The Bainbridge High School cafeteria was packed full on Thursday, Feb. 9, for a celebration of the Bearcats achievements on the football field this past season. Players, coaches, and their families all gathered to see who would bring home the personal awards for their work throughout the year, and also to hear a Georgia high school coaching legend.

“Don’t clock out” was the message that Coach Carror Wright delivered to the audience at the 2017 Bearcat Football Banquet. Wright is currently the Director of Compliances and Investigations for the Georgia High School Athletic Association, but has built a name for himself in coaching by taking his teams to five state championship games and winning one of them.

“To be successful in sports and life or fitness, you must be completely dedicated to your goal,” said Wright. “You must be willing to sacrifice all other things to accomplish a level of superiority.”

Wright focused on how the younger generation may come across as scary or apathetic, but how the coaches and families cannot “clock out” on them. Wright commended the players of this season on their achievements not only this season, but through the years. They faced adversity and came out on the other side of it better according to Wright.

“Football is hard, if it wasn’t anybody would play it,” said Wright. “I think you all are some of the most fortunate people in the world because you took the time to make sacrifice after school to do what’s right and go out in the hot sun, the rain, and the cold and sometimes you get yelled at but you learn to the love the game.”

Many of those players saw their sacrifices rewarded at the banquet. Starting with the Academic Award for highest accumulative GPA the awards went to Freshman Wyatt Wilson, Sophomore Ben Mitchell, Ben Mulkey, and Senior Clark Wiggins. The All-Region Second Team winners were defensive lineman Martavious Flowers, linebacker Donovan McCray, all purpose athlete Malique Pate, and punter Clark Wiggins. The All-Region First Team awards went to defensive back Lerone Broadnax, offensive lineman Christian Glover, defensive back Zyon McGee, running back Dameon Pierce (also won 2016 AJC All State award), and defensive player of the year went to Kerenski Williams.

Coach Littleton then gave out the annual Hard Hat awards, which goes to the players who continue to put in the hard work needed to be a successful football team. The 2017 Hard Hat winners were Alex Baker, Darius Adams, Trajan Harris, Markel Broadnax, Randy FIllinggame, Ben Mitchell, Deovion West, Bryce Worthy, and Coryn Burns.

The Most Improved awards were given out to the players that had a breakout year for the Bearcats. The 2017 Most Improved awards went to Mark Loeffler, Tre’ Storey Devin Morris, Bowen Dodson, Will Kelley, Caleb Harris, Roman Harrison, Hudson Barber, Iran Brown, Caleb Boutwell, Aaron Spivie, Adrian Cooper, Clifford Kinder, and Brad Mitchell.

The Iron Man award went to Donovan McCray and the Tommy Smith Hustle award went to Ross Parker.

The Bearcat awards were handed out to four players on the team who personified what it means to be a Bearcat. The Bearcat awards were given to Martavious Flowers, Clark Wiggins, Lance Cosby, and Brett McLaughlin.