After scrimmages against cross-town rivals Statesboro and Portal, the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets are ready to start the 2015 regular season. The team has one specific goal in mind —getting back to the state playoffs and winning.
    It’s been 43 years since the Yellow Jackets have won a state playoff game. The long, daunting road to the playoffs begins Friday when SEB opens the regular season at home against highly-touted Pierce County.
    Southeast Bulloch head coach Pat Collins said he’s excited for the start of the season. Not only is he preparing for a competitive season, but his players are up to the task as well.
    “We have a group of boys that have worked hard and have some physical strength,” Collins said minutes before a Tuesday afternoon practice in full pads. “The boys that are on this team deserve to have Bulloch County’s support.”
    The Yellow Jackets finished the season 5-5 last year, just missing the playoffs after a tough loss to Appling County in the final game of the season 34-27.
    This year, SEB has a few new faces in the starting lineup, including three new offensive lineman. Despite a transitional phase on the o-line, coach Collins said he feels confident with his front five’s ability. Collins, entering his sixth year as head coach of the Jackets, admitted there will be some growing pains up front, but said the more game experience his o-line receives, the better they will be as the season rolls along.
    “You’re talking about three new faces on the interior line. That’s 60 percent of a new group. I feel like with more reps and game experience they’ll do fine,” Collins said. “Experience is the only teacher. You practice and practice and practice and we’ve spent an awful amount of time with those lineman. Coach Brandon Peterson does a superb job with those guys. We just have to stay the course and continue to work.”
    An experienced offensive line will not only benefit returning leading rusher Chase Walker, who had over 1,300 yards on the ground last season, but the Yellow Jackets' quarterbacks as well.
    SEB will continue to use a dual-quarterback system with Caleb Carter and Jaylon Wells taking the majority of snaps.
    Collins said both quarterbacks possess a unique skill set and he feels confident with using either quarterback depending on the situation.
    Against Statesboro High School in a preseason scrimmage-like game, Wells used his legs and mobility to escape defenders for big gains. Carter, a junior this season, made a few nice reads against SHS defense as well.
    “The added element this year is that we have a little more confidence in our ability to throw the ball,” Collins said. “We are going to continue to alternate this year and they both have different skill sets and right now we’re very comfortable in the rotation.”
    Coach Collins' confidence in his passing game wouldn’t be complete without quality receivers to throw to.
    Klayton Carter and Cecil McCollum are two receivers that have stood out so far, Collins said. McCollum is known for having great speed. As a member of the SEB 4-by-400 track team, he helped break a school record by setting a time of 3:28.88.
    “Both are explosive runners with their speed getting down the field, but they also both have great hands. I attribute a lot of the development Matthew Wheeler,” Collins said.
    SEB’s first game of the season is scheduled for Friday against Pierce County at Fred Shaver Field.