SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The postseason hasn’t been kind to Effingham County football. Friday night was no exception.

The Rebels struggled to slow down the passing attack of the Roswell Hornets and felt the sting of a sixth straight first-round state playoff loss, 38-27, at the Griff.

Roswell (8-3) advanced to play the winner of the Thomas County Central-Veterans game next week in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Effingham County watched its season end at 7-4.

“(In the postgame speech) I told them that they fought a state powerhouse tooth and nail and that I love them,” said ECHS coach John Ford, who didn’t want to address the program’s past struggles in the first round of the playoffs.

Junior tight end and linebacker Parker Nelson admitted the first-round woes are difficult to ignore.

“That is always hanging over our heads, but you can’t think about it,” he said. “You just have to be that (team) to break the chain.”

The Rebels appeared to have the team to do it this season, with a strong returning nucleus bolstered by the addition of highly regarded transfers.

But Roswell has been a tough out in recent years and showed its playoff savvy. First-year starting quarterback Matt Schletty threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another 98 yards and a score.

The Hornets outgained ECHS 417-276 and didn’t allow an offensive touchdown until the final five minutes.

“They have a good plan, good receivers. I wasn’t surprised at all (at the passing game),” Ford said. “Their kids made some good plays. That’s a good team. You tip your cap to them.”

Trouble in the middle eight

The game slipped away from the Rebels during the “middle eight” — the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half.

ECHS trailed 21-13 and was attempting a 25-yard field goal to cut into the deficit.

A bad snap led to a loss and a turnover on downs. Roswell took advantage and drove 87 yards for a backbreaking touchdown, culminating in Schletty’s 15-yard scoring pass to Dre Cousey to make it 28-13.

The Rebels lost a fumble on the first play of the second half, and two plays later, Schletty and Sean Smith connected for their second touchdown pass, stretching the lead to 35-13.

“We’re successful when we play well in the middle eight, and we weren’t great there,” Ford said. “Those were two big deals, and we didn’t play as well as we needed to.”

Special teams keep Rebels close

ECHS’ offense averaged more than 37 points during the regular season but failed to produce a point in the first half against a stingy Roswell defense.

The Rebels stayed close on Malik Letman’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown after he jumped a route along the sideline during the first three minutes of the game.

In the second quarter, Jernard Albright’s 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown interrupted a Hornets surge of three straight scores and brought ECHS within 21-13.

But the half belonged to Schletty, who completed just seven passes, three for touchdowns — a 59-yarder to Ian Hulbert, a 12-yarder to Smith and a 15-yarder to Cousey.

Schletty also had an 11-yard touchdown run as Roswell built a 28-13 halftime advantage.

Perhaps the Hornets knew something when they elected to receive after winning the coin toss.

ECHS’ defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, and Letman’s interception on Roswell’s second possession made it 6-0.

But the Hornets got the points back quickly — and then some. The Rebels lost track of Hulbert in the secondary, and Schletty found him wide open for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Reilly Chambers kicked the extra point, leaving ECHS playing catch-up the rest of the way.

Smith’s touchdown catch and Schletty’s scoring run made it 21-6, but Albright returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-13.

ECHS’ defense forced another three-and-out, and the offense marched to Roswell’s 10-yard line. On fourth down from the 8, the Rebels attempted a field goal, but a bad snap resulted in a 9-yard loss and a turnover on downs.

The Hornets raced down the field and scored on Schletty’s touchdown pass to Cousey with 37 seconds left in the half.

Seniors finish strong

ECHS fell behind 38-13 before its offense scored twice late in the fourth quarter.

Senior Trayvis Hunter caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Dillon, and Isaiah Brown added a 7-yard scoring reception.

Hunter finished his high school career with nine catches for 97 yards.

Senior running back Jmere Doe-Davis rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries and ended the season with 1,043 rushing yards.

Dillon threw two touchdown passes in the loss and finished the season with 27.