It’s always a big game when county rivals Southeast Bulloch and Statesboro meet on the football field. This year though the game takes on even more importance with the new power polls.
Southeast Bulloch hosts Statesboro Friday at 7:30 in both teams’ season opener. Statesboro owns a 5-1 record against the Jackets in a series that began in 2004. The Jackets' lone victory came in 2024. The Blue Devils won last year 21-10 at Womack Field and have had a few weeks to fix a few mistakes coach Matt Dobson saw in their scrimmage with South Effingham.
“We had a lot of dropped passes and some missed opportunities in our scrimmage,” Dobson said. “Most of our issues were self-inflicted on offense. We had a couple layers that missed the scrimmage and we are excited to get them back. On defense, I thought we adjusted after a few big plays and playing a Wing-T team makes things a little tough because you don’t see it a lot. We gave up a few third and long plays but overall, I liked how we played and we seem to have done a good job correcting our mistakes.”
The Yellow Jackets scrimmaged Johnson and had very few problems against the Atom Smashers. Friday will mark the head coaching debut for Jason Anthony who likes what he has seen from his team entering the season opener.
“Collectively across the board I like what I have seen as far as pad leverage both playing behind our pads and getting them down,” Anthony said. “The one concern I have is our starters only played three quarters of the game and it will be interesting to see how they do playing a whole game especially considering we have a lot of guys playing both ways.”
Last year the Blue Devils wore the Jackets down behind a punishing rushing attack as they rushed the ball nearly 50 times. Dobson says he still plans on taking what the defense gives him but feels like a much-improved passing game will allow for more options.
“We feel like our rushing attack is still very good and our offensive line is a strength,” Dobson said. “Where we have made the most progress is in our passing game. We have some weapons on the outside we haven’t had in a while. Matthew White, Gideon Fulcher and Todd Easter are all six-feet tall or more and can all go up and get the ball, while Davis Harrison gives us another weapon at tight end and Kevin Sello in the slot. We feel they are big up front and even though they have spread things out, we expect them to run the ball and we are going to have to do a good job of stopping the run to come out on top.”
Not only are the Statesboro and Southeast Bulloch players familiar with each other but the coaches are as well. Anthony knows to expect the unexpected and feels this contest could come down to special teams deciding things.
“We have confidence in our offense which is paced by our offensive line and skill position kids,” Anthony said. “Our defensive line is talented but we are kind of young up there. We know Statesboro can run but we expect them to throw a lot more than they did last year against us. We also know they like to throw in a trick play or two. I feel like we match up well against them on both sides of the ball and I think this game could come down to a battle of the two special teams.”
As far as the rivalry, both coaches and players tried to downplay how much that actually factors into a game.
“We know it adds to the intensity and the crowd that will be there,” Dobson said. “After the first few plays, I don’t know that it really plays a factor. With the new power polls, we know every game is like a region game so the importance of this game is even more than it has been though.”
“Having this game at home is big for us,” Anthony said. “We are tough to beat at home and we are having to bring in extra bleachers to accommodate the crowd. Our kids know their kids and there are obviously bragging rights but we also both respect each other and I expect a competitive game Friday.”
Southeast Bulloch ad Statesboro kick off Friday at 7:30 at Fred Shaver Field in Brooklet.
