After an abbreviated spring practice, Coach Mario Mincey liked what he saw during Bryan County’s recent football scrimmage.
The Redskins hosted Savannah Country Day for the controlled scrimmage, scoring twice while giving up three touchdowns.
“The players are learning new offensive and defensive systems, but they played hard,” he said. “I was really happy with the passing game, and when that works, it opens things up for you on the ground.”
Bryan County’s scores came on a 20-yard run by Yadevern Eason and a 25-yard pass from Gage Hagan to Traivaun Sanders. Mincey said he was also happy with Antonio Johnson’s play on defense at safety.
“We got better in the second half, which is a good sign,” Mincey said. “The guys have been putting in a lot of effort with conditioning.”
Bryan County, among the smaller schools in Region 2-AA, often ran up against teams with bigger rosters last season and ran out of gas late in games.
Although the Redskins did not have a full spring regimen, they will not be allowed to hold a second scrimmage. GHSA rules state that teams holding spring ball can have one scrimmage in August, while teams that do not have spring practice are allowed two scrimmages.
Bryan County started spring practices in early May under Coach Tony Glazer, who had accepted the position in late April, but had to cut the workouts short after Glazer eventually decided not to take the job. Mincey was then named interim head coach.
“We checked with the GHSA, but they said any part of spring ball counts, so we have to stick with just the one scrimmage,” Mincey said. “That’s OK though, because it gave us a lot of build on.”
Mincey said the team’s focus now is on working to get better.
“What I really like is seeing the older guys working with the younger guys,” he said. “They’re teaching them how to do things and they have a great attitude.”
Mincey also said he was pleased with the freshmen and sophomores who participated in the junior varsity scrimmage.
“There’s some real promise there for the future,” he said.
Bryan County opens the 2017 season on Aug. 24 against Beach High School at Savannah Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.