Pads will be popping and bodies will be flying along Westside Road tonight when Bulloch Academy hosts long-time rival Robert Toombs Christian Academy.
    “It’s a big grudge match,” said BA head coach Terence Hennessy. “Robert Toombs is a big rivalry for us.” The Crusaders (1-1) have won the past two meetings between the teams — 43-34 in 2014 and 27-6 in 2013 — and the Gators could be in danger of losing three in a row to the Lyons squad.
    But, according to Hennessy, five young men will be the difference.
    “If our offensive line can have a good game,” he said, “I am confident that we will win.”
    Center Braxton Brinson, guards Seth Conner and Will Kauber and tackles Trevor Mason and Thomas Bowen have impressed the BA headman so far this season.
    “They are finally getting comfortable and learning more and more what to do in certain situations,” he said. “I was really impressed with Braxton’s play last week against Windsor. He was playing head up against a guy who is supposed to be a Division I prospect. Braxton handled him almost every play.”
    Bulloch (2-0) has pounded its first two opponents by a combined score of 80-7 and emotions are running high in Gator Alley.
    “We took care of business in the first two games,” said Hennessy. “We will have to step up our game a lot more Friday night. If we are able to do that, I think we have a great opportunity to be 3-0.”
    Hard-hitting fullback Tyce Lovett leads the Gator ground game with 198 yards and two scores on 22 carries. Fleet-footed tailback Tyler Budgett has 152 and four scores on 10 touches while shifty-and-sly quarterback Lanier Olliff has 121 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Olliff has also completed five passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Hunter Perry has been the big-play maker, catching three balls for 170 yards and the scores.
    But the potent offense will face a good Crusader defense.
    “They run out of a 50 series,” said Hennessy. “Sometimes a 5-3, a 5-2 or even a 5-1. There is a lot of man coverage. Bump-and-run type which makes it hard to get off the line of scrimmage. The free safety is 15 to 20 yards deep every play so they are not going to get beat in the middle.”
    Defensively, the Gators have given up seven points in two games and an average of 109 yards on the ground.
    Perry and Brandon Merrill are the team’s leading tacklers (17) while Lovett has 16. Hennessy is not really sure what his defensive Gators may face tonight.
    “Against PCA, they threw the ball more…probably 70-30,” he said. “Against Southland, they ran the ball more with three of four different guys. Actually, they were really effective running the ball last week.”
    Hennessy sees a lot of similarities between the two clubs.
    “They are a lot like us,” he said. “Both have good skill players, pretty talented in the secondary but a little inexperienced on the line.”