BC Football Reloads with State Title Hopes

8/11/2026

Last season the Cadets took a Creekside squad that finished the season undefeated and nationally ranked to the brink in the Class 4A State Championship game, where the Seminoles edged the Cadets 42-39 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Cadets graduated a lot of talent as quarterback Stephen Cannon signed with Texas Tech, along with 5-star edge LaDamion Guyton. Star receiver Bubba Frazier is now at Notre Dame, while defensive tackle Kam Cody is playing at Clemson. Defensive back Micah Williams signed with App State and offensive lineman Carlton Hall is starting his college career at Liberty University, while receiver/defensive back Josh Washington signed with New Hampshire.

But the Cadets are bringing back a squad that enters this season ranked No. 2 among Class 5A teams in the state by the Atlanta Journal Constitution behind top-ranked Cartersville.

Replacing Cannon is a tough task, but Britt has senior Omari Burse ready to take over. Burse was named the All-Greater Savannah Baseball Player of the Year in June and the shortstop has signed to play that sport at Alabama-Birmingham. The versatile athlete gained valuable experience behind center as a sophomore when he was thrown into the fray after Cannon suffered a shoulder injury.

Burse handled the pressure like a veteran as the Cadets went 4-1 in his run, including a pair of playoff victories. He completed 62% of his passes for 988 yards with eight touchdowns with four interceptions and ran for a pair of scores.

"Omari is a competitor, he just loves to compete ― you can see it in his face," said Britt, who is closing in on his 200th win with a career mark of 196-59, with a 164-37 record in 15 years at BC, which includes four state titles. "He did a tremendous job as a sophomore and he's the reason we made it to the state quarterfinals that year. He's very athletic and can do a lot of things off the cuff that he'll bring to our offense this season. He can throw from a number of angles, like a shortstop, and run the ball. He's fun for me to watch."

Burse will run an offense full of dangerous weapons.

Stanley Smart Jr. is back as the featured running back after rushing for 1,004 yards and 12 scores, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, while catching 12 passes for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior combines power with blazing speed as he finished second in the Class 4A state meet last year in the 100 meters in 10.52 and third in the 200 (21.60). He has committed to play at Virginia Tech.

"Stanley is such a hard worker and has really improved as a blocker and pass catcher," Britt said. "He's a total back who can run through you or around you."

Smart Jr. said he and his classmates are looking to close out their high school careers on the highest of notes.

"I've seen everyone come through Benedictine before me and it's a blessing to be here," Smart Jr. said. "I think our strength is going to be our senior class and our level of focus and leadership. We're going to teach the younger guys. I've always loved playing football with my friends and playing in front of all the Benedictine fans on Friday nights is always a great time."

Receiver Eron Mallard is back after a breakout junior season where he reeled in 32 passes for 657 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 396 yards and four scores to earn All-Greater Savannah first-team honors. Mallard is also an elite sprinter who was fourth in the 100 meters at the state meet with a time of 10.72, while taking seventh in the 200 meters 21.92. He committed to play at Purdue in June.

Cole Henderson will also be a key man offensively. He rushed for 296 yards and four scores and caught eight balls for 110 yards as a junior and the speedster will play a bigger role this year.

The Cadets got a talented transfer in junior Peyton Bean, who came over from Savannah Country Day when the Hornets made the move to compete at the GIAA level. He led SCD with 35 receptions for 518 yards and three touchdowns last season and is also a standout defensive back, who had 30 tackles.

The offensive line is another strength of the team with junior Reef Leonard back as the starting center on a line featuring senior standouts Noah Brainard, a 6-3, 280 pounder who holds offers including The Citadel and Samford and Collyn Ward (6-2, 285), who has an offer from West Georgia.

The defense has a pair of seniors leading the way up front in Gavin Smith, who had 39 tackles and a pair of sacks last season and Isaac Scott, a first-team All-Region selection who had 27 stops and five sacks. Rasheen Jackson steps into the role as a senior leader returning at linebacker.

The defensive backfield has a rising star in junior Johnathan Black, whose growing list of offers incudes Indiana, Kentucky and Maryland. He had 38 tackles with a pair of interceptions, four pass breakups and four fumble recoveries last year.

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BC Football Reloads with State Title Hopes

Benedictine Military School