10 Years Ago
As we look foward to the 2006 edition of BC football I thought it would make me happier to look back at one of the best BC football teams of all time, the 1996 State Quarte-finalist. I was in 6th grade at the time and quite honestly could not appreciate how special that team was. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are very proud to be alumnus of BC. We may never see anything that can compare to the 1996 team again in our lifetime. What many will not recall is the lack of domination that the team experienced throughout the year. As good as they were, they struggled at times with not only region contenders but a couple of Savannah Schools as well. In some ways you can credit that to the programs such as Windsor and Beach who were capable of playing another sport outside of basketball. It is a shame to see the product these same schools put out today. However no one will forget an offense that included Tommy McNamara(Yale), all-everything Walter Simmons(Wake Forest), James Rahal(Georgia), Chris Williams(Navy), and a stout offensive line. All outstanding athletes who would eventually continue there careers at the next level in either football or basketball. But the story of the team was a defense that had 3 shut-outs and holding teams to just 7 points on 4 other occasions. Josh Mallard(Georgia) was the player for BC that a team has to have to make a run in the playoffs. Donald Joyce(Savannah State), Koncul(GA Tech), a very underrated Chris Mercer, Eamon Sheean(Yale), Billy Ray, and Donald Doan were some of the key cogs as well. Gene Dotson(Newberry) and Scott Shelton(GA Southern) formed without a doubt the best kicking tandem in the state. A team that was great throughout the season, but magical when it counted most.
Benedictine 46 - Johnson 0 : One of only two blowouts of the year.
Benedictine 17 - Windsor Forest 14 : Benedictine graduate Bobby Herman's son quarterbacked the Knights to a near upset as the Cadets escaped in the most exciting regular season game of the year.
Benedictine 28 - South Effingham 0 : BC cruises past a first year school from Guyton who had experienced no success in the programs brief history.
Beach 17 - Benedictine 10: A good Beach team upsets a very sloppy and seemingly lackluster BC team. A loss that might have very well been the key to the historical run the Cadets would follow with.
Benedictine 42 - Jenkins 7 : Good rebound between a surprising loss and the bye week.
Benedictine 21 - Bradwell 7 : The most anticipated game of the year as well as the best win coming in the Jungle. The game would be remembered as the one that Mallard changed numbers and played TE. This would be Bradwell's only loss until falling in the 2nd round of the State Playoffs to (Cough,Cough) Lowndes.
Benedictine 17 - Glynn 7 : A bad win on over a poor Glynn team that only obtained 2 wins in 2006. Blame it on the Homecoming festivities.
Benedictine 21 - Groves 0 : Another shutout in a result that was expected over an average Groves squad.
Benedictine 31 - Statesboro 21 : A sub-par performance by the defense was overshadowed by the best outing of the year for the offense and Walter Simmons. An opening kickoff returned for a Touchdown didn't hurt.
Benedictine 21 - Savannah High 7 : A night to honor the best class in recent memory went as expected.
1st Round State Playoffs : The first year of the current State Playoff format found a state powerhouse in Northside-Warner Robins coming to town. Northside was coming off 5 straight wins and had the region player of the year at QB. A defensive struggle ensued and in a game that many have said was the most exciting in school history, was tied at the end of regulation. The glorious OT format of Penetration granted BC a state playoff victory and the right to advance. Benedictine 11 - Northside 10
2nd Round State Playoffs: BC traveled to what eventually became one of the top 3 programs in the state during the 90's. Top-ranked and undefeated Lagrange had only played one game all year in which they did not win by at least double digits. Benedictine dominated the first half running an offense that had not been seen from the Cadets all year, the wishbone. However the tide turned with less than a minute left in the half, Cadets up by two scores and Gene Dotson punting. The half came to a close as Dotson's punt was blocked by a Bruce Thorton of LaGrange and recovered for a Touchdown. It seemed as if that play would change the entire outcome of the game. Yet, the offense came out in the 2nd Half and continued to move the ball while the sideline managed the time between plays inableing the Cadets to chew up as much time as possible. What ended up being the winning score, and one of the most memorable plays in school history, Tommy MacNamara fittingly ran a Belly Right QB keep 50 yards for a Touchdown as the Granger defense collapsed on Walter Simmons at the line of scrimmage. This deciding score would hold up as the Cadets defense held off a J.R. Revere led attack for the biggest win in BC history. Benedictine 24 - LaGrange 17
State Playoffs Quarter-finals: A week following the biggest win in school history, came the most heartbreaking. BC faced the Lowndes Vikings from "Winnersville U.S.A." The Vikings only loss up until this point was to the winningest program in the country and eventual state runner-up Valdosta Wildcats. Lowndes had D-I prospects dotting their entire roster. However, BC dominated the first half with a Donald Joyce interception leading to the 1st touchdown. Josh Mallard proved all night to be the best player on the field. Following a Mallard interception returned for a touchdown, eventual all-state kicker Scott Shelton missed the ensuing Extra-Point in front of the largest crowd Memorial Stadium had seen in over 20 years. As the world-class Lowndes Marching Vikings took the field for halftime, Cadets fans from all over the country were close to making plans to be in the Georgia Dome the following Friday. For some reason or another it wasn't meant to be. 6 Cadet turnovers kept Lowndes in the game and two of them would lead to Lowndes Touchdowns and 2 converted extra points. There would be no worse way to end a season like the Cadets did. It was a team that captivated not only the entire Benedictine community but the city and people state wide who saw an all boys, catholic, military school compete at that level. A statement by former BC coach Tommy Brackett following the loss summed up his feelings on his team and had to make all Cadets past, present and future pround: “We wanted to end it playing for a state championship, but we didn’t.“But if everyone went to work every day and gave it their all like these kids have at practice every day and every Friday night, this would be a much better world.” Lowndes 14- Benedictine 13
Benedictine 46 - Johnson 0 : One of only two blowouts of the year.
