got a son in the seventh grade. He coaches our freshman team. He does a great job. He’s organized, he’s detailed. He loves the program, he loves the kids. He’ll do anything for these kids. He does so much behind the scenes. He would be mad that I would even give his name out right now because he doesn’t do it for recognition. All of the kids in the program, he loves them like they’re his sons. I’m really glad he’s with us.”
Richmond Hill coach Matt LeZotte:
“To name one individual is so tough in our setting. Our athletic director, Stacy Bennett, stays behind the scenes. He’s extremely supportive. He’s the guy that makes it all work. We’ve run in the region’s director’s cup the last few years. The first year in our region, we lost by two points. The second year, we won by two points. This year, we won by 16 points. Being to able to manage and mesh all these different personalities in this athletic department, to get everybody to pull in the same direction, is special and unique. A lot of people don’t have the capacity and ability to do that, even folks with that title.”
Savannah Country Day coach Joey Blackmore:
“Col. Rich LaRossa. He’s the director of operations and safety and security at Country Day. He and his crew do an incredible job making sure the fields are ready, always willing to adjust and adapt. We have 62 teams total for fifth grade through 12th grade and a 64-acre campus. It’s a ton of organization on their part and our part with the schedule.”
South Effingham coach Loren Purvis:
“Our sophomore mommas of our team. Stephanie Patterson, our Mustang Touchdown President, does a great job. That group of moms that jumps in and is pushing us as a booster club, has been the moms of sophomore players. We had over 100 people in the stands for our Midnight Madness practice. They were ones that were loud and had shakers and all that kind of jazz.”
Photos: Bryan County School District and Georgia Helmet Project
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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!
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