If Lindsey Martin has the ball at his feet — watch out.
    The Statesboro midfielder has a knack for leaving defenders in the dust, then getting into open space and working his magic from there.
    “With the ball at his feet — he can control it better than anybody,” said SHS coach Chad Prosser. “He can control it better than most people I’ve ever coached.”
    In Tuesday’s win over rival Southeast Bulloch, Martin opened the scoring with a goal in the 4th minute. He then helped with three assists the rest of the way in an 11-0 rout.
    “As long as we win I don’t care if I score or not,” said the 6-foot-1 junior. “I mean I like scoring, but as long as win that’s all that really matters.”
    Martin has been playing with Statesboro since his freshman year. Prosser said he’s come a long way.
    “He’s really improved over the last couple of years,” said Prosser. “He came in as a freshman and kind of struggled to adapt to the high school, physical game. He’s more of a finesse player. This year’s he’s kind of understood what it is he needs to do and he’s worked to improve. He’s become one of our quiet leaders on the team.”
    Martin and the Blue Devils (4-6, 0-4 Region 3-AAAA) resume region play tonight at Georgia Southern’s RAC against the Academy of Richmond County.

Brittany Hood
    When Brittany Hood transferred to Southeast Bulloch to play out her senior year on the Lady Yellow Jackets’ soccer team, coach Aimee Civalier knew she was getting a hard worker.
    “The team’s good without me,” said Hood. “I just think I motivate them to work as hard as I do.”
    Nobody could’ve known how big an impact the Statesboro High transfer would have.
    Through seven games this year, the Jackets (5-2) are right in the mix of things in Area 3-AA/A, and Hood has racked up 16 goals and six assists in the short period of time.
    “I knew she was a good player,” Civalier said. “We played Statesboro last year, so I knew she had skill, and I knew she was aggressive, giving 100 percent on the field. I didn’t know she was going to be the goal scorer that she is, so it was exciting to see her flourish at the beginning of the season.”
    Hood has some big shoes to fill, coming in after the Jackets lost some key contributors — most notably Morgan Jones, who scored 88 goals in her career at SEB — but she doesn’t let the pressure get to her. She just wants to contribute where she can help out the most.
    “I’d be just as happy playing defense and not scoring any goals,” said Hood. “Just as happy as I’d be playing forward and scoring.”