Frederica Academy senior Brandon Blake has spent countless hours watching videos on the proper way to lift weights in order to get maximum results. He constantly studies strength, nutrition, and exercise programs. It may lead to a future career, but there was a time when he had to learn it out of necessity.
When Blake arrived at the St. Simons Island college preparatory school, he was 5’2″ and had no middle school football experience. He was surprised when former coach Clint Morgan placed him with the linebackers. “Being a linebacker at 130 pounds freshman year wasn’t exactly the most fun position because I often got destroyed by the other kids who were a lot older and bigger,” he said. Always a good student, Blake committed himself to the weight room and proper nutrition over the past three years. He also watched motivational videos by future NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Now Blake is 5’11,” 195-pounds of all-region linebacker. He had 98 tackles his sophomore year and 128 his junior season. His goal this year is to set a new school record for tackles and, perhaps, reach the 200 tackle mark.
“The last two summers he has gotten up at 6 am to go to weight training/summer workouts all on his own,” said parents Bobby and Julie Blake. “As parents of a teenager, we have not had to get him out of bed one time.” Their son said they enjoy football season as much as he does, and he works hard to play well for them on Friday nights.
Brandon Blake played in the Glynn County Recreation Department leagues growing up primarily as a quarterback. By ninth grade, he started playing for Frederica Academy’s first team and has been part of every football team at the school. He waited all season and finally got his chance against Edmund Burke Academy. “In the last game of his freshman year, he caught a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone,” his parents said. “The whole play seemed like it was in slow motion.” The catch brought the Knights within a touchdown of the Spartans.
His most memorable game came his sophomore year when Frederica made it to the GISA Class A State Championship against Coach Tom Smith’s Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders. It was Frederica Academy’s first official year of football, and many were surprised when the Knights made it to the title game.
As the fourth quarter started, Frederica was down 30-7. Quarterback Max Bourne started leading the Knights back, scoring 27 unanswered points in an amazing 12-minute finale. “The feeling of the momentum shifting and us finally clicking on all cylinders is an unbelievable feeling,” Blake said. “Going from yelling at each other at halftime to running around with state champion hats on after the second half is unbelievable.”
After winning the state title in 2012, Frederica finished 6-5 overall and 4-1 in region play last season. The Knights fell in the semi-finals of the state playoffs to the Curtis Baptist Crusaders of Augusta. This year, Frederica is led by second year Head Coach Brandon Derrick, and the Knights are returning 12 starters, including Blake who was last year’s top tackler.
He is looking forward to every game on the schedule his senior season, knowing that “there is no next year.” This year will be tougher for the Knights as they move into their permanent slot in GISA Class AAA. Among the big games this year are tilts against Valwood, Tiftarea Academy, Trinity, and RTCA, all traditionally strong teams. “I want to be an impactful player. I want to be someone my coaches and my team can count on to make a big play when we need it,” Blake said.
In the classroom, the A-B Honor Roll student enjoys science, which is a direct path to working in sports medicine. He is a member of the Chess Club as well as the Model United Nations. Blake’s plan is to start his career in the sports field in something like physical therapy or personal training. Eventually he wants to own a gym or possibly be the strength coach of a professional football team.
“If I go into that field, I know I won’t have to work a day in my life because it’s what I love to do,” he said.
SE-AA-0814-Blake
Southeast-Academic Athlete – 0814 – Brandon Blake
Frederica Academy
Football
By Rob Asbell
