2+ day, 10+ hour ago (312+ words) Old Dominion football spoiled Senior Day for Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Paulson Stadium in a 45-10 Sun Belt Conference win for the Monarchs. The Monarchs improved to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Sun Belt with the victory, while Georgia Southern fell to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the league. The Eagles will wrap up the 2025 regular season next Saturday, traveling to Marshall for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Huntington, W. Va., needing a win over the Thundering Herd to earn bowl eligibility for a fourth consecutive season. Old Dominion scored on its first five drives of the contest to build a 31-0 lead at halftime as the Monarchs rushed for 202 yards and three scores before intermission. After the Monarchs scored a touchdown on their first possession of the second half, the Eagles got on the board on a 26-yard field goal by'Tripp Bryant. The scoring drive…...

3+ day, 6+ hour ago (444+ words) For Coach Dobson, that defiant push was the season, and the program, in microcosm. When asked about what that drive meant in terms of resilience, character, and culture, Dobson has this to say: That's who they are as people," Dobson said after the game. "They're not going to quit no matter what happens in life. The lessons they've learned through our football program will go a long way. They just exhibit our core character: mental toughness, physical toughness, when we are down, we fight, and never stop." The undeniable headline of the 2024 Statesboro season is the program's first winning record in 13 years. Dobson was visibly moved when discussing the significance of this achievement, placing the credit squarely on his players. Looking ahead to the offseason, Dobson is clear on the next step for Statesboro, acknowledging the need for offensive consistency…...

4+ day, 12+ hour ago (776+ words) The Statesboro Blue Devils are one win away from their deepest playoff run in 15 years, but to get there, they'll have to take down one of the most consistent postseason programs in Georgia high school football. Statesboro travels to College Park on Friday night to meet the Woodward Academy War Eagles in a Class 5A second-round battle that pairs momentum against experience. Friday marks just the third all-time meeting between the two programs and the first in 23 years. The series is tied 11, with Statesboro winning the most recent matchup in the 2001 first round, 357. Much has changed since then, but the stakes this time are just as high: the winner advances to the quarterfinals, where both schools hope to return for the first time since 2023. Statesboro enters the game fresh off a 3628 road win over Habersham Central, a performance defined by physical…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (219+ words) Georgia Southern University will introduce its new bald eagle mascot, Freedom II, during Saturday's football matchup against Coastal Carolina University at Allen E. Paulson Stadium (6 p.m. kickoff). Steve Hein, executive director of the Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center, began working with Freedom II to assess and potentially improve her vision. Training centered on trust-building and behavior shaping, progressing slowly over several years as Hein hoped she could one day succeed the original Freedom as the University's iconic game-day eagle. In April 2025, Freedom II underwent a full vision re-evaluation " and the results were stunning. Tests showed that the damage to her optic nerves had unexpectedly healed, and she was officially cleared for flight. With that news, her training intensified, renewing hopes that she will eventually soar over Paulson Stadium. As part of the Wildlife Center's mission,…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (462+ words) The Statesboro Blue Devils begin their quest for a state title on the road this Friday, November 14, 2025, as they travel to face the Habersham Central Raiders in the first round of the GHSA Class 5A State Playoffs. This matchup is a study in symmetry: both teams enter the playoffs with identical 7-3 records and both are coming off heartbreaking losses that snapped five-game winning streaks. This promises a high-stakes battle where discipline and the ability to rebound will be paramount. Both Statesboro and Habersham Central were riding high before falling short of region titles. As Head Coach Matt Dobson noted, the teams have "very similar" seasons, making this a true toss-up. The Blue Devils enter following a dramatic 42-41 overtime loss to Effingham County, a game where Statesboro surged from a 15-point deficit only to be undone by a missed extra point. Habersham…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (862+ words) The George Walton Bulldogs defeated the Bulloch Academy Gators 27-17 in Statesboro on Friday evening. George Walton Academy received the ball first. Senior running back Zack Wolf got the Bulldogs" offense started with a carry that was stopped just short of a first down. Junior quarterback AJ Dillard picked up the first on a quarterback keeper. Afterwards senior receiver Samuel Elvington carried the ball that was just short of a first. Dillard picked it up on the next play. After they moved the sticks, Dillard dropped back but was met'by senior linebacker/running back Danye Garvin who forced him to throw the ball away. Just when the Bulldogs were in trouble, Dillard dropped back and completed a pass to senior Jackson Wells who ran for a touchdown after the catch. GWA went for two with a run, but they were stopped'just…...

3+ week, 22+ hour ago (469+ words) The Bulloch Academy Gators stormed into the midpoint of their 2025 season with a 41 record, demonstrating their ability to win through physical running, timely defensive plays, and a relentless attitude under head coach Aaron Phillips. The Statesboro High School Blue Devils, led by head coach Matthew Dobson, have built their season on resilience, discipline, and physicality. After opening the year 32 overall and 11 in Region 1AAAAA, the Blue Devils surged through the back half of their schedule to secure a top playoff seed and a return to postseason contention. The Blue Devils notched key wins early, including a 2110 victory over Southeast Bulloch in their season opener and a 4228 region win over Greenbrier, powered by four rushing touchdowns from senior Keon Childers. Statesboro showed grit in a 3828 comeback victory over Bradwell Institute, rallying from a 13-point deficit in the second half. The Southeast Bulloch…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (678+ words) The Blue Devils' five-game win streak has been a result of a strong defense focused on creating turnovers. Coach Dobson stressed the importance of winning the turnover battle, stating, "We've done a good job taking the football away most of the year. We have to do a good job with that tomorrow night." The theme for the week has been "Carpe diem and seizing the moment," a message Coach Dobson has drilled into his team. For Senior Night, the focus is on the team's motto, "Best effort, love, and toughness," knowing that their veteran leaders will keep the team focused on the high stakes: "Our guys have just bought in, their team-first guys, and they want our team success over anything else." Coach Dobson highlighted the crucial, but often unheralded, leadership from the offensive and defensive lines, pointing out seniors…...