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Bulldogs' opponents had a combined winning record in '22

gil pound, the union-recorder, milledgeville, ga.
·5 min read

Jun. 28—A new era of Georgia Military College Prep School football kicks off this year.

Head coach Bobby Rhoades, former offensive coordinator at Pepperell High School in northwest Georgia, will lead the Bulldogs onto historic Davenport Field this August. The 2022 team finished 4-7 in what was former head coach Lee Coleman's final season. It marked the program's third consecutive playoff berth, which was a streak GMC Prep football had not accomplished in two decades.

Following the season, Coleman departed to accept the head job at Lakeview Academy, a Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) school, in his hometown of Gainesville. Rhoades was brought in to take the helm.

Here's a look at his first slate of opponents, one that went a combined 58-56 last season. That record does not take into account GMC Prep's two preseason scrimmage foes.

Fans get their first glimpse of the Bulldogs Aug. 4 in a scrimmage against East Laurens High School, which will make the short trip to Milledgeville for the dress rehearsal. The GHSA allows for two scrimmages, and GMC Prep will take advantage the following week at Montgomery County, returning the favor from a year ago.

Records count from that point forward. The regular season kicks off Aug. 18 when Wheeler County comes to town. Wheeler, a fellow Class A Division 2 school, won last year's bout handily 42-14 on its way to a 5-5 regular season record.

Week 2 continues the series against ACE Charter of Macon, a program that has only been in existence since 2018. The Bulldogs took the first four meetings, but the Gryphons showed great improvement in 2022 and defeated GMC 29-15 on Davenport Field. ACE went on to post an 8-3 record, losing in the first round of the AA playoffs. This year's GMC Prep-ACE meeting will be in Macon Aug. 25.

Last year's season-opening losing streak rolled on in the 27-16 home loss to Brentwood, the Sandersville GIAA member. The 'Dogs will try for revenge on the road Sept. 1. The War Eagles last season went on to finish as AA state runner-up in the GIAA behind Central Fellowship.

What figures to be a difficult stretch of the schedule continues Sept. 8 against visiting Washington-Wilkes. Last year's bout was just 14-2 Tigers, but that Tiger team had a strong season at 8-4 with a second-round playoff exit against Schley County. The Bulldogs are winless in five tries against what is historically a solid Washington-Wilkes program.

It's back on the road Sept. 15 to take on Riverside Military Academy for a rivalry dubbed the "Military Bowl." Like Brentwood, Riverside competes in the private-school-only GIAA. Unlike Brentwood, the Eagles of Gainesville struggled mightily a season ago with an 0-10 mark. GMC Prep earned its first victory in '22 by beating Riverside 54-12. The Bulldogs have a losing mark all-time versus the Eagles, but GMC Prep has won the last two in the series by a combined score of 80-18.

With half of the regular season down, the 'Dogs get what will likely be a very welcomed bye week Sept. 22 before opening Region 5-A D-2 play against reigning region champion Johnson County. Last year's game got moved up a day due to the threat of a hurricane. Thursday or Friday, it didn't matter as the Trojans won easily 48-10. The teams will meet again Sept. 29 in Milledgeville looking to get their respective region schedules off to a positive start. Records against region opponents determine playoff berths and seeding, so those games carry a bit more weight.

At 7-18 in 25 meetings, the Bulldogs won't be evening their record against the Wilkinson County Warriors any time soon, but great strides have been made these last three years. GMC Prep has won each of the last three, although none comfortably. With final scores of 7-6, 12-6, and 7-6, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Oct. 6 game in McIntyre come down to the wire.

Friday, Oct. 13, will be an unlucky night for one Bulldog team or another as GMC Prep welcomes Hancock Central of nearby Sparta to Davenport. The two teams went to overtime a season ago with Hancock winning 22-21. The upcoming 14th meeting between the programs could go a long way in clearing up the 2023 playoff picture. That game will also serve as GMC Prep's Homecoming.

The penultimate regular season game brings an opponent the Bulldogs have only lost to three times in 31 tries, the Glascock County Panthers. When it's GMC Prep's turn to host, the Panthers of Gibson are almost always the Homecoming opponent. This year though, the teams will face one another at Glascock before the 'Dogs get their second bye week of the season.

GMC Prep's final regular season matchup will be a home Thursday nighter versus Twiggs County, a team that went winless in region play a year ago including the 47-6 loss to the Bulldogs. Twiggs' only wins in '22 came against GSIC, a program that's only a couple years old, and Central-Talbotton, which has not won a game since 2019.

Rhoades and his team are busy now with summer workouts in preparation for the '23 season. We'll see if their hard work pays off as the program fights to keep its playoff streak alive.