Football Game Preview: Statesboro Blue Devils vs. Lakeside Panthers + How To Watch

The Statesboro Blue Devils are taking a road trip to take on the Lakeside Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Statesboro will be strutting in after a win while Lakeside will be coming in after a defeat.

Statesboro is headed out in good spirits considering the team just ended their winless streak on the road against Bradwell Institute last Friday. The Blue Devils walked away with a 38-28 victory over the Tigers. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Blue Devils considering their eight-point performance the contest before.

It was another big night for Keon Childers, who rushed for 215 yards and three scores. Ja'Kori Cope was in the mix too, providing Statesboro with one TD.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Statesboro was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 366 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

Statesboro's defense stepped up as well, laying out Jahbari Felix five times. That dominant display was truly a team effort as five different players picked up one apiece. Statesboro received some extra help from Cope, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.

Meanwhile, Lakeside took a blow against Effingham County on Friday, falling 42-10. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Georgia football rankings (they are ranked 369th, while the Rebels are ranked 119th).

Statesboro now has a winning record of 3-2. As for Lakeside, their loss dropped their record down to 0-6.

Friday's game might be decided in the trenches. Statesboro has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 245.6 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Lakeside, though, as they've been averaging only 77.3 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?

Statesboro suffered a grim 31-8 defeat to Lakeside when the teams last played back in November of 2024. Can the Blue Devils avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.