The road to the doorstep of a state playoff berth has not been an easy one for the Redskins, but having to survive the region play-in game without a quarterback proved too large an obstacle.
Bryan County High School's 2011 varsity football season came to a close Friday night with a heartbreaking 20-13 loss to the Johnson County Trojans.
As the No. 3 seed in the eastern half of region 3A, the Redskins traveled to Wrightsville, home of Johnson County's Lovett Stadium. There, the Redskins would face the No. 2 seed of the western half of region 3A: the Johnson County Trojans on a gridiron named Herschel Walker Field after the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner who played for the Trojans from 1975 to 1979.
If the name of a football legend wasn't enough to intimidate the Redskins, they also had another disadvantage to sort out - two injured quarterbacks. Both quarterbacks; freshman Jeremy McClendon, out since an injury sustained against Calvary, and sophomore quarterback Jacob White, with 713 total passing yards this season on 40 completions, were on the injured list.
Without a quarterback, the Redskins opted to play a wildcat offense hiking the ball directly to receivers Love and Harris or to running backs Scott and Fennell.
Nick Scott ran for 92 yards on 19 carries to wind up with 959 yards on the season.
Wide receiver turned running back, Raekwon Love, rushed for 70 yards on 11 carries.
A Redskin 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown by junior line backer Dashon Dixon kept the Redskins in the game. In the final minutes of the game, the Redskins mounted a drive which was stopped at midfield, not by the Trojans, but by penalties. Two penalties on a single play lost 25 yards which proved to be more than the Redskins could overcome.
"We improved our strength tremendously from last year to this year," said Redskins offensive coordinator Blake Nesmith. "But when we got into the toughest part of our schedule there was still a noticeable difference in our strength levels and our opponent's. If we continue to close that gap, we will continue to climb in the standings and win games"
As the Redskins finish the season with six wins and four losses, they look to the future with young players. "We are still real young and made young mistakes," said Redskins head coach Mark Wilson. "But the kids played and practiced hard all year. I think we found some play makers this year and if we work hard in the off season, we will have a bright future."
2011 leaders:
Offense
Rushing: Nick Scott 202 carries, 959 yards, 7 TDs; Aretez Fennell, 58-269, 1 TD; Kerry White 39-131, 1 TD, Raekwon Love, 20-111, 1 TD.
Passing: Jacob White 40-90-713 yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions
Receiving: Love 13 catches, 320 yards 5 TDs; Damion Dixon 9-182, 5 TDs; Mannie Smith 7-104, 1 TD.
Defense
Tackles: Stephon Fennell 70.5; Damion Dixon 64; Scott 43; Ben Gowens 43; Paul Harris 31; Dashon Dixon 26.5; Khalil Smith 26; Mannie Smith 22; Joey Lane 14; Dakota Cook 11.5; Troy Robertson 11.
Sacks: Stephon Fennell 3; Dashon Dixon 2; Kahlil Smith 2.
Interceptions: Paul Harris 2; Manie Smith 2; Troy Robertson 1; Damion Dixon, 1
Kicking:
Ty Smith 3-of-9 field goals, 39 long, made 21-of-25 extra points.