The Bulloch Academy Gators showed grit in their shut-out, 35-0, win against George Walton Academy last week. That win put the Gators in the Final Four for the first time in 15 years.
Bulloch Academy knows they are in rare company. Being the only team left in Bulloch County in action, the Gators are not taking light to this situation. According to head coach Aaron Phillips, the pressure they face is a privilege.
“There's 1000s of young men, and hundreds of teams right now who are sitting at home, who aren't going to do what you get to do,” said Phillips. “So embrace the moment, enjoy the moment.”
Reaching the Final Four in the GIAA Class 4A Football Championships is goal number 13 of 15 goals that the Gators set for themselves. As the competition grows, it’s only getting stiffer.
The Gators will be facing Brookstone, Friday, November 24, 2023, who defeated St. Anne-Pacelli last week in a last minute 13-10 win. The Cougars are led by former Georgia Southern Offensive Coordinator, Rance Gillespie, who reached the top of the GHSA rankings after leading Peach County to state championships in 2005 and 2006 and led Hart County to post-season play every season he was a head coach.
“He's a very good offensive minded guy,” said Phillips. “And, and they do some really good things, you know, they're a inside zone team, outside zone team, and they run a bunch of different formations to run the same few plays, so, from a practice standpoint, it's huge for us to be able to line up to everything and be able to adjust the motions.”
It’s no accident that the Gators are in this position. They have prepared for these types of games all season. In order for them to win this game, this “Georgia Southern, Erk Russell, Paul Johnson, Triple-option team” is going to have to execute and win at the line of scrimmage each play.
“We’ve out rushed and outgained every opponent we've played this year, we just, we need to continue to do that. And if we do that we're gonna have a lot of success.” Phillips said.
Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at home in Gator Alley. Tickets for Friday night’s game are available on the GoFan website.
These young men have worked hard and deserve our support. Join me in showing up and showing out for them and let's pack "the Swanp" in Gator Alley, 873 Westside Road, Statesboro, GA.