Benedictine 17 - Windsor Forest 14 : Benedictine graduate Bobby Herman's son quarterbacked the Knights to a near upset as the Cadets escaped in the most exciting regular season game of the year.
Benedictine 28 - South Effingham 0 : BC cruises past a first year school from Guyton who had experienced no success in the programs brief history.
Beach 17 - Benedictine 10: A good Beach team upsets a very sloppy and seemingly lackluster BC team. A loss that might have very well been the key to the historical run the Cadets would follow with.
Benedictine 42 - Jenkins 7 : Good rebound between a surprising loss and the bye week.
Benedictine 21 - Bradwell 7 : The most anticipated game of the year as well as the best win coming in the Jungle. The game would be remembered as the one that Mallard changed numbers and played TE. This would be Bradwell's only loss until falling in the 2nd round of the State Playoffs to (Cough,Cough) Lowndes.
Benedictine 17 - Glynn 7 : A bad win on over a poor Glynn team that only obtained 2 wins in 2006. Blame it on the Homecoming festivities.
Benedictine 21 - Groves 0 : Another shutout in a result that was expected over an average Groves squad.
Benedictine 31 - Statesboro 21 : A sub-par performance by the defense was overshadowed by the best outing of the year for the offense and Walter Simmons. An opening kickoff returned for a Touchdown didn't hurt.
Benedictine 21 - Savannah High 7 : A night to honor the best class in recent memory went as expected.
1st Round State Playoffs : The first year of the current State Playoff format found a state powerhouse in Northside-Warner Robins coming to town. Northside was coming off 5 straight wins and had the region player of the year at QB. A defensive struggle ensued and in a game that many have said was the most exciting in school history, was tied at the end of regulation. The glorious OT format of Penetration granted BC a state playoff victory and the right to advance. Benedictine 11 - Northside 10
2nd Round State Playoffs: BC traveled to what eventually became one of the top 3 programs in the state during the 90's. Top-ranked and undefeated Lagrange had only played one game all year in which they did not win by at least double digits. Benedictine dominated the first half running an offense that had not been seen from the Cadets all year, the wishbone. However the tide turned with less than a minute left in the half, Cadets up by two scores and Gene Dotson punting. The half came to a close as Dotson's punt was blocked by a Bruce Thorton of LaGrange and recovered for a Touchdown. It seemed as if that play would change the entire outcome of the game. Yet, the offense came out in the 2nd Half and continued to move the ball while the sideline managed the time between plays inableing the Cadets to chew up as much time as possible. What ended up being the winning score, and one of the most memorable plays in school history, Tommy MacNamara fittingly ran a Belly Right QB keep 50 yards for a Touchdown as the Granger defense collapsed on Walter Simmons at the line of scrimmage. This deciding score would hold up as the Cadets defense held off a J.R. Revere led attack for the biggest win in BC history. Benedictine 24 - LaGrange 17
State Playoffs Quarter-finals: A week following the biggest win in school history, came the most heartbreaking. BC faced the Lowndes Vikings from "Winnersville U.S.A." The Vikings only loss up until this point was to the winningest program in the country and eventual state runner-up Valdosta Wildcats. Lowndes had D-I prospects dotting their entire roster. However, BC dominated the first half with a Donald Joyce interception leading to the 1st touchdown. Josh Mallard proved all night to be the best player on the field. Following a Mallard interception returned for a touchdown, eventual all-state kicker Scott Shelton missed the ensuing Extra-Point in front of the largest crowd Memorial Stadium had seen in over 20 years. As the world-class Lowndes Marching Vikings took the field for halftime, Cadets fans from all over the country were close to making plans to be in the Georgia Dome the following Friday. For some reason or another it wasn't meant to be. 6 Cadet turnovers kept Lowndes in the game and two of them would lead to Lowndes Touchdowns and 2 converted extra points. There would be no worse way to end a season like the Cadets did. It was a team that captivated not only the entire Benedictine community but the city and people state wide who saw an all boys, catholic, military school compete at that level. A statement by former BC coach Tommy Brackett following the loss summed up his feelings on his team and had to make all Cadets past, present and future pround: “We wanted to end it playing for a state championship, but we didn’t.“But if everyone went to work every day and gave it their all like these kids have at practice every day and every Friday night, this would be a much better world.” Lowndes 14- Benedictine 13
Hopefully this team will be honored in some way or another to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of this magical and unforgettable season.
11-2 ; Sub-region Champions ; State Quarter-finalist
posted by JJBA | 7:11 PM
2 Comments:
Don't worry, the glory days will return. Certainly not this year, but give Herndon/Stroud about 4-5 years and every white athlete in Savannah will be going to BC again.
"You try the best you can and sometimes it works out and sometimes it don't."
- Conrad Nix, head coach, Northside - Warner Robins
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