As we get ready for another exciting season under the Friday night lights, Grice Connect is proud to present this year’s Blue Devil Deep Dive. In this full-season preview, we sit down with Head Coach Matt Dobson for a Q&A on where the team stands heading into the 2025 season.

We’ve also included this year’s full schedule—complete with short recaps from each of last year’s match-ups—and a full look at the 2025 varsity roster. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking to keep up with the season, this preview has everything you need to follow the Blue Devils this fall.

Q&A with Head Coach Matt Dobson

How do you feel about your team so far heading into the season? 

We are excited about our football team heading into the season. We have a good senior class with a lot of guys who have played a lot of meaningful snaps for us. They have worked hard and we are excited to watch these seniors lead our football team this year. 

What’s the energy been like during practices this summer? 

The energy and effort have been great this summer. Our guys have competed really hard against one another and we have competed against some great competition at other schools in 7on7's and padded camps. 

Who are some key players you lost from last year, and how are you filling those spots?

Offensively, we lost Adrian James and Quinn Williams on the offensive line, which were the biggest losses offensively. We have some guys who have been in our program developing over the last couple of years that we feel like can step up and help us on the offensive line. Defensively, the top player we lost was Jovon Gibson. He was a versatile player that did a lot for us.

Luckily for us we played a lot of different people on defense last season so we have a lot of players with experience coming back. 

Which players have stepped up the most in the offseason? 

Offensively, we have been really proud of Keon Childers. He has moved to running back and is doing a tremendous job. He has had a great offseason and really embraced this change. This will allow us to get him the ball more.

Defensively, Rashad Chavers is a returning starter at linebacker that is the leader of our defense. He can do a lot of different things and is just a really good football player. 

Are there any younger players or newcomers we should keep an eye on this year? 

A couple of sophomores who have really stepped up that will play a lot for us are Daelyn White, Jeremiah Kegler, and Lavon Jones. Daelyn started for us at the end of his freshman year at safety and will be a big part of our secondary. Jeremiah will be a starter on the offensive line, and he has had as good of an off-season as anyone. Lavon will play inside linebacker for us and is a physical player we are excited about. 

What are some things you focused on improving in the offseason? 

We have tried to work on building depth for the upcoming season. We have gotten our backups a lot of reps because we know at some point in the season they will be asked to step up and play meaningful snaps, and we want those guys to be prepared and ready to answer the call. 

Do you feel like the team is more confident going into this season? 

We do feel this team is more confident going into the season. These seniors have put in the work to be prepared. This year's team has the most players returning that have played varsity snaps of any of the 3 seasons that I have been at Statesboro High School. There is no substitute for playing under the lights, and this group has a lot of guys who have done that which gives them a little more confidence. 

What game are you or the team most looking forward to and why? 

One thing our team has talked about in the off-season is being process driven and focusing each day on getting better at what we do. We haven't started looking ahead to our opponents yet, and we just want to focus on ourselves. Obviously when we get there the region games are what matters the most.

We want to get in and compete in the state playoffs and in order to do that you have to play well in the region games and we have 8 of those. 

Do you think you’re stronger on offense or defense right now, or are things pretty balanced? 

I think we are pretty balanced. We have more seniors on defense so a lot of experience on that side of the ball. Offensively, we do not have as many seniors, but there are a lot of guys who played last year. 

Are there any changes to your coaching staff, or are things mostly the same? 

We added Johnny Moore as our offensive line coach, and he will also serve as our strength and conditioning coordinator. We also added a few new community coaches to fill out our staff. The majority of our staff returns, and we are excited to have that continuity. 

What’s something you’re trying to do differently this year compared to last season? 

One thing we want to improve on is our turnover margin. We have to do a better job offensively of eliminating turnovers, and we also need to do a better job of creating takeaways on defense. 

What’s one thing the community might not know about your team that they should? 

I think the number one thing is just how great most of our players are as people. This group is a really fun group of players to be around. They work hard, they listen, they do what we ask, and then they have fun when it's time to do that. Our staff really enjoys this group of players and we are honored to get to coach them. 

How do you keep the team motivated during the grind of the season? 

The biggest thing is going back to that idea of being process driven. Finding little things each day to get better at and focusing on doing what it takes to be successful. 

What would you say is the identity of your team this year? 

Our identity is going to be a team that is tough, plays with great effort, and loves one another. 

