Summary of last season: “The team started fast but faded a bit down the stretch,” notes new BCHS head coach Kyle Langford, the team’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons. The off-season saw BCHS hand the reigns to Langford, a veteran of 20-plus years who served as head coach at Towns County from 2007-12; he becomes the fifth head coach in seven seasons at Bacon.
Outlook for this season:
Numbers are up at BCHS with roughly 65 players engaged in summer workouts. Langford also made three key hires in the off-season, giving BCHS a full complement of seven varsity assistants for the first time in several seasons. Veteran Willis Yates, late of Glynn Academy, replaces Langford as defensive coordinator and will coach linebackers. Ryan Morgan came over from Long County to handle the defensive line. Meanwhile, Thad Williams returns to coach defensive backs, after a year away from football.
“We say every day that we want to be disciplined, physical, and tough,” Langford says.
“The folks here support this program and these young people like I’ve never seen. They expect the program to be run in a first-class way, and I do too. Since I’ve been here, I’ve never been disappointed in these kids once. We have some coaches that have been in Alma awhile and want to be here. And we want to take the good things and successful things from these past few years, magnify them, and add to them. That’s when the program gets successful.”
Players returning from last year’s team:
The offense returns five experience linemen – Seniors Jorge Lopez and Jackson Hall, along with juniors, Andrew Bloodworth, Will Richardson, and Jesus Brown. The receiving corps welcomes back senior Xavier Hayes, junior LaGondric Snell, and sophomore J.P. Peterson. On defense, juniors Anthony Madison and K.J. Casteel bring experience to the front wall. Seniors Wesley Cothern and Zebion Brown, along with junior K.J. Brown, will once again roam the middle. The secondary is loaded with experience, featuring seniors Champ Merritt and Trae Stewart, along with juniors Aeriton Moore and Shawn Morgan. Kicker Bylan Kelley, a senior, headlines special teams’ returnees.
What has realignment changed this year?
Long County, McIntosh County Academy, and Groves moved out of Region 2-AA. Meanwhile, familiar faces Metter and Toombs County moved back in along with Swainsboro, which Bacon will face for the first time ever this season. Perennial region giants, Benedictine and Vidalia are still in the mix, as are Bryan County and Jeff Davis.
Big games this year:
The season opener against non-region border rival Pierce County looks to carry a playoff-type atmosphere as the Bears look to avenge a 41-40 loss from 2015. That game promises to be an overflow crowd in Bearville. The other yearly grudge match comes against Bacon’s neighbor from the north, Jeff Davis, which kicks off the region slate. The Raiders close out September on the road against Vidalia and get Benedictine at home in late October.
