The Statesboro Blue Devils are currently 1-3, but could easily be 3-1 if not for a couple of plays. The Blue Devils fought back last Friday from being down 21-6 by scoring a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Two missed extra points ending up being the difference in a victory over one of the top teams in the region.

Head coach Matt Dobson was quick to point out it was not a moral victory, but he was proud of the fight the team showed in battling back, and is encouraged by what he has seen on the field and in the locker room.

“We challenged our guys last week and they responded from a physicality standpoint,” Dobson said. “We feel like Glynn Academy was a good, physical football team and the fact that we matched their physicality was a great sign. We feel like if we can carry that same intensity and physicality the rest of the year we will be in a good spot.”

 The Blue Devils actually outgained the Red Terrors slightly on offense. Dobson felt the game came down to adjustments by both coaching staffs and a couple big plays by Glynn Academy.

“They made a few adjustments in the third quarter including replacing their quarterback,” Dobson said. “They hit us with a trick play with the option pass for a touchdown, and they also scored after they blocked a punt and got the ball inside the five-yard line. We made adjustments to their adjustments and outscored them in the fourth. We just were unable to finish things off.”

This week the Blue Devils welcome in a 1-3 Bradwell team who has struggled to score, and have been unable to slow opponents down much. They are averaging only 11 points per game and have not scored more than two touchdowns in a game. On defense they are giving up 34 points per contest.

Last year the Blue Devils lost a wild 28-25 game in Hinesville in which a pair of Blue Devils touchdowns were called back and there were five personal fouls called against Statesboro players. Dobson is thankful to have this year’s game at Womack Field and says the players remember what happened last year and are prepared for the Tigers this time around.

“They have struggled the last few weeks and it is important for us to get off to a fast start and try and put some doubt in their minds,” Dobson said. “We can’t let them hang around like we did last year, although there were some pretty crazy circumstances that happed last year. Hopefully we can keep our intensity we showed last week and carry that into this week.”

Statesboro and Bradwell are scheduled for a 7:30 start Friday at Womack Field.