Varsity 2025 Schedule with Last Season Recap

8/15 – Southeast Bulloch

Southeast Bulloch stunned Statesboro with a 23-18 comeback-stopping win in Brooklet, marking their first-ever victory over the Blue Devils. Despite trailing 23-6 in the fourth quarter, Statesboro stormed back with late touchdowns from Gage Newsome and Ty Chambers, but a gritty 4th-and-2 conversion by Quentin Reed sealed the win for SEB. Head Coach Matt Dobson pointed to costly penalties and turnovers as the difference-maker in the rivalry matchup.

8/22 – At Veterans

Statesboro bounced back in their 2024 home opener with a 21-10 win over Veterans, fueled by a dominant rushing performance and a stout defensive showing. Jaylyn “Chop” Heath rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown, while freshman quarterback Beckham Jarrard added a 23-yard score of his own. The defense, led by Rashad Chavers and Xavier Spells, kept the Warhawks in check early, and Head Coach Matt Dobson praised the offensive line for securing the victory through adversity.

9/05 – Greenbrier

Statesboro fell to Greenbrier 43-14 in their 2024 region opener on the road, struggling to stop the Wolves’ ground game while committing costly turnovers. The Blue Devils briefly tied the game 14-14 before being overwhelmed in the second half, giving up 318 rushing yards and managing just 18 of their own. “Ultimately not being able to run the football and not stop the run is what got us beat,” said Head Coach Matt Dobson after the defeat.

9/12 – At Glynn Academy (GL)

Statesboro suffered a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Glynn Academy at home after a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback fell just short. Trailing by 15 early in the final quarter, the Blue Devils stormed back with touchdowns from Josh Brockett and Beckham Jarrard, but a last-second extra point attempt grazed the upright, sealing the one-point defeat.

9/19 – At Bradwell Institute

Statesboro edged out Bradwell Institute 41-36 in a back-and-forth battle that marked their first region win of the season. Freshman quarterback Beckham Jarrard accounted for multiple scores, while running backs Ty Chambers, Josh Brockett, and Jaylyn Heath fueled a strong ground game. Despite a late push from the Tigers, the Blue Devils held on thanks to key stops and clock control, with Head Coach Matt Dobson crediting his team’s resilience: “It may not be pretty… just keep learning how to win and finish these ball games.”

10/03 – At Lakeside, Evans

In a rescheduled homecoming matchup, Statesboro fell 31-8 to Lakeside in what became their final game of the 2024 season. The Blue Devils struggled on both sides of the ball, turning the ball over multiple times and failing to stop the Panthers’ physical rushing attack. A late touchdown pass from Beckham Jarrard to Davis Harrison helped avoid the shutout, but Head Coach Matt Dobson emphasized the bigger picture: “I am most proud of our guys fighting all year — no matter if we win or lose.”

10/10 – Brunswick

Brunswick overwhelmed Statesboro 49-0 in a dominant Region 1-AAAAA matchup, handing the Blue Devils their most lopsided loss of the 2024 season. The Pirates built a 42-0 halftime lead with scores on offense, defense, and special teams, and sealed the shutout despite a few deep drives from Statesboro, including a 51-yard run by freshman quarterback Beckham Jarrard. Ty Chambers led the Blue Devils with 106 rushing yards on 23 carries, but the team was ultimately outmatched in all three phases of the game.

10/17 – At Evans

Statesboro earned a crucial 21-13 win over Evans on Senior Night behind a strong first-half offensive effort and a second-half defensive stand. Jaylyn “Chop” Heath and Ty Chambers each found the end zone, while Rashad Chavers added a touchdown reception. The Blue Devils forced key turnovers, including a third-quarter interception by Jovon Gibson, and held the Knights scoreless over the final two quarters to seal the region win.

10/24 – South Effingham

Statesboro dominated South Effingham 41-7 in a wire-to-wire region win that kept their playoff hopes alive. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead with touchdowns from Davis Harrison, Tony Nessmith, Ty Chambers, and two from Keon Childers, while the defense forced multiple turnovers including interceptions by Jayden and Jakori Cope. Head Coach Matt Dobson credited his team’s “Statesboro Football” mentality, saying, “We just have to focus on ourselves and control what we can control.”

10/31 – Effingham County

Statesboro fell 28-6 to Effingham County on the road, missing key scoring opportunities in the red zone that ultimately cost them a shot at the postseason. Despite a touchdown connection from Beckham Jarrard to Keon Childers, two turnovers deep in Rebel territory and a blocked extra point shifted momentum.

2025 Statesboro High School Varsity Football Roster

2025 STATESBORO HIGH SCHOOL 9th Grade FOOTBALL ROSTER