Summary of last season:
The Brantley County Herons had a winning season in 2015 but missed the playoffs. Coach Mark Walker’s Herons started out with a 19-0 blackout against Atkinson County followed by a heartbreaking one-point loss to Dodge County. Wins over Islands and Johnson were next but were followed by losses to Cook and Pierce. Two region wins were next over Tattnall and Toombs and then a loss to Appling before dispatching Islands again in the region play-in game.
What is your outlook for this season?
Although the Herons return star quarterback Mikel Collins, Coach Mark Walker is still concerned with his team’s fortunes for this season. “BCHS graduated 17 players last year. We were hit the hardest on defense. Every starting linebacker graduated last year, as well as a couple of starting defensive linemen. Offensively, we were not hit as hard although we did lose a three-year starter at the running back position and a three year starter at a wide receiver position. We will return the core of the offensive front. We have three returning wide receivers and we have some new faces that will be able to step in on the offensive end and contribute immediately at the wide receiver positions,” said Coach Mark Walker.
What has realignment changed?
Brantley County moves from Division A of 1-AAA into the new Region 2-AAA. The new region includes Appling, Liberty, Long, Pierce and Tattnall. Gone is the A and B divisions of the region and the end of year region play-in game to determine who goes to the state playoffs. Now, it will be the top four teams in the region going to the GHSA playoffs.
Big games this year:
The Herons open by rekindling their rivalry with McIntosh County Academy on August 19 in Darien. They will then travel to Folkston to play Charlton County before returning home to face Richmond Hill. Then it’s two weeks on the road at Jeff Davis and Montgomery County before starting region play in October. The will host Pierce, Appling and Long while traveling to Tattnall and Liberty.
