The Bulloch Academy Gators are currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the state in GIAA Class and are only one of a handful of teams that are currently 5-0. Last Friday the Gators dismantled a John Milledge team who had won four of the last five state championships by a score of 35-6.
“John Milledge is a great football team and what they do can give people fits offensively,” said Bulloch Academy coach Aaron Phillips. “They show an empty set with a tight end making you try to decide whether you want to take a lineman out and put an extra defensive back in the game. We executed well on defense and then we won the line of scrimmage again on offense. We also had a few explosive plays which I like to see out there from our backs.”
The Gators have allowed only two touchdowns in their last three games, and while the Gator offense has grabbed many of the headlines Phillips is proud of how far the defense has come this year.
“Our offense is doing well, but I think our defense has really started to step up,” Phillips said. “I like the way we are following the game plan and we have really improved tacking. That is going to be important to keep going Friday as we have a tough team coming to town.”
This week Bulloch Academy goes up against another solid GIAA team as they welcome Strong Rock Christian to Gator Alley. The Patriots are 3-2 and have played a competitive schedule including losing to Tattnall Square in a battle last Friday in Locust Grove.
The Patriots head coach is former Florida State Seminole Marion Jackson and are averaging 28 points per game. On offense and are led by sophomore running back Jake Johnson who is averaging over 116 yards rushing per game with five touchdowns. Senior quarterback Andrew Reid has thrown for 411 yards and four touchdowns.
“They are obviously well coached,” Phillips said. ‘They have some pretty good size up front and they are based out of the Wing-T on offense. Like many other teams they also get into some spread stuff. They have some pretty good athletes and have a solid defense. They are coming off playing a tough team in Tattnall Square and we know they will be ready for us.”
Phillips is happy the Gators have gotten the recognition to be named the No. 1 team in the state in GIAA, but also knows the traps that can come with that.
“Being at the top is a privilege but it can be tough,” Phillips said. “You have to look at it as we want to stay there. We continue to tell our kids our games Friday night are won Monday through Thursday by how we practice. We are continuing to battle through complacency because if you are wining by 30 points it is hard for them to believe someone is going to show up and be really good. We have that challenge the next couple weeks as our schedule gets tougher.”
Bulloch Academy and Strong Rock are scheduled for a 7:30 start Friday at Gator Alley.
