Summary of last season:
The story of Wayne County in 2016 was about coaching changes. In February of 2017, first year head coach Derrick Chastain stepped down as Yellow Jackets Head Football Coach. Chastain had taken over from Jody Grooms, who had been criminally indicted the previous year. Chastain was chosen after a search and brought in from Camden County, where he was Assistant Head Coach for the Wildcats. Chastain led the Jackets to a 3-8 record and a playoff berth last season. The Jackets lost their season opener in overtime to West Laurens and a one-point heartbreaker to Appling County. Victories over New Hampstead, South Effingham and Statesboro gave them the number two seed in Region 2-AAAAA behind Ware County.
The New Coach:
After Coach Chastain’s departure in the off season, Ken Cribb was hired from Bluffton, South Carolina. Coach Cribb has been a head coach in South Carolina at Georgetown, South Florence, Stall and, most recently, at Bluffton High School. Since 2010, the Bluffton Bobcats have gone 63-26 while winning three region championships. They were state runner-up in 2011 and went 12-1 last season. His teams have made the South Carolina state playoffs in each of the past 10 seasons. Cribb guided Bluffton to a 12-1 record in 2016.
Outlook for this season?
“I’m real encouraged by how hard the kids are working and we have a ton of talent coming back,” Coach Cribb said. We have four out of five linemen coming back on offense and our quarterback and two really good running backs returning.”
The Yellow Jacket faithful have pulled behind their new coach in the preseason and Ken Cribb is excited about his new position. “It’s Southeast Georgia football,” he said.
Big games this year:
“The next one,” Coach Cribb said. Wayne County will face some tough competition this season with games at defending AAAAAA state champion Valdosta, then Appling and Pierce. They will host Brunswick, Glynn Academy and Ware County with region games against South Effingham, New Hampstead and Statesboro as well. The Yellow Jackets will face four teams with new head coaches this year.
SE-SF-0817-Wayne
Cribb Looks to Settle Things Down
[…] WAYNE COUNTY YELLOW JACKETS […]