SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – A humbling thrashing in Brunswick left Effingham County’s football team searching for a chance to redeem itself.

In the past, Friday’s visitor to Rebel Field, Bradwell Institute, which entered the season without a winning record since 2017, would have been the perfect opponent to right whatever is wrong.

Last year, the Tigers won just two games – one against county rival Liberty County. This year, Bradwell opened its season with a loss to Liberty but followed that with a stunning 35-28 upset of Glynn Academy last Friday night – the last thing Effingham’s struggling defense needed to hear about its upcoming homecoming opponent.

Rebels’ Struggles Continue

Effingham County enters the game with a 1-2 record, 0-1 in Class 5A Region 1. The Tigers, whose Week 2 meeting with Westover was postponed due to inclement weather, are 1-1, 1-0 in region play.

“They’re going to have athletes, and they’re going to be fast like Brunswick’s players,” said Rebels coach John Ford after the 42-14 loss to Brunswick. “We have to have a better plan, and I have to have us in better positions to make plays.”

The Rebels defense has been gashed in each of its first three games. Houston County produced 567 yards and 56 points in the season opener. Effingham gave up three touchdowns in four second-half possessions against New Hampstead. Brunswick scored on its first four possessions en route to 520 yards against the Rebels in Week 3.

Meanwhile, the ECHS offense, which averaged about 35 points a game last season, couldn’t make enough plays to keep up with Houston County or Brunswick and needed a fourth-quarter rally to hold off New Hampstead.

“Good or bad, you have to flush it and go on to the next game,” Ford said.

Key Matchups

Effingham’s focus will be on stopping Bradwell quarterback Jah’Barri Felix, a Liberty County transfer who orchestrated the Tigers’ first win over Glynn since 2009, ending a 13-game losing streak.

Felix threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns and added 60 rushing yards with a touchdown run. His 54-yard pass to track star/wideout Jacoby Pasley with 1:26 to go capped a 14-point comeback. Another go-to receiver, Da’Wayne Chatman, had touchdown receptions of 74 and 48 yards.

Last year, ECHS topped Bradwell 35-14, with Rebel running back JR McKenzie rushing for 110 yards and four touchdowns. But the Tigers, who were beaten 57-12 by Glynn last year, aren’t dwelling on the past.

“Coach (DeShon) Brock does a great job, and they should have a lot of confidence after defeating Glynn, but we have to play better,” Ford said.