By Kevin Price For GCS Athletics The Brunswick High Pirates did as anticipated Friday night as they cruised to a lop-sided victory over Statesboro at Glynn County Stadium. Installed as a 35-point favorite by the Maxwell Ratings released on Thursday morning, the Pirates blanked the Blue Devils 49-0 in the Region 1-AAAAA matchup between the bricks. “Our guys took care of business, handled things the right way,” said Brunswick head coach Garrett Grady. “We wanted to come out and play to our potential and play a complete game. Tonight was pretty well done in all three phases.” The shutout was the first of the season for the ninth-ranked Pirates (6-1 overall, 5-0 region) who have now won six straight since falling in the season-opening game to Camden County which has lost just once this season. “It was good to be dominant on defense and bend but not break,” Grady added. “Our guys have been close to getting a shutout all year and they finally got one.” Brunswick led the Blue Devils (2-4, 1-3) 42-0 at halftime, matching the score at the break in the City Championship game on Sept.30 against Glynn Academy. The Pirates went on to win that game 49-7 as the second half was played with a running clock. Friday’s game also was played with a continuous clock but the Pirates didn’t allow Statesboro to get on the scoreboard before the contest ended. Statesboro actually recovered a short kick to start the third quarter and gained possession at the Brunswick 32-yard line. The Blue Devils would pick up a first down at the 20 for a scoring opportunity in the red zone, but the Pirates forced a turnover on downs when a fourth-and-4 pass from the 14 fell incomplete in the end zone. BHS actually paraded 86 yards in six plays to hit paydirt for its final score of the night after that with sophomore running back Josiah Gibbons going 41 yards off the left side of the Brunswick line for the seventh BHS touchdown of the game. The Blue Devils also threatened to score late in the first half when their freshman quarterback Beckham Jarrard ripped off a 51-yard run to the Brunswick 11 before the Pirates would force a field-goal try with only seconds left on the clock that failed as the kick banged off the crossbar and fell back into the end zone. With time to run a play, BHS gave a handoff to speedster Nigel Gardner and the sophomore ballcarrier broke loose along the Brunswick sideline for an 80-yard touchdown jaunt as time expired in the opening half. Landon Etheridge added the point-after to send the teams to the locker rooms with the 42-0 tally showing on the scoreboard. The Pirates opened up a 21-0 advantage in less than five minutes of game time. BHS drove 52 yards in six plays the first time it had the ball after forcing a Statesboro punt to open the game. Junior quarterback Grant Moore capped the first drive by the Pirates with an 8-yard scoring run. Brunswick recovered a short kick to get the ball right back with Jeremiah Robbins pouncing on the loose ball at the Statesboro 20 to put the Pirates in business in the red zone. A 6-yard run by Gibbons on the third offensive play by the Pirates put the home team ahead 14-0 following the Etheridge PAT. The score quickly went to 21-0 when Brunswick senior linebacker Caleb Butler stepped in front of a Statesboro pass and raced 27 yards along the visiting team’s sideline for the third score by the Pirates. Brunswick scored twice in the second quarter before the long run by Gardner on the final play of the stanza, getting an 8-yard pass for a score on fourth down from Moore to Jamarious Towns on the first play of the quarter and also 29-yard pass from Moore to Jordan Hicks who was wide open behind the last defender for the Blue Devils. That pass to Hicks finished off a 7-play, 96-yard drive by the Pirates that stated at the Brunswick 4 following an interception in the end zone by Sehki Ashley that ended a Statesboro scoring chance. The Pirates totaled 449 offensive yards for the game with 356 coming in the team’s big first half. Brunswick ran for 210 yards in the first two quarters as it took command of the game. Moore was 7-of-8 passing for 146 yards and the two TDS in the opening half for the Pirates and finished 9-for-11 for 174 yards. Gardner ran for 105 yards on only two carries. Senior running back William Heck had seven carries for 67 yards. Towns had three receptions for 73 yards and the touchdown. Statesboro finished with 226 yards, rushing for 194 on the night. Senior running back TY Chambers led the Blue Devils with 106 yards on 23 carries. Brunswick will be back at home next Friday for a region showdown against Lakeside-Evans (6-0, 4-0) which remained unbeaten on the season with a 28-14 win Thursday over Greenbrier in Augusta. The Panthers are set to play a makeup game Monday against Effingham before coming to GC Stadium to face the Pirates in a league game that ultimately could decide the region championship. “The stakes are high. We know this what we work towards, going one and oh every week to get a chance at the region championship. That’s what we’ll be playing for against Lakeside,” Grady said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s gonna start this week in practice and how we prepare. We’ve gotta be ready because they’re a really good team.” Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the home turf next Friday.