For the second consecutive year, the Statesboro Blue Devils faced rivals Burke County in the Erk Russell Classic.
     Due to inclement weather and lightning strikes, the game started at 9:30 p.m., instead of the scheduled 8 p.m. start time. Despite the delay, the Blue Devils were ready to come out and prove they were a better team than last year’s 2-8 record indicated.
     However, the Bears came prepared with a bit of lightning of their own, giving the Blue Devils a heavy dose of the ground game along with a 20-7 loss for SHS.
     The Blue Devils were not able to avenge a 12-0 loss to the Bears last season in the Erk Russell Classic.
     BCHS ran for over 300 yards as a team. Starting quarterback Caleeb Roberson had a big chunk of the team’s rushing yardage, running for 159 yards on 25 attempts.
     Leading the way on the ground for Statesboro was senior Mahlon Williams. Williams ran for 105 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
     The game started out fast with Burke County’s 3-5 defense delivering some heavy hits early.
    After Statesboro turned the ball over on downs in their opening drive, Burke County started the game with a run-heavy up-tempo offense, scoring on their first drive of the game.
     The Bears used a host of running backs for its opening drive with Roberson going in on a 3-yard touchdown with 3:39 left to play in the first quarter. The Bears botched the ensuing extra-point attempt to go up 6-0.
     The Blue Devils tried to gain some momentum on its next possession. Transfer quarterback Xavier Hollmon hit a 17-yard strike to Tupac Lanier, however, the play was erased due to a block in the back penalty, eventually stalling the Blue Devils' drive.
     Burke County scored on its next possession as Keenan Parker would go in for a 10-yard touchdown with 3:47 left in the second quarter.
     The Blue Devils defense began to clamp down, coming up with a few big stops late. With 48 seconds left to play till halftime and Burke County threatening to break the game open, Statesboro stopped the Bears on fourth down at the 16-yard line to preserve a 14-0 score.
     In the third quarter, Parker scored once again on an 8-yard run to the endzone, pushing the Bears’ lead to 20-0.
     Statesboro’s offense struggled to move the ball on the ground against a stingy Bear defense, but Williams finally broke a big one in the third quarter. Williams ran up the middle, then broke three tackles on an 83-yard touchdown run with 3:25 left to play in the third quarter.
     That would be the last time the Blue Devils would reach the endzone, as Statesboro dropped to 0-1 on the season.
     The Blue Devils will have some time to rest and regroup for its next game against Wayne County on the road Sept. 4.