Spring training came to an end Monday, May 19, with the annual Black versus Gold football game, which pits the best RHHS players against each other. The gold team won 18-14, and Coach Brian Brocato said he was very pleased to see five touchdowns scored, and the game gave one more reason why the Cats should have a good upcoming season.
Brocato, who refereed the game, said many of the folks at the well-attended game were excited parents that are also on the same vibe that the Cats have an exciting season ahead of them.
"This was a very good scrimmage," Brocato said. "We saw the best of both sides of the ball here. The offensive line on both sides was pretty solid. The young kids on the gold team played exceptional defense."
Some of the highlights included Corey Donaldson making a 67-yard touchdown pass, Zach Denney running for 126 yards and potential quarterback Tyler Mitchell both running for a touchdown and catching a touchdown pass.
"We still have a long way to go yet, but considering we put in a new defense and offense in nine days, these boys played pretty well," Brocato said.
The team will now take time off before they start Monday through Friday workouts on June 2. Brocato said he’ll be sending some of the players to a football camp at Georgia Southern, and they’ll conduct their own camp on July 22, most likely at Hunter in Savannah.
Brocato is optimistic about the coming season, but said the new region alignment is an obstacle the Cats will have to overcome.
Region 3-AAA was recently realigned to where RHHS has to face just about a whole new set of region opponents. Brocato said this makes the region much tougher, but he is not intimidated by this.
"The toughest team will be Thomson," Brocato said. "They are third in the state. Washington County is returning pretty much the same team. Liberty lost a lot of players from last year. Burke won our region last year. Baldwin made the playoffs in 3-AAAA last year. West Laurens was a playoff team."
Non region opponents will include Bryan County, Johnson, Long County (homecoming) and Savannah High.
"Next season’s region is the toughest region we’ve ever been in," he said. "If you want to get better, you’ve got to play good teams. This year, the schedule works in our favor. We’re only traveling to Thomson and to Burke."