In Countdown to Kickoff, WALB Sports’ Aaron Meaux and McKenzie Blaze break down everything you need to know before football season in South Georgia. Watch LIVE and view previous episodes on WALB.com, the WALB News 10 app and on streaming apps at 7 p.m. every weekday from July 28 to Aug. 12.

SOUTH GEORGIA (WALB) — Before the football talk begins, there is something heavier to acknowledge.

Brenton Truitt, the son of Randolph Clay head coach Charles Truitt and a member of the Red Devils coaching staff, was killed in a car accident. He was 29. Coach Truitt is away from the team as his family grieves. Players and coaches said their response has been to draw closer together, to encourage each other, and to carry forward the love they have for their coach, their teammates and one another.

“Really was sad,” one player said. “Like, everybody, we had to come closer together. Like, cheer each other on, make each other feel good about each other. But we knew Coach loved it, and he knew he wanted us to do better. And this year was going to be the year we were going to do better.”

Randolph-Clay Red Devils

Assistant coach and offensive coordinator Billy Glanton is filling in for Coach Truitt. He described a group built on collective production rather than individual stars, with an identity rooted in establishing the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

“When you see us play, or you get a chance to see us play, just look for us to be a physical ball club,” Glanton said.

The defensive front returns most of last year’s group. The offensive line features familiar faces alongside new pieces, and depth is a stated priority. Glanton said the program believes it has more than one or two players capable of creating an edge.

At quarterback, Rae’Shawn Clyde is the likely starter, though the competition is not final. Derrek Lewis gives the staff a pocket-passing option. Glanton said both bring different tools, and the offense could deploy Clyde at receiver with Lewis under center as the season progresses.

Clyde described the offense as a “well-oiled machine” and named running backs Jeremiah Starling and KJ Johnson — whom he called “big backs who can wear down the pack” — as key contributors to an expected balanced attack.

Glanton named Starling, KJ Johnson, Tyre Smith and Clyde as players to watch. On defense, the message is organized aggression. Johnson’s stated objective was simple: get all 11 players to the football. Players have also pointed to off-field chemistry — spending time together away from practice — as a factor in the defense’s cohesion.

Glanton used one word to describe the Red Devils: family.

Randolph-Clay opens the regular season Aug. 21 at Hardaway, followed by a home game Aug. 28 against Turner County and a road trip to Mitchell County on Sept. 4.

Baconton Charter Blazers

Head coach Jermaine King said the energy from a four-game winning streak to close 2025 is still visible in the locker room heading into 2026. After opening last year with five consecutive losses, the Blazers want to carry that finish into a fast start.

“Kids are still excited about the way we ended the season last year,” King said. “And hopefully, we’ll just start the season off the way we ended it.”

Returning quarterback Kayden Logue leads an offense King described as running a 60-40 pass-run split. Three running backs — Braylen Hundley, Mason Jones and Ditrace Carolina — give the staff options in the backfield. King said the formula is as straightforward as football gets: run it well and stop the run.

The offensive line — featuring Logan Hooks, Ashton Golden and Caleb McCorkle — has grown together and is expected to be among the team’s most improved units. King said continuity up front creates holes, and holes create opportunities for explosive backs.

On defense, Karson Harrell anchors the middle, with Ziroc West in the secondary. Kerry Williford and Q Peterson return on the defensive line, giving Baconton its most experienced unit. King said the program is still searching for a vocal leader to complement those who lead by example.

The Blazers open Aug. 21 at home against Southland, followed by road games at Pelham and Brookwood.

Southwest Georgia STEM Charter Aggies

First-year head coach Harvey Smith is starting with fundamentals: strength in the weight room, blocking, tackling, communication and alignment. His stated offensive benchmark is a three-yard push up front capable of producing four to five yards per play.

“We’re really just trying to focus on fundamentals,” Smith said. “Trying to get strong in the weight room. Working on blocking and tackling. Running to the football. Communicating on defense. Make sure everybody knows where they’re lined up and how to execute the job they’re supposed to do on that play.”

The quarterback competition remains between Kason King and Tyhron Currington. Smith said both are dedicated leaders who are first in the building and last to leave. He said he is equally confident in both players.

Defensively, Smith is installing a top-down scheme — keeping everything in front of the safeties, preventing big plays and making offenses earn every yard. He wants the unit to minimize mistakes, clean up penalties and build connectivity from the defensive line through the linebackers and into the secondary.

Smith’s opening night test comes Aug. 21 at home against Rock Springs Christian Academy. Non-region games at Brookwood and Scintilla Charter follow, giving the new staff a window to measure growth before the region schedule intensifies.

Calhoun County Cougars

Head coach Deshon Brock used one word to describe his team: surprising. The Cougars have added numbers, depth on the line and more athletes. His message, he said, is simple: underestimate them at your own risk.

“I think there’s going to be some teams that come in and underestimate us and think, oh, they’re just Calhoun County — put them as homecoming,” Brock said. “And thank you for doing that, because we’re going to show up.”

The Cougars transitioned from eight-man football in recent years and now field an 11-man roster with growing depth. Brock sees two dual-threat quarterbacks — Omorion Guilford and EJ Worthy— with strong arms and leadership qualities. He said one may play under center while the other lines up at receiver, fitting a stated up-tempo, multi-formational offensive identity.

Brock wants the offense to dictate tempo — running if the box is light, going over the top if the defense stacks the line. On defense, linebackers RJ Brown and Quinton Edwards are the confidence point, with an 11-hats-to-the-ball mentality expected from every player.

“We want them to be aggressive. We want them to be violent,” Brock said.

Calhoun County opens Aug. 21 at Pelham, followed by an Aug. 28 matchup against Southwest Georgia Academy. Road games at Kendrick and a home matchup against Sherwood — which is moving to 11-man football — rounding out the early non-region schedule.

Terrell County Green Wave

Art Anderson takes over as head coach in Dawson, the third head coach at Terrell County in three years. The Green Wave have not finished above .500 since 2021 and won three games across the past two seasons combined.

Anderson said he has been reaching out to churches and community members since taking the job, framing the rebuild as a community-wide effort. He said his players have been working since June 1 and that the progress in the weight room is already visible. He pointed to defensive end Jaleen Calloway’s 405-pound squat as one example.

“All we got to do is just keep pushing forward, keep getting better, and keep having the community behind us so we can just be successful,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he wants multi-sport athletes and is focused on year-round habits — attendance, strength and discipline — as the foundation of a culture change. He named the Huckabee brothers as players who are already setting that tone. His stated standard for the team is relentlessness and discipline through all four quarters.

Terrell County opens Aug. 21 on the road at Chattahoochee County, followed by back-to-back home games against Scintilla Charter and Jordan before the region schedule begins.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, Instagram and X. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.