"The Biggest High School Football Team I've Ever Seen"

Ok, we’re finally “on schedule” now. After BC squeezed past Northside, people really started to talk. The eighth-ranked Cadets would next have to face the second-ranked team in the state, on the road. The AJC didn't think BC stood a chance against an undefeated powerhouse like LaGrange, whom many felt would have little trouble bringing home the state title in 3 weeks.

Thankfully, because it was a holiday weekend, many Savannahians were able to leave early that Friday morning for the game. But then again, a rare trip to the second round of the state AAAA playoffs wouldn't have stopped most BC fans from missing work anyway.

I remember, albeit vaguely, coming home to Savannah for Thanksgiving that year and everybody just couldn't stop talking about BC. I remember sitting down with my uncle (Tom) and cousin (Jack) with an atlas of Georgia on my grandma's kitchen table. They were mapping out the best route to the small city on the Alabama border, which is a long-ass drive considering it’s on the completely opposite side of the state and you have to take back-roads the entire way to get there. Anyway, this preview headlined the front cover of Friday's sports section:

“IN THIS MATCHUP, BC PLAYS THE HEAVY”

By John Clayton
Savannah Morning News
November 29, 1996

LaGrange coach Steve Pardue’s first impression of the Benedictine team was a lasting one. “I look at BC, and I think there should be a weight limit in high school football,” Pardue said. “They’re the biggest high school football team I’ve seen.”

And Pardue doesn’t expect any changes for the lighter, after Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day meal.

No. 8 BC (10-1) makes the long road trip to LaGrange at 8 p.m. to face the second-ranked Grangers, the champions of Region 4-AAAA, the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs.

The Grangers return to the state playoffs after a five-year absence. Any size disadvantage for LaGrange is made up for the quickness and the magnitude of a perfect 11-0 record.

BC Coach Tommy Brackett, whose team is coming off an emotional 11-10 overtime victory over Northside in last week’s opening round, said the Cadets are probably the underdog as they prepare to face a smaller but quicker team.

"LaGrange has some tremendous athletes with a lot of quickness and speed, but even in our own region we faced the same dilemma week-in and week-out as far as
speed is concerned," Brackett said. "But don't count us out. These guys continue to amaze me -- how they’re able to reach down and get things done.”

"We're probably not supposed to win this game, but you'll have prove it to me that we don't have a chance to win.”

As it has been all season, BC was spurred by its hard-hitting defense against Northside, which allowed standout quarterback Anthony Sessions 176 rushing yards but only one touchdown, which came on the game's opening drive.

While the BC defense has been outstanding this season, allowing seven points per game on the average, it may face its toughest test yet in LaGrange's potent Wing-T.

The Grangers are averaging 396 yards and 35 points per game.

Quaterback J. R. Revere’s father is a LaGrange assistant coach and has gone from ball-boy to three-year starting quarterback.

“Offensively, everything goes through our quarterback,” Pardue said. “His dad is our assistant coach, so he’s basically been our program for the last 14 years.”

Revere has thrown for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns, while running 756 yards and 16 scores.