Bulloch Academy is going after the state football championship

A 20-14 win Friday against Brookstone propelled the Bulloch Academy Gators to their first state championship appearance since winning the title back in 1997. Bulloch Academy (11-0) will now battle First Presbyterian Day (11-1) on Saturday night at 8 for the GIAA Class 4-A championship.

On Friday, the Gators dominated the Cougars for about 46 minutes before a couple of wild plays made the final score look a little closer than it was. Head coach Aaron Phillips would rather forget about the last few minutes and focus on how well the Gators played for the majority of the contest.

“It’s disappointing what happened in the last two minutes or so because our defense played great for almost the entire game,” Phillips said. “They made the long touchdown on fourth and long, and it was like we forgot how to play a little bit there. With the exception of the last two minutes and change, I think it was the best we’ve seen on defense all season. I was also proud of how our offense responded after struggling through the first quarter. I think we were actually excited to want to beat them that hard after what happened last year, but we settled down and made some big plays.”

The Gators opened the season with a 19-18 win over Portal in the Erk Russell Classic at Paulson Stadium, and Phillips admits the coaches and players were already thinking how sweet it would be to eventually play in Paulson again. of the year.

“Outside the walls of our program, we didn’t advertise one of our goals, which was to start and finish the season in Paulson Stadium,” Phillips said. “We’re the only team in the state that had that opportunity and I think it’s pretty cool. To go back there and play again is kind of surreal. Playing in the Erk Russell Classic with coach Russell running what we’re running offensively, is special and unique. To be in our hometown and be able to say we’re playing for a championship in our own backyard is just a dream come true.”

The last time a state championship was played at Paulson Stadium was Dec. 2, 2005, when Statesboro High beat Northside-Warner Robins 13-10 to win the 4-A state title.

While this will be the first state championship appearance for the Gators in 27 years, the team they are up against is more used to the season coming into this game. FPD won the state title last season, knocking off Brookstone 44-24. They come in with an 11-1 record and shut out Bethlehem Christian 34-0 last week at home.

“FPD will be playing in their second straight state championship game,” Phillips said. “They’ve got a great staff over there and coach Brett Collier is doing a great job. Those kids are coming after it and they’re going to be the best team we’ve played this year. They’re not going to blow you away with athletes of size and Division 1, but they have a bunch of guys who believe in what they’re doing and some pretty athletic playmakers.”

Bulloch Academy averages over 35 points per game while allowing just over seven points per game. competition. The Vikings average 30 points per game. match and gives up 11 per match.

While the Gators haven’t been on this kind of stage in over 25 years, Phillips says he feels his senior leadership will help pull them through.

“The 14 seniors we have this year, and the other guys as well, haven’t really been under the bright lights too much,” Phillips said. “Handling that will be a big key Saturday night and I think they’re ready for that. We don’t really know the guys we’re going up against and they don’t know us. I think it will be an advantage for us that we don’t see it, we drive a lot. I’m excited for the atmosphere and to have a chance for our kids to play one more time.”

Bulloch Academy and First Presbyterian kick off at 8 p.m. Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.