‘They played hard with every snap of the ball’

A couple years of COVID-19 and injuries setting back the Bonifay K-8 football team is a distant memory after wrapping up the 2022 season as conference champs Oct. 13.

Head Coach Brad Johnson led the Blue Devils, along with Assistant Coaches Kenny Tate and Ryan Boyd and Athletic Safety Coach Kim Farrow, through an undefeated season.

“Our biggest strengths were just their competitiveness and toughness physically,” Johnson said. The players have been working hard on the field and in the gym since July.

The Blue Devils finished the season 7-0 overall with a total of 228 points and only gave up 24 points all season. They played six regular season games and claimed victory over Grand Ridge School in the championship game, beating the Indians 52-12.

“I enjoyed coaching the group,” Johnson said. “They did what you asked them to do.”

The Blue Devils took their first victory at home 36-0 over Liberty County. They beat Blountstown 20-6 on their own turf in the second game, then beat Grand Ridge 22-6 in the third game. The winning streak continued 22-0 against Chipley in the fourth game, 40-0 against Vernon in the fifth game and 36-0 against Freeport.

The Bonifay K-8 team finished strong Thursday night, a feat that did not surprise Coach Johnson.

“They played hard with every snap of the ball this year. There was no loafing,” Johnson said. “You get a lot of guys like that, and good things happen.”