As a rule, Bryan County’s football games with Portal are close and not decided until the closing minutes.
Last Friday night’s Region 3A-DII game stuck to the script as the Redskins (3-1, 2-0) pulled out a 42-35 win to set up a region showdown this Friday night with Emanuel County Institute (2-2, 2-0). ECI pulled out a 35-34 win over Jenkins County last Friday night.
The win over the Panthers was more dominant than the final score indicated, said Coach Cherard Freeman who is now 28-28 in his sixth season at Bryan County. He needs one more win to become the school’s winningest coach surpassing Ron Lewis who was 28-93 in 12 seasons.
“It actually was not as close as the final score,” Freeman said. “It was ugly but we got the win and that’s all that mattered.
“We fumbled the ball going in on their one-yard line and again on the five-yard line,” Freeman said. “Then they got a touchdown on a scoop and score from about 40 yards when we fumbled.
“They scored after the other two fumbles, too, as they drove the ball down the field,” Freeman said. “One thing that helped us though was we had no penalties on offense which was good to see.”
Despite those miscues the Redskins ran for an incredible 500 yards led by Ger’bravion Collins who had 234 yards on 18 carries that produced three touchdowns. Anddreas McKinny added 174 yards on 16 carries, scoring once. Junior Eli Koskela had two touchdowns as he picked up 45 yards on eight attempts. It marked the second straight game seniors Collins and McKinny had topped the 100-yard mark.
Will Summerford continued to give the Redskins special teams a big lift as he converted all six of his extra point attempts. Summerford, a senior playing his first year of football, has now made all 14 of his extra point attempts.
ECI will provide a sterner test as the Bulldogs used a 35-34 win over then No. 9 Jenkins County last Friday night to jump into the No. 10 spot in this week’s Class A-DII rankings by the AJC. ECI stopped a Warriors two-point conversion attempt in the final attempt to preserve the win.
The Bulldogs have dominated the Redskins over the years as they own a 20-1 advantage in the series. Bryan County’s lone win over ECI came in 2000.
Portal led 17-14 at the half but Bryan County struck for two touchdowns in the third quarter for a 28-23 lead going into the fourth and tacked on two more touchdowns to hold the Panthers at bay.
“We moved the football at will,” Freeman said. “Our offensive line did a really good job.
“The guys are blocking their primary man and learning the rules on blocking,” Freeman said when asked what was the biggest improvement he’s seeing in his team. “They’re playing harder and the defense is playing well.
“Offensively we’re just really starting to get an understanding of everything now. The goal is to get better each week and I think we’re all right there together.”
While giving up 35 points and saying his team played good defense may sound like an oxymoron Freeman said his team made crucial stops when it had to, citing senior safety Ryan Harrington as having an especially good night.
“Portal is not a bad team,” Freeman said. “They moved the ball on us but Harrington had a heckuva night. He made some key tackles at the goal line and made good plays on a couple of passes.
“Our linebackers, Eli Koskela and (freshman) Banks White played well, too. What hurt us was the fumbles. We can’t do that against ECI.”
The region standings: Bryan County (3-1, 2-0), ECI (2-2, 2-0), Screven County (3-0, 1-0), Metter (2-1, 1-0), McIntosh County Academy (2-2, 1-1), Jenkins County (2-2, 1-1), Claxton (0-4, 0-2), Savannah (0-3, 0-2), Portal (1-3, 0-2).
This week’s games: Screven at MCA, Portal at Metter, Claxton at Jenkins County, Savannah open.