Each week, we ask the head coach from one of Bulloch County’s four schools to highlight a player as the Grice Connect and Optim Health System Sports Difference Maker of the Week.
This recognition isn’t always about the athlete who scores the most points or makes the highlight reel, it’s about the underrated player whose effort, attitude, and determination shift the game in ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. These are the underdogs and unsung leaders who truly make a difference for their team.
This week, our Grice Connect Sports Difference Maker of the Week is Statesboro senior defensive linebacker, #56, Jacob Childers who was chosen by Blue Devils head coach Matt Dobson. Coach Dobson coined the phrase B.E.L.T. (Best Effort Love and Toughness) which are the core values of Statesboro High Football. According to Dobson, Childers embodies those values and then some.
“Jake definitely displays B.E.L.T. by being tough, showing up everyday, giving his best, playing with great effort, and showing love to his teammates,” said Dobson.
Regardless of if he’s playing every snap on Friday nights, or he’s only playing a few, Childers is seen as a leader on his team because he’s always consistent and always seems to have a positive attitude. Coach Dobson explains how much effort his teammates see from him through games, practices, and events on and off the field like community service.
“Every time we do community service like Feed the Boro, or reading to elementary school students, Jake’s always one of the first ones that wants to volunteer because he wants to serve our community and the people in it,” coach Dobson mentioned.
To Childers, being B.E.L.T. Player of the Week for his team means being selfless, consistent, and present off the field as well as on it. In his senior season, Childers has many goals for himself and his team, one prominent one being going undefeated in the AAAAA Region 1 and building impenetrable team chemistry.
When asked, Childers talked about advice he would give to freshmen coming in, Childers said he would tell them to be coachable because everyone is going to be wrong at some point. They do not have to be perfect so all they need to do is get better everyday.
Childers thought about the legacy that he wanted to leave for Statesboro Football after his senior season was over.
“I know I’m not the best athlete on the field, but I feel like I have some of the best IQ on the field,” Childers said. “I’d like people to remember and say Jacob Childers was a great player for Statesboro High.”
Be sure to tune in once a week for our GC Sports Difference Maker of the Week.
Live Score Updates
Once again this football season, Grice Connect Sports will offer live scoring powered by ScoreStream. To get live score during the game or anytime you want local sports scores go to the Sports link on the Grice Connect website.
We are always love to hear from parents (or other super fans!) who would like to send us photos and live game updates from home and away games for each school this season.
If you're interested, please contact Sports@griceconnect.com or Blake Williams at Blake@griceconnect.com for more information.
This coverage is made possible thanks to local supporters.
Grice Connect Sports is proudly supported by Optim Health System, the Press Forward Foundation, and other generous community partners who help make this local sports coverage possible. We are grateful for all financial support, which will allow us to bring Statesboro and Bulloch county even more sports and local news coverage!
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