STATESBORO, Ga. – Effingham County saw a fourth-quarter lead slip away but battled back Friday night to defeat Statesboro 42-41 in overtime, earning a home game in the first round of the upcoming Class 5A state football tournament.

The Rebels (8-2, 7-1 Region 1-5A) won their seventh straight game and finished with an identical region record as Brunswick, but lost the tiebreaker to the Pirates, who won their head-to-head meeting.

ECHS will host Clarke Central (5-5) when the playoffs begin Nov. 14.

“Being at home is a big deal,” Rebels coach John Ford said. “You don’t have to drive three or four hours. Obviously, it’s a lot cheaper for your school, but the big thing is you don’t have your normal routine disrupted.”

Perkins, Brown Connect in Clutch Moments

It was ECHS’ fifth straight win over the Blue Devils, but it wasn’t easy. Quarterback Tucker Perkins threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah “Zeke” Brown with 29 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 35-35, then hit Brown again on a 15-yard strike on ECHS’ first play of overtime. Jackson Wilhoite made the point-after kick to seal the 42-41 victory.

It was a dramatic win, particularly after the Rebels gave up three fourth-quarter touchdowns for the second straight week. Effingham led 29-14 entering the final period.

“We can’t give up big leads,” Ford said. “We have to be cleaner. Glynn ran the triple option and Statesboro stayed in its single wing, and both teams leaned on us.”

Wilhoite missed a kick in regulation that could have won the game but redeemed himself in overtime.

Blue Devils’ Trick Plays Backfire

Statesboro (7-3, 6-2) had the ball first in overtime and scored on its opening play, but kicker Mason Sellers — who had made 22 of 25 point-after attempts coming into the game — missed the PAT.

The Blue Devils, needing a win to clinch their first region championship since 2011, pulled out some trickery throughout the night. A failed fake punt in the third quarter set up an ECHS touchdown, and a surprising onside kick after taking the lead late in regulation gave the Rebels another chance.

Landon Carter recovered the kick, giving Effingham County the ball at its own 49-yard line to set up the tying touchdown.

“I told Landon that was the play of the game,” Ford said.

Perkins Delivers Under Pressure

Perkins, who threw three touchdown passes, was at his best in the clutch. In the final minute of regulation, he connected with Trayvis Hunter for a 22-yard gain on third-and-15 to the Statesboro 34. On the next play, still nursing an ankle injury from the previous week’s game against Glynn Academy, Perkins scrambled 19 yards to the Blue Devils’ 15.

Then, on the following play, he found Brown open on a corner route to tie the game at 35 with 29 seconds left. Wilhoite’s first PAT attempt missed, sending the game to overtime — but he made the game-winner minutes later.

Balanced Offense Fuels Season-Best Finish

Perkins finished with three touchdown passes, including a 15-yard strike to Hunter in the second quarter. Jmere Doe-Davis opened the scoring with a 32-yard TD run, while J.R. McKenzie and Jernard Albright added touchdown runs in the third quarter.

McKenzie has scored at least one touchdown in eight straight games.

The Rebels won their final two games — 45-42 over Glynn Academy and 42-41 over Statesboro — by a combined four points. Their eight regular-season victories are the most in Ford’s five years as head coach.

“Everyone woke up 0-0 this morning,” Ford said. “The playoffs wipe everyone’s slate clean.”