It was a season to remember for those who have walked the hallowed halls of Glynn Academy. The Brunswick school is the second oldest in the state, having been founded in 1788. But little in its history could match the excitement of the 2015 football season for the Red Terrors. It was the school’s third trip to the state championship, but the last was a lifetime ago, in 1964. This season, it seemed unlikely that the Terrors would make it to the Georgia Dome, especially after suffering two losses in a row. But in a manner only seen in Hollywood movies, Coach Rocky Hidalgo put Glynn Academy on a roll and simply refused to lose, either making comebacks or holding on for the victory until the bitter end, scoring on the final play of a 10-6 loss in the state championship.
Glynn Academy finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, having fallen to Camden and Coffee before going on a 10-game winning streak that included four playoff games. With the number-two seed in Region 3-AAAAA, the Terrors had the opportunity to host their first round game against Jones County. The Greyhounds traveled to Glynn County Stadium with a 9-1 record and part of a three-way tie for first place in Region 2. Deejay Dallas had three touchdowns and intercepted a pass in the end zone with just four seconds left, and the Terrors hung on to win 28-22.
The following week, GA made a 400-mile trek to Dalton to play the Catamounts, the top seed from Region 7. After falling behind early, Garrison Hurd caught the “hook and lateral” for a touchdown. The Glynn defense, led by In the Game Magazine’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dexter Roberson, held strong in a scoreless fourth quarter to give the Terrors a 20-13 victory.
Glynn Academy had to take to the road again in the third round, traveling to Stockbridge to face the state’s top ranked team. The Tigers had an undefeated record and home field advantage. Stockbridge took a 14-point lead and was about to score a touchdown for what would have been an insurmountable lead, but the Terrors’ defense was able to hold on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. After a 99-yard drive, GA scored again to tie the game at 21. With 14 seconds left, Banks Entwistle booted a 30-yard field goal and the Terrors were able to prevail once again, 24-21.
That set the stage for the biggest game in recent memory for Southeast Georgia as Glynn Academy faced Ware County in the state semifinals. The two region foes had played almost two months earlier, with the Terrors coming out on top by seven points. Before a near-capacity crowd of almost 10,000 – one of the largest crowds ever gathered at Glynn County Stadium – the two juggernauts battled until the very end. Leading 24-14 with less than a minute remaining, GA gave up an intentional safety that brought the Gators to within eight points. A long kickoff return gave Ware good field position, and quarterback Jemar Lincoln began firing passes. With just 4.6 seconds to go, his final attempt was caught at the one-yard line, just short of a touchdown; time expired and the Terrors walked away victorious, 24-16.
The Terrors then traveled to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to face the high-scoring offense of the Allatoona Buccaneers in the state championship game. The Allatoona crew had not lost a game since the first contest of the season and had been on a 13-game winning streak since. The Terrors held the Buccaneers to less than 200 yards of total offense in a game that was scoreless at halftime. GA tried a free kick following a fair catch, but August Bowers’ 49-yard attempt hit the upright and bounced back. An 80-yard drive to start the second half gave the Bucs the lead and they later added a field goal to take the victory. Dallas was able to score on the last play of the game to put the Terrors on the board. Despite the loss, the community stood strong with the team, who had brought the days of glory back to Brunswick’s south end. The 12 wins the Terrors recorded this season are the most in the school’s history since 1936.
SE-SF-0116-GA to State
Glynn Academy Goes to State
By Rob Asbell
Photos by Gena Churchwell
