Bulloch Academy takes on its third consecutive high-powered GISA Region 1-AAA opponent this week when the Southland Academy Raiders come to Gator Alley.
    “They are by far the biggest team we’ve faced,” said BA head coach Ronnie Hodges. “From what I’ve seen, they are not as physical as the last two teams (Deerfield-Windsor and Westfield), but when you have kids who are 285, 260, 245 and 240 pounds, all they have to do is just get in the way.”
    The Raiders (3-2 overall and 2-1 in region play) are on a two-game winning streak, having beaten region foes Tiftarea Academy 36-15 and Trinity Christian School 34-6.
    “They are playing good football right now,” said Hodges.
The Gators (3-2, 1-2) are on a two-game losing streak, having suffered losses to Westfield 17-0 and Deerfield-Windsor 27-6.
    Both squads have the exact same records that they did a year ago when they met in Americus. Bulloch surprised many by taking that game 38-8. Through the first five weeks of this season, BA and Southland have one common opponent, Tiftarea Academy. Bulloch beat the Panthers 48-7 in Week 3.
    According to Hodges, the Raiders are a run-oriented team and have the offense line to play power
football.
    “They are better offensively than they are defensively,” said BA head coach Ronnie Hodges, “They are young up front and we hope to take advantage of that.”
On offense, the Raiders will run the ball approximately 90 percent of the time and straight up the middle.
    “They will run the ball from tackle to tackle,” said Hodges. “We are looking for the midline, isolations and the veer. Clay Oxford (205-pound senior fullback) has good speed for a big man and runs the ball well. We’re also going to watch out for halfback Logan Deatherage too. He is just returning from injury and will be dangerous.”
    Hodges also warned his players about senior quarterback Jake Hood.
    “He’s the leader of the team,” said Hodges. “He has speed and loves to run the ball at critical times.”
    The Bulloch defense suffered another blow this week when a shoulder injury ended the season for starting defensive end Jarret Humphries.
    “That’s going to hurt,” said Hodges. “He was just coming into his own. We are running out of depth.”
    Linebacker Dillan Finch leads the defense with 26 individual tackles and 24 assists. Other active leaders are cornerback Bailey Smith (15, 10), defensive linemen Codi Johnson (14, 12) and Caleb Bohannon (13, 13) and linebacker Loy Waters (13, 8).
    “Bohannon and Clayton Rogers (defensive end) are back to full speed,” said Hodges. “We are going to alternate Chris Young and Reed Salter at the other defensive end to replace Humphries.”
    On offense, Hodges said the Gators will try to avoid the massive defensive front of the Raiders.
    “We can’t run straight at them,” he said. “We’ve got to try to get outside. This week, we are going to run more misdirection and option plays.”
    Junior tailback Harrison Averitt will return to the lineup and that should help the Gator running game. He leads the BA ground attack with 481 yards and six touchdowns. Young has 282 yards and six scores while wingback Jaylen Evans has 221 yards and two TDs.