Blog

Jul 22, 2023

Yellow Jacket Football braces for tough 2023 slate

The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets got a rude welcome last year as they jumped up to Class 4-A. Coming off the team’s first state playoff win in almost 50 years the Jackets struggled to a 2-8 record

The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets got a rude welcome last year as they jumped up to Class 4-A. Coming off the team’s first state playoff win in almost 50 years the Jackets struggled to a 2-8 record and were 1-4 in region play.

Head coach Jared Zito knew the move up would be challenging and has spent the off season making sure the Jackets are bigger and stronger entering the 2023 season. The Jackets help get the season underway this Friday with a scrimmage game at South Effingham as Zito hopes to get a better gauge on where the team is and how they have improved.

“It’s important to see where we are against another opponent at full speed,” Zito said. “South Effingham is a physical team and well coached and will be a good challenge for us. The big thing for us is to evaluate a few key spots. We have a few spots where we have either players or a couple guys battling so that film from Friday will help us determine who will start next Friday in our season opener.”

The Jackets were hit by graduation at a few positions, but return plenty of starters on both sides of the ball. On offense, Zito’s optimism starts up front.

“I think our biggest strength is our offensive line,” Zito said. “I also feel like quarterback is solid for us. Will Nelson has done a fabulous job of adapting to what we are doing. I feel like we have a lot of depth at running back including Keon Taylor but it may be running back by committee. We don’t really have a superstar but I also don’t think there is a weakness on offense.”

Defensively, the Jackets lose some key members of last year’s team including Terry Mikell and Collin Jackson who both signed college scholarships as well as leading tackler Jontavious Scott and sack leader Damion Donaldson. Zito feels he has the personnel to fill the positions though and is excited to see them in action Friday.

“I really feel good about our defensive front,” Zito said. “Our two defensive ends in Forest Fretwell and Kennon Bacon look really good. Inside we have a four-man rotation going with some good competition going. Kyle O’Brien moved from safety to linebacker and has done a great job as has Chase Douglas and Colby Smith who were both freshmen last year and have really improved. Corey Wells anchors our secondary as well as Lane Alford, Brandon Wells and Chris Jones. We also have some young kids on that side of the ball who could see some playing time.”

Zito feels the key to a successful season won’t necessarily be winning the first few games of the season, but showing progress and performing better at the ed of games.

“We lost a lot of close games last year,” Zito said. “We need to find a way to pull out some of those games and learn from our trouble last year. We also need some momentum and confidence somehow early in the season. From the scrimmage into the Liberty County game and Statesboro we just need some positives and some areas of growth as we get into region play.”

The Jackets open the season August 18 on the road at Liberty County.