There’s no question the expectations level at Bryan County has been raised.
The unbeaten Redskins – that’s a term rarely associated with Bryan County football – were not at their best Friday night in posting a 20-0 win over Wheeler County to run their record to 3-0 going into this week’s open date.
Bryan County will next play at Portal (2-0) on Sept. 15. The Panthers will be favored to beat Screven County (0-2) this week which would set up a game between unbeatens.
Despite posting backto- back shut outs for the first time since 2011 and only the second time in school history Coach Cherard Freeman was not pleased.
“It was a ragged football game,” Freeman said.
“I’m not going to make excuses. As a football coach I didn’t have them ready to play. I take full responsibility for that.”
In defense of Freeman and his players, however, it was a far from normal week. Because of Hurricane Idali he Redskins were forced to miss two days of practice and for some players it no doubt triggered memories of the tornado which swept through the area in April a year ago.
“It was not a regular week,” Freeman said. “Things threw us off.
“We couldn’t get the offense clicking tonight,” Freeman said. “I am proud of the boys who fought through adversity which is a sign of a growing team that continues to fight the way we fought.
“The defense played exceptionally well. They kept us in the ball game and we made a couple of plays at the end.”
Bryan County led 7-0 at the half thanks to a 1-yard run by Jacari Carney with 1:47 left in the second quarter and that was the way it stood until the final three minutes of the game.
The Redskins moved the ball throughout but had drives stalled due to a season high eight penalties. The defense, however, managed to hold the Bulldogs at bay and then with 3:46 to play Carlin Covington recovered a fumble at the Wheeler 30.
On his only carry of the night Tanner Ennis swept right end for 11 yards, Erin Greene added five and Austin Clemons bolted up the middle from 14 yards out for a 13-0 lead.
Bryan County then got a break when Jason Culver returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards to the Redskins 10 only to have it called back because of a blocking in the back call.
The defense then forced a three-and-out with the Redskins taking possession at their own 32. On first down Clemons hit off the right side, cut back up field to score on a 68-yard run. Cooper Ennis kicked his second extra point to set the final margin.
Two plays later Covington got his second fumble recovery of the night and the shutout was assured. The Redskins have now recovered five fumbles this season along with three interceptions.
Clemons finished with 164 yards on 16 carries and Greene added 121 on 16 rushes. Bryan County had 352 yards rushing and Sean Kelly Hill completed three of five passes for 46 yards and was intercepted once. Gage Javis had two catches for 32 yards.
“We moved the ball at will,” Freeman said. “I don’t believe we had a negative play (they didn’t). We executed our game play, we just made penalties that hurt us tonight.”
Bryan County controlled the clock as it had the ball for 29:02 while limiting Wheeler County (1-2) to 198 yards total offense, 71 in the second half. The Bulldogs had 105 yards rushing.