Our ITG Next Georgia 4 Questions with the Coach guest this week is Brantley County Herons head football coach Geoff Cannon, who is preparing for his sixth season in Nahunta. Under Cannon, the Herons have improved over the last two seasons, going from a 1-9 record in 2021 to a 5-5 mark in 2022. Cannon will have a number of returners from last year’s team, although they say goodbye to one of the most talented and well-liked players in program history with the graduation of Kellon Middleton.
Let’s hear from Coach Cannon about his Brantley County team heading into spring practice, and what to expect in the 2023 regular season to follow.
Q. Coach Cannon, thanks for taking the time to talk with us once again! It was great seeing you at our recent football banquet, as we honored players from across the state, including a couple of your very own Brantley County Herons. I want to start off by asking you about those two outstanding young men, RB Kellon Middleton and LB Mason Thomas. To say that Kellon will be missed is an absolute understatement, but the good news is that you will have Mason back for the upcoming season. I guess bittersweet is the first word that comes to mind. Can you talk about the contributions of each of these fine young players?
A. Every new season begs the question, “How are we going to replace these great seniors?” We graduated 10 great players off of this team, and we will have to work hard to get the next guys ready. In Kellon’s case, he rarely came off the field. So we aren’t just replacing a talented offensive skill player, but also a safety and a special teams star. That’s more than one hole to fill, but I’m confident that the next men up in this case will be excited about their opportunity. Kellon’s legacy here covers more than the on-the-field accolades. We will miss his leadership as a captain just as much.
We are thrilled to have Mason Thomas back for his senior year. While his home on the defensive side of the ball is well-documented, you very well may see him with some opportunities on offense in the fall. We will need all of our skill players to be serviceable on both sides of the ball.
Q. While Kellon will certainly be missed, Mason will have several teammates returning with him this season, and it looks like you have talent back in just about every area of the team, as you don’t appear to be suffering a ton of losses to graduation. Are you optimistic about the number of guys back in 2023?
A. If we can stay healthy, we are very optimistic about the upcoming season. This group of rising seniors was in the seventh grade my first season as head football coach here, and I’ve enjoyed watching them come up through the ranks each year. It’s my job to show them they can win. It’s their job to buy in and believe it.
Q. Coach, I want to ask you about the quarterback play and a guy you know pretty well with Kirkland Cannon. He has been Mr. Steady running the Brantley County offense over the last two seasons, although it appears that you and the staff didn’t ask as much out of him last season as you did the prior season. Was this a change in the offensive approach?
A. As a coach, I’m looking forward to having a two-year starter back at QB for his third year. At a school our size, personnel dictates scheme more than anything, and we have some key pieces back with him. I’m looking forward to seeing what these boys can do on the field, holding nothing back as a coaching staff. It’s my job to provide opportunities for us to be successful on both sides of the ball, and I intend to do just that.
Q. Coach Cannon, what are your expectations for the Brantley County Herons in 2023? What areas do you hope to see improvement in with so much experience returning?
A. My personal expectations for the Herons this fall are high! I hope we can continue our winning ways and take one more step of improvement and get our team back in the playoffs where we belong. It’s no secret that our region is really tough, so it’s going to take our best shot each and every Friday night. I tell our guys all of the time, it’s not how you start, but how you #FINISH.
