Savannah, Georgia – It took a few rebuilding years but the Bethesda Academy football team is back in
the state finals. The Blazers, 12-0 on the season, take on the defending state champion from Williamsburg
Academy in the SCISA AA state finals on Saturday at noon at Charleston Southern University's Buccaneer Field
in North Charleston.
Bethesda reached the state championship game in 2019, losing to Thomas Heyward Academy in the
deciding game. The Blazers went 6-13 over the next two seasons before posting an 8-win campaign last fall.
Head coach Antwain Turner says this year’s team has earned this championship opportunity.
“Two years ago, we had seven starters leave the program right before the season started so we kind of
went back to Square 1,” Turner said. “This group we have now is what we started with two years ago, and they
have worked very hard and they have improved each week. We have been building this team and it is great to
see them come together and have success.”
Offensively, the Blazers averaged 41 points per game and 364 total yards in offense per game, with pretty
good balance. The run game averaged 208 yards per game with senior Noah Jackson rushing for 1,740 yards
and 26 touchdowns while averaging 10.1 yards per carry.
Senior quarterback Triston Randall has thrown for 1,806 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding more than
300 yards on the ground. Randall is a former center that moved to tight end then to quarterback as a
sophomore.
“It took some time, but he has really come into his own,” Turner said. “That first year he threw 20
interceptions, but we just kept working at it. He was great last year, and he has been great this year. He’s a
really intelligent kid and he works hard for his teammates.”
Senior Thomas Peters is the leading pass catcher with 33 grabs for 695 yards and five scores. Senior
Caleb Dillon has 25 receptions for 436 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Charles Greene and freshman Jadon
Turner also have been productive in the passing game.
The offensive line is young, with the only starting senior being tackle Michael Henley. Junior Isaiah Reynolds
is a starting guard, and sophomores Keshaun Wright and Jadyn Grant starting as the other guard and tackle,
respectively. Freshman Steve Mitchell is the starting center.
“Those guys have grown up a lot this year and they have become a very solid unit,” Turner said. “It has been
really good to see them learn how to play together as a unit and they love to compete.”
Bethesda has been opportunistic on defense, coming up with 20 interceptions, 23 quaterback sacks and 39
tackles for loss.
“We try to play fast, play physical and play together,” Turner said. “There is only two seniors on the defense,
but they have been very consistent. They have played with great effort and really have learned to work together.”
Randall and fellow senior Kamerion Lanigan are the top tacklers on the defense, each with more than 60
tackles. Sophomore cornerback Raleigh Wesley has seven interceptions and 10 tackles for loss.
Sophomore tackle Arlando Chaney has six sacks and junior end Reynolds has five sacks. Wright, the other
end, has four sacks while Peters and Riley Alecock each have three interceptions from the secondary.
Other defensive starters include sophomore safety Luke Larson, junior safety Joshua Johnson, sophomore
tackle Grant and sophomore linebacker Jordan Cheever.
Williamsburg also enters the final game with a 12-0 record.
“They are solid in every area and well-coached,” Turner said. “They are very experienced and they were here
last year so they understand the moment. The challenge for our kids is to focus on football and not get caught up
in the emotion of being there. That sounds easy, but we are talking about teenagers.
“If we can be focused on the football game, what we have to do, we will be OK. They (Williamsburg)
will probably have the edge on us in that aspec,t but our guys have a chance.”
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