BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Effingham County earned its fifth straight trip to the Class 5A state tournament Friday night after surviving a 45-42 scare from Glynn Academy at Glynn County Stadium. The Rebels (7-2, 6-1 Region 1-5A) will meet Statesboro next Friday for a chance to finish among the top two teams in the region and claim a first-round home game. ECHS, now a winner of six straight, still has a shot at the region title with a win over Statesboro and a Brunswick loss to South Effingham next week.
Swinney steps up in second half
Win No. 6 came at a big cost for the Rebels, who played the second half without starting quarterback Tucker Perkins (ankle) and running back Jmere Doe-Davis (shoulder). Reserve quarterback Kris Swinney entered after halftime and scored three touchdowns on runs of 50, 5, and 15 yards.
“He came out of the bullpen and played well,” ECHS coach John Ford said. “He threw the ball well early and I think that put some pressure on Glynn’s defense. He can run the whole offense.”
Swinney’s third score came after John Baker recovered a fumble at the Terror 5-yard line. A holding call negated a touchdown run by Jernard Albright, but Swinney capitalized two plays later on a quarterback draw.
“My O-line gave me what I needed,” Swinney said. “They work hard in practice. I’d say they’re the best O-line in the state.”
Swinney’s hat trick – all in the third quarter – boosted ECHS’ lead to 45-20.
Glynn rallies late
Glynn Academy (5-4, 4-3) roared back, recovering three onside kicks to score 22 fourth-quarter points but ultimately ran out of time. Terror quarterback Max Noonan ran for 186 yards and five touchdowns as Glynn’s triple-option offense generated 501 rushing yards.
Fast start fuels Rebels
Effingham County couldn’t have asked for a better start. The Rebels stopped Glynn on its first series, then needed just two running plays to go 77 yards for a touchdown. Doe-Davis ran 21 yards up the middle, and after a Terror offsides penalty, broke free on a nearly identical play for a 56-yard score.
Doe-Davis had only three carries but still led the Rebels with 87 rushing yards. On Glynn’s next possession, DJ Creighton fumbled after a 22-yard run, and Albright recovered at the ECHS 45. On the next play, Perkins connected with Trayvis Hunter for a 54-yard pass. Hunter fumbled at the 1-yard line, but Noah Reese recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Trayvis’ brother, Travis Hunter, now playing for Jacksonville, was on the Rebels’ sideline. Trayvis caught five passes for 135 yards.
“It was good to see Travis,” Ford said. “I’m glad Trayvis got some catches in front of him.”
Defense delivers early stop
The Terrors marched to the Rebels’ 6-yard line on their next possession, but the middle of the line stuffed Noonan’s quarterback keeper on fourth-and-2 to force a turnover on downs. Doe-Davis’ 10-yard run helped move the Rebels out of the shadow of their goal line, and Perkins completed passes of 32 and 11 yards to Hunter to set up Jackson Wilhoite’s 36-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter, extending the lead to 17-0. It was Wilhoite’s first field goal of his high school career.
Rebels keep pace before halftime
Glynn chipped away at the lead with a seven-play, 72-yard drive capped by Noonan’s 3-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7. The Rebels answered quickly, aided by two Glynn penalties totaling 20 yards, to go 65 yards in just four plays. Perkins capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to JR McKenzie for a 24-7 lead. Perkins suffered his ankle injury on ECHS’ final play of the first half. He finished 6-of-6 passing for 125 yards and one touchdown.
