It’s been seven years since the Bradwell Institute Tigers made the state playoffs.

To end that absence, the school has turned to former college assistant coach and two-time high school state champion John Adams.

Bradwell has not qualified for the state playoffs, in any of its classifications, since 2019. It’s also gone eight straight seasons without a winning record.

Enter Adams, who in his three years with Cedar Grove took the Saints to three straight state championship games, winning two. And the one he didn’t win is what led to the use of instant replay in the state title games.

He’s been putting the pieces of the program together steadily since he took over in the spring.

“We had 22 kids in the weight room when I first came,” he said. “Now, we’re 80-plus. It’s a matter of building. We don’t have a lot of time, so we have to pay attention to the details and keep growing.”

Bradwell’s offense, which has had spurts of explosiveness over the years, will have speed. Jacobi Pasley, who has committed to West Virginia, returns for his senior season. Pasley, who became the first athlete in state history to capture the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes at the state track meet, scored 10 touchdowns via rushing or receiving. And that doesn’t include his kickoff return scores.

Fellow speedster Cameron Keeve, who had a 90-yard touchdown run in the scrimmage against Liberty County, returns for his senior year, and the Tigers also bring back leading receiver Carlito Savea and basketball standout Zion Thomas at receiver.

Quarterback Jah’barri Felix threw for 1,733 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, adding another 388 yards and two scores rushing.

Cameron Perry, a 6-foot-5 senior, anchors the offensive line at center.

Savea, who also plays safety, helps lead the defense, along with senior defensive end Trey Milner, junior Danzyion Cobb, junior Kamauri Williams and senior linebacker Kaiden Studstill.

Offense hasn’t been an issue for the Tigers the last few years. Stopping their opponents has been something altogether. The fewest points the Tigers allowed in a game last year was 21. Bradwell gave up 34.4 points per game last year and 33.4 points per game in 2024.

The Tigers open the season with New Hampstead, coming off a 2-8 record, and Wayne County, which went 1-9 in 2025 before making a coaching change.

Then the Tigers make the trek to Titletown to face the Valdosta Wildcats, one of the nation’s legendary high school programs. Valdosta went 12-2 last year, falling to Buford in the Class 6A semifinals.

That starts a three-game road swing that includes Effingham County, considered to be a state playoff contender this season, and Glynn Academy. Bradwell returns home to face powerhouse Brunswick and finishes the season with an Augusta-area slate of Greenbrier, Lakeside and Grovetown before concluding the regular season at home against South Effingham. Its four final opponents were a combined 11-29 last season.

To prepare for the season, which begins Friday night at home against the New Hampstead Phoenix, the Tigers hit four offseason camps, going to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and Mercer.

“We had a long summer,” Adams said. “We did everything we took and it wasn’t always good. You learn so much from your mishaps and mistakes. I thought we were battle tested this summer. We’re kind of reaping the benefits right now. We have to continue to be consistent in the things that we do in practice really well.”