Summary of last season:
The Knights had a strong showing in 2016, losing only one game in the regular season, a one-point loss to Bulloch Academy. Frederica Academy defeated Valwood and Memorial Day School during a seven-game winning streak. After going 8-1 on the storm-shortened season, Frederica would win the region and then make it to the quarterfinals of the GISA state playoffs, where they fell to Deerfield-Windsor. A talented sophomore class led the way for the Knights.
The Coach:
Coach Brandon Derrick came over to the St. Simons Island School under the oaks from Glynn Academy in 2013 and immediately started building a football program. A member of the East Tennessee High School Hall of Fame, Derrick was a three-year starter at quarterback at Maryville College. He was head coach at McMinn Central High School before coming to Georgia in 2009 as Offensive Coordinator for Glynn Academy for four years.
Outlook for this season?
“The 2017 campaign is going to be a challenging season with a very competitive schedule with powers like Parklane Academy of Mississippi, Wesleyan School in Atlanta, Valwood in Hahira along with our grueling region schedule of Bulloch, Edmund Burke Academy, Pinewood, and Trinity Christian School from Dublin,” said Coach Derrick. “The tools to be a very successful team are in place, but we will have to stay healthy, protect the football and play great defense. We have eight returning starters back on offense and defense along with our returning punter and kicker, so the experience is in place, now we have to go out execute every Friday night.”
Last year’s sophomore class are this year’s juniors. With more than a dozen college scholarship offers, Ja’Shawn Sheffield returns as one of the leaders of the Knights’ offense.
Big games this year:
“Parklane Academy, Mississippi, Wesleyan School, Atlanta, Valwood, Hahira and our region games,” Coach Derrick said. The Knights start the season playing in Montgomery, Alabama against Mississippi power Parklane Academy.
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Knights look for Another Big Year
