The Pinewood Christian Academy Patriots can win their second straight GISA Region 2-AAA title and complete a perfect regular season tonight in front of a huge Senior Night crowd.
    But the Bulloch Academy Gators stand in their way.
    “We want to beat Pinewood,” said BA head coach Terence Hennessy. “We want to ruin their perfect season. We’re still playing for a chance to host a state playoff game. If all of this is not motivation enough, I don’t know what is.”
    The squads are bitter rivals in all varsity sports and the rivalry even filters down to the middle-school athletic programs. Last season, the two met for the region title at Gator Alley with the Patriots prevailing 27-14. Pinewood breezed through the playoffs and made it to the state championship game where they were humbled 52-7 by the Westfield Hornets.
    “With the exception of Westfield,” said Hennessy, “they are the best team we’ve seen in the two years that I have been here. They are solid across the board.”
    The Patriots (9-0 overall and 3-0 in region play) seemed to be on a mission to get back to the title game. They have pounded their opponents during the regular season with big-play tactics on both offense and defense.
    “There have been big plays on both sides of the ball,” said Hennessy. “For instance, it was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter when they played Trinity Christian. Five plays later, all of a sudden it was 14-0. Against Frederica, the game went from a tight first quarter to virtually over by halftime. There has been a running clock (mercy rule) in the fourth quarter in all of their region games.”
    With an offense that has scored an average of 34.7 points per game and a defense which has allowed a mere 7.6 per contest, the Patriots look unstoppable.
    “If we play to the very best of our ability,” said Hennessy, “we can win. But it will take a tremendous and near-perfect effort on both sides of the ball.”
    Bulloch (8-2, 2-1) will face a shotgun offense with a one-back formation.
    “Their quarterback (Jeffery Young) is very good both throwing and running,” said Hennessy. “They use a zone read scheme and alternate two very good running backs (Preston Campbell and Kaleb Shuman).”
    On defense, a hard-hitting 4-4 alignment will aim to shut down the Gator option and wishbone attacks.
    “Connor Kennedy is a big defensive tackle (6-3, 337 pounds) who can move well,” said Hennessy. “Matthew Floyd is their best linebacker. He will light you up.”
    Regardless of the outcome, both teams are bound for the playoffs. If PCA wins, the Patriots will be region champions and the number one seed. If BA wins, it will create a three-way tie for the region title and tiebreaker rules apply.
    Bulloch opened the season with a five-game winning streak but the injury bug and fatigue have taken its toll on down the stretch. The Gators always get fired up when they face the Patriots and fantastic fan support will be a shot of adrenaline for the BA boys.
    “I don’t know if we will be full strength or not,” said Hennessy. “We will take 25 or 26 guys over to Bellville and fight to win a region championship.”