CANEY BAY – Brantley County captured a 21-7 victory over visiting Frederica Academy here Friday night in the Herons’ lone scrimmage before kicking off the 2024 campaign.
BCHS travels south along Hwy. 301 to Folkston to open against Charlton County. The matchup features two new head coaches in the rivalry with David Shores leading the Herons and DeMario Jones in charge of the Indians.
In the one quarter junior varsity matchup, BCHS and the Knights battled to a 7-all tie.
The humid night had both teams battling leg cramps with a lot of players going both ways.
Penalties and stiff defenses disrupted both offenses during the opening period, which ended in a scoreless tie.
The Knights’ received a gift from Brantley County late in the opening quarter when the snap in punt formation sailed past punter Eli Thomas. Frederica Academy made the recovery at the Herons’ 20.
The visitors ran four plays for no yards (gained 12 yards on two snaps, lost 12 yards on two snaps) that included a first down via penalty against the Herons. When the drive, interrupted by three straight penalties, stalled, Frederica Academy’ A.J. Mangin drilled a 32yard field goal on the first snap of the second period for a 3-0 lead.
Brantley County scored 45 seconds before intermission when Devein Saunders returned a short punt 35 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 halftime lead.
With 5:21 left in the third quarter, Frederica Academy found itself deep in its own territory. A 27-yard punt set Brantley County up at the Knights 37.
A couple of penalties against Brantley County pushed the ball across midfield to the Herons’ 48. A six-yard run by Mason Kicklighter (11 carries, 68 yards) was followed by a 26yard pass completion from Kaden Hendrix (5-of-13, 71 yards) to Daesean Hutcherson down to the Knights’ 20.
Kicklighter followed Gavin Batten’s three-yard run on first down with a 17-yard gallop through the middle of the Frederica Academy defense for a 143 advantage with 3:38 left in the third quarter.
The Herons forced a quick three-and-out taking control of the ball at the visitors’ 45.
Brantley County scored the final touchdown in three plays. Kicklighter bulled his way for eight yards with Hendrix following with a 12-yard burst. The signal-caller connected with Saunders on the next snap for the 25-yard touchdown and a 21-3 advantage just 12 seconds before the varsity scrimmage ended.
Frederica Academy struck first in the jayvee matchup racing 88 yards in six plays. Stanton Beverly had runs of 43 yards and 40 yards capping the drive with a one-yard plunge.
Brantley County responded with a 63-yard scoring drive in three plays. Malachi Saunders toted the ball on all three snaps going one yard, 31 yards and 31 yards on the final play of the night.
