UPDATED LOCATION Buccaneers Football Kicks Off Friday at Midnight Madness
Come out to support a young team willing to put in the work.
During a press conference in Eden on Tuesday, August 4, Bartlett Yancey’s Head Football Coach, Ryan Johnson said that the team is laying a foundation that includes the classroom and the community.
Johnson was joined at the press conference by Bartlett Yancey High School (BYHS) senior Dallas Lambert and sophomore Amari Oliver, two students that he said “lead by example,” demonstrating the team’s core values of heart, pride, and discipline.
“Right now, these two guys are the perfect example of what we’re seeing from the team as a whole,” Johnson said. He explained that since he joined the coaching staff in April, the team has been focused on “doing the small things right every day” in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the practice field.
Johnson pointed to some of the team’s recent volunteer efforts, such as hosting a youth football camp and assisting during a spring event at one of the elementary schools, as an example of how the team is trying to be more visible in the community. Johnson has also said that such efforts also help demonstrate to the players that the work they are putting in is about more than football.
Johnson said that it was not enough for the coaching staff to tell the players what they wanted, they must also show them through their own actions.
“So, these guys are seeing us there every single day, picking up kids, doing what we need to do in the community, and just really showing them what we want instead of just saying it,” he said.
“Most people know BY. We don’t do too good,” Lambert shared, acknowledging that the school has not necessarily had a strong football program in the past. “But this year we have a chip on our shoulder, we’re coming to prove everybody wrong — coming out there to play ball.”
“Like he said, man, we’re coming to play,” Oliver agreed. “We’re coming to put in all kinds of work.”
Photos by STXPix Photography / Betsy Sioussat with STXPix Photography captured these images of the football team, and cheerleaders, putting in the work on July 29.
“There’s going to be some adversity because we’re all young,” Johnson said when asked what messaging he uses to motivate the team. “But that doesn’t mean it’s an excuse not to work hard. People are going to overlook you.”
“Every time we show up, we’ve got to show that passion, that pride, that discipline that we have for our community, but we’ve got to put the work in first to make that be shown,” Johnson continued. “We remind the guys they’ve got to be better than yesterday in battle. So, we have zero room for not getting better every day.”
Johnson explained that the team has been focused on the fundamentals, noting that consistency has been key.
“Every day has been better. They’re learning the process. They’re learning how we want to play,” Johnson stated. “We want to make practice harder than the game, so the games will be easier. So, we’re building towards that. We’re not there yet, but we’re making progress.”
The Football Booster Club is inviting the community to come out and support the young team this Friday night at a Midnight Madness event (Now Family Night at Chef OB’s at 6pm.)
The team is also hosting a Football Jamboree on Friday, August 14 for a little preseason action.
The Buccaneers will kick off their season August 21 at Northern Durham and celebrate Homecoming on October 9.
If you would like to help sponsor the team's pregame meals or offer other support, please contact Booster Club President Holly Broadnax at 336-459-6868, hollybroadnax11@yahoo.com or Coach Ryan Johnson at 336-380-0360,
ryan.johnson@caswell.k12.nc.us.
*This article was updated at 4:36pm on 8/7/2026 to reflect last minute changes to the Midnight Madness (now Family Night) event.
