BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Effingham County’s football team had a Friday night to forget in Brunswick. The Rebels’ struggles started early as the big-play Pirates looked every bit the part of a defending region champion at Glynn County Stadium.
Dominated on both sides of the ball, ECHS suffered its largest margin of defeat during the regular season in Coach John Ford’s five-year tenure, falling 42-14 to Brunswick in the Class 5A Region 1 opener for both teams.
“We have to play better and I have to coach better,” Ford said. “We got punched in the mouth. It’s on me, I have to coach better.”
It was a left hook that landed on the chin that the visitors never saw coming. Under Ford, the Rebels’ previous worst regular-season margin of defeat was 27 points in a 34-7 loss to Richmond Hill in 2022. Three of the last four clashes between Effingham County and Brunswick were decided by three points – two won by the Pirates and one by the Rebels.
Pirates dominate offensively
This time, Brunswick (2-1) used its power and speed to overwhelm ECHS (1-2), generating 530 total yards, including 388 on the ground. The Pirates scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and didn’t face a third-down play until their fifth.Junior running back Nigel Gardner, showing track sprinter speed, rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Florida-bound tight end Heze Kent, 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds, scored twice in wildcat quarterback formations near the goal line. Quarterback Grant Moore completed his first eight passes en route to a 10-of-16, 132-yard passing night.
Brunswick’s defense harassed ECHS quarterback Tucker Perkins all night, sacking him six times and stifling a potent passing attack. Perkins had returned after missing a game with a sprained ankle. Late in the fourth quarter, Rebels running back Jmere Doe-Davis suffered an injury on a 2-yard run and was helped off the field.
Rebels’ offense shows flashes
JR McKenzie scored both ECHS touchdowns on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and a 2-yard run in the fourth. The Rebels finished with 199 total yards, including 71 in the fourth quarter after Brunswick built a 42-7 lead.Nothing seemed to go right at the start. Brunswick received the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in nine plays, including two 28-yard gains, capped by Moore’s 7-yard touchdown run. ECHS was penalized for delay of game on its first play and threw an interception on the next. Moore then found Israel Henry for a 39-yard gain to the Rebel 2-yard line, setting up Kent’s score two plays later. Within 28 seconds, ECHS trailed 14-0.
The Rebels answered with a drive capped by McKenzie’s 4-yard run. A 43-yard screen pass from Perkins to Devaughn Jones helped set up the march, and a Pirate pass interference penalty on fourth down kept the drive alive. But ECHS’ offense stalled with three straight three-and-outs, while Brunswick continued to move the ball in big chunks.
Brunswick had 327 yards on 32 plays in the first half and led 28-7. Gardner scored on a 69-yard run up the middle on Brunswick’s first play of the second half to make it 35-7.
