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Football returns with downtown pep rally; watch video from the rally
Hundreds of Statesboro, Southeast Bulloch and Portal fans gather at Courthouse to launch 2025 season
Portal High, head football coach Jason McEachin introduces the 45 members of the 2025 Panther football team Thursday at the 15th Annual Downtown Pep Rally at the Bulloch County Courthouse. Hundreds of fans from Portal, Southeast Bulloch and Statesboro High came out to support their team.
- photo by JIM HEALY/staff
2025 Downtown Pep Rally
The 15th Annual Downtown Pep Rally to kick off the 2025 high school football season was held Thursday, August 7 at the Bulloch County Courthouse.
By: Jason Martin
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The Vyve Broadband Downtown Pep Rally Thursday marked the end of summer vacation and the beginning of high school football season.
Sponsored by Statesboro Natural Gas, the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority event was held on the Bulloch County Courthouse lawn.
Southeast Bulloch head coach Jared Zito introduces the 18 seniors on his 2025 Yellow Jackets.
- photo by JIM HEALY/staff
The annual event featured marching bands and cheerleaders along with the football teams from Portal, Statesboro and Southeast Bulloch High Schools to get the community revved up for the upcoming season.
Jim Healy, editor and operations manager for the Statesboro Herald, introduced the teams, bands and cheerleaders at the event.
Brandon Taylor leads the Blue Devils into the spotlight during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
Statesboro Natural Gas provided free hot dogs and lemonade for all at the Pep Rally. The 2025 sponsors: Colony Bank, CORE Credit, East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, Georgia Power, Morris Bank, Party Harbor, Statesboro Oral Surgery, Tormenta FC, Vyve Broadband and Coca-Cola.
The SEB flag football team is shooting for a fifth consecutive state championship.
- photo by Jason Martin
The Portal cheerleaders get the crowd juiced during the annual Downtown Pep Rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
Statesboro High head football coach Matt Dobson introduces his players, the band, and the cheerleaders of Blue Devil Nation during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
Noah Andersen leads the Portal drumline as the Panther make their entrance during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
Senior Stacie Scroggins, front, and her fellow cheerleaders fire up the crowd during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
Southeast Bulloch cheerleaders pump up the crowd Thursday at the annual Downtown Pep Rally kicking off the 2025 high school football season.
- photo by Jason Martin
Parents Lara and Billy Newsome cheer for son and senior wide receiver Gage Newsome as Statesboro High takes their entrance during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
The Marching Blue Devils kick off Statesboro High's portion of the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
The Portal Panthers draw a healthy crowd on the Bulloch County Courthouse Square during the annual Downtown Pep rally on Thursday, August 7.
- photo by SCOTT BRYANT/staff
