On day four of the Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic, to kick off the GHSA season, Georgia’s premier High School football teams will compete against one another, and coaches will make the final adjustments before the regular season starts. Those adjustments can consist of personnel on the field, and emphasizing discipline when it comes to costly penalties. The Broncos of Brookwood High School were penalized several times, wiping away big plays and a touchdown in the game. One adjustment Houston County High School Bears Head Coach Thomas won’t have to make when it comes to their special teams kick return team is Jordan Smith, who took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
Brookwood High School Broncos wasted no time answering back behind the leadership of their quarterback, Gary Chatman, leading the team down the field, calling his own number to score on a 24-yard quarterback keeper to tie the score. The Bears quarterback, Ryan Maxwell, showed he can be just as lethal leading his team down the field, and regained the lead 14-7 with a touchdown pass to Mj Mathis. Gary Chapman of Brookwood connected with Bryce Green for a 44-yard touchdown pass, tying the game 14-14 at halftime.
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The Bears started the second half with an uptempo offense, trying to keep the Broncos from making substitutions in the game. The Broncos defense bowed back, stopping them on the 3-yard line, forcing the Bears to kick a field goal to retake a 17-14 lead. The Broncos quarterback, Gary Chapman, was up for the task to show his offense could put together a drive to finally take the lead in the game, on 3rd and 8, scrambling out of the pocket, threw what would have been a touchdown pass, but it was called back for illegal formation. The Broncos kicked a field goal, tying the game 17-17.
Both teams rushed the ball well in this game. Houston County starting running back Austin Stenson was injured earlier in the game. The Bears’ rushing attack was put on the shoulders of Colin Anderson, who is the #3 running back, scoring a 73-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, giving Houston County the lead 24-17. The Bears tried to play keep away with the ball from the Broncos’ defense.
Brookwood wouldn’t be denied, and the ball bounced their way, literally on a muffed punt that was picked up and run back to the Bears ‘ 15-yard line. Brookwood Brayden Tyson scored the tying touchdown, making the score 24-24. Tyson rushed the ball 21 times for 125 yards in the game.
Brookwood had an opportunity to take the lead in this game with the score tied 24-24. Broncos quarterback Chapman came out of the game due to injury on 3rd and 13. The Broncos’ backup quarterback threw an incomplete pass, forcing them to punt. Bears quarterback Brian Maxwell drives the team down the field, capping off the go-ahead score with a pass to Jase Jordan to win the 2025 Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic.