Bulloch County Fall Sports Preview: Yellow Jackets look ahead to promising season

Thank you, readers, for your patience while we catch up on news that was delayed by our coverage of Tropical Storm Debby.

Unfortunately, summer vacation is coming to an end, but that just means the lights will shine brightly again on Friday nights, the cool weather will return, and most importantly, we will hear the roaring crowds of our sports fans again. To get the community excited and ready for our fall sports season, we here at Grice Connect felt it was important to visit each and every school and ask each head coach their thoughts on what's to come.

In previous interviews, teams trained hard over the summer so they could play in cooler weather in the fall. In the fall sports previews, we asked all the coaches the same questions to keep them as short and easy to read as possible.

For this part of our autumn sports preview we spoke to Coach Jared Zito with the Yellow Jackets of Southeast Bulloch. To avoid not only the heat but also the thunderstorms, the Yellow Jackets have tried to practice early in the morning and at one of Georgia Southern's facilities.

GC: What do you think about your team at the moment?

Coach JZ: I mean, right now I really can't ask for more. We have a really good group of kids that are good guys and have worked really hard. This offseason, they've done a good job this summer and had great participation. We've had four practices so far and it's what I expected.

My first year here, we were really talented and experienced and had a really good season. The next few years we were kind of in a rebuilding phase in terms of how young players play. And last year we were pretty young. But then we started a new region. So I thought we were going to be pretty good because of the guys we brought back with the number of experienced seniors and juniors that were on the field.

Obviously we're back in the AAA division and that helps us a little bit. And then I thought our offseason weight room numbers were really good. We are probably one of the strongest teams I have ever had, maybe even.

GC: When you look at the teams you're playing against this year, how are you feeling going into this season? Does it feel different than any other season?

JZ: I mean, obviously, without disparaging our current schedule, the region we've been in the last few years with teams like Benedictine Military School, Wayne County, Burke and New Hampstead, those top four teams have been, you know, the slightly bigger schools, really good programs. When we look at the schedule this season, obviously we'll be playing the non-region game against Statesboro and we haven't beaten them yet, so we have to respect them.

And then of course there's Calvary Day, Liberty, Long County and Jenkins County that really stand out to me. I think they're really well coached. They had a really good run last year, so you have to watch every player.

Up front, you have Statesboro and Calvary Day, a really good private school. Obviously, Jenkins County won two rounds last year and Long County will be tough, they have a great coaching staff, as does Liberty. You never know what to expect. Every year it seems to be an uphill battle playing them. They've beaten us twice in the last three years.

So you know we're going to play nine regional games. Personally, I like that. I'd rather play and make it all count and see what happens at the end.

GC: Which player or players do you think have improved since last season?

JZ: One that stands out to me the most when it comes to improved progress is the junior running back/linebacker Jayden Murphy.

Jaydenyou know, played a little bit of linebacker and a little bit of running back for us last year. He came to us late, transferring from Statesboro. He went to several schools and was really behind last year. And I'll tell you, in the middle of this offseason, he really, really changed everything about himself as far as his attitude, his work ethic, the way he goes about his job day in and day out.

Throughout the middle of the spring semester, through spring practice, through the summer, and all week, he's been spectacular. He hasn't missed a day all summer. He has a real chance to be a force for us at outside linebacker and running back. So he's probably the first guy that jumps out to me in terms of improvement. He's probably the only guy that jumps out to me right now in terms of improvement from one year to the next.

GC: Which team do you like to play against the most?

JZ: I'm excited to be out there on a Friday night. You only get 10 guaranteed games a year. 10 chances to show what your players have worked hard for all season. You get 10 opportunities to go out there and watch your kids hopefully execute plans and play at a high level with effort, energy and physicality.

You know, the game is never really exciting because you're training or you're worrying and you have a million things on your mind. The exciting thing is at the end of the game when the kids have done everything you asked of them and you see them grow up and play hard and play together and achieve their goals. That's the most exciting thing.

The kids will probably tell you they are excited to play against Statesboro, but they are experienced now and old enough to compete with the best.

GC: How do you motivate your team?

JZ: I always try to get the kids excited about a few things. It's bigger than football. Yes, it's a great sport. And the best thing about football is that it's not for everyone. It's hard, it's difficult and it's challenging. There are disappointments, there are ups and downs.

It really goes hand in hand with life and you learn a lot from it. That's why I always tell our team it's more than football, it's about the process. Yes, hopefully you play because you love the game. You can't just turn up on Friday night and expect to be good if you haven't had a journey.

My most important sermon for our team is: It's not about you, It's not about the coaches, It's about all of us. It's a real team sport. In other sports, there's a dominant shooting guard or pitcher, but football is all about teamwork. You can't win with just a few dominant players.

And so my consent to them is one, be selfless. Take care of your neighbor and be a great teammate, understand that all these things you experience in football will help you in life. Hopefully this will be reflected in the results on the pitch.

GC: In which areas do you want to improve this season?

JZ: Offensively, we want to develop more explosive plays. Statistically, the two things that most determine victory or defeat are turnovers and explosive plays. We need to develop more explosive plays, whether it's in the shooting or running game.

Number two, our quarterback swap. We want to be better in third and long/third and long situations, throwing the football and being able to get first downs when we need to.

On defense, firstly, we want to get better at losing the ball. We want to get the ball away better. Secondly, we want to tackle better, especially in the open field. And thirdly, we are always looking for the physically strongest defensive players.

GC: Do you seem stronger on offense or defense?

JZ: I think we are very balanced on both sides of the football right now. Right now we have four sophomores starting for us, last year they were freshmen. They are getting more experience. We have a strong offensive line and backfield and a strong front line defense. Unfortunately we lost our star kicker/punter Cole Snyder last season who graduated, but I am happy with the progress the three guys are making to fill that void.

GC: What do you think are the key factors for a player’s success on and off the field?

JZ: They have to love it, and they have to be committed to it and do the right thing. Even when it's hard. I think number one, we always tell our players, is show up first thing. You have to be here and you have to be here on time. I mean, that gets you an entry, it gets you a starting spot.

The second thing you have to do is know what to do. That means you have to study film, you have to study our playbook or you have to really pay attention to what we're doing, mental replays and reviews.

Thirdly, you have to play with great commitment. After that, it depends on who is the best player and who gets the chance to succeed.

You have to be here to play. You have to know how to play to perform. If a talented guy can do all of those things, he becomes elite. If they show up and do everything that's asked of them, but aren't as talented as others, over time they become a program star.

GC: What do you like most about coaching?

JZ: I love watching kids grow into young men. I love when a team comes together for the same goals and everyone pulls together and holds each other accountable and looks forward to playing for each other. You know, everyone talks about Friday nights and Friday nights are fun. And when you win, Friday nights are fun for a very short time because you can restart and do it again.

I love it. I love to practice. I love the weight room. I love watching kids work to get better and coaching kids and they're coachable and respond. That part is really exciting. Winning is exciting for everybody, and it's exciting for me, but it's such a small amount of time compared to all the time we spend preparing for that win.

GC: Is there anything you would like to say to the district to prepare them for this season?

JZ: Look out for the Yellow Jackets this year. There are a lot of old-fashioned values ​​and traditions in this area. We have a great history with Coach Shaver's state championship wins in 1972 and 1973.

The last two years have been a little rough, but be happy for our kids and come out. Be there early on Friday night and show it loud and proud. These kids want nothing more than for people to fill the stands and play in front of them.