SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Effingham County football coach John Ford isn’t fooled by Class 5A first-round opponent Clarke Central’s modest 5-5 record.
“Look who they’ve played. They’ve faced some tough competition and came out the other end battle-tested,” Ford said.
The Rebels (8-2), the No. 2 seed from Region 1, host the Gladiators (5-5), the No. 3 seed from Region 8, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at The Griff. The winner advances to play the Roswell–Chamblee winner on Nov. 21.
Clarke Central peaking at the right time
A closer look at Clarke Central’s schedule shows a team that has weathered early challenges. The Gladiators opened 1-4 while facing some of Georgia’s top programs — undefeated North Oconee (the defending Class 4A state champion and ranked No. 2 this season), Jefferson (9-1, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A and last year’s state runner-up) and Jackson County (9-1, Region 8 champion, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A).
Clarke Central has averaged 39 points a game over its final five contests, closing the regular season with a 48-14 win over Alcovy and a 59-24 victory over playoff-bound Winder-Barrow.
Rebels riding seven-game win streak
Effingham County enters its fifth straight postseason with plenty of momentum. The Rebels have won seven in a row, locking up the No. 2 seed and first-round home field advantage with tight road wins over Glynn Academy (45-42) and Statesboro (42-41).
Their eight regular-season victories are the most for the program since 2002. The offense, led by senior quarterback Tucker Perkins, has averaged 38.4 points per game — about three points higher than last year’s record-setting unit.
“I knew we had a good team coming back,” Ford said. “I felt good about the makeup and intangibles. I thought we’d have a successful season if they stayed humble, worked hard and trusted the process.”
Offense balanced and explosive
Perkins has completed 70 percent of his passes during the winning streak. He connected twice in dramatic fashion with Isaiah “Zeke” Brown against Statesboro — first to tie the game with 29 seconds left in regulation, and again in overtime before Jackson Wilhoite’s extra point sealed the win.
The backfield tandem of Jmere Doe-Davis and J.R. McKenzie has combined for 20 touchdowns. McKenzie, the backup, has scored in eight straight games.
Trayvis Hunter, younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Travis Hunter, leads the team with 46 receptions for 677 yards and six touchdowns.
Defense looks to tighten up
The Rebels’ defense has been inconsistent — often dominant early, then leaky late. Effingham County allowed just seven points in the first half against both Glynn Academy and Statesboro but gave up 35 and 34 points, respectively, after halftime.
Despite the ups and downs, several players have been reliable playmakers: safety Jernard Albright (50 tackles, 41 solo), linebackers Duff Davis (team-leading 54 tackles) and John Baker (45 tackles), and linemen Marshawn Monroe (team-high six sacks) and Landon Carter (16 tackles for losses).
Seeking a breakthrough win
Effingham County is chasing its first postseason victory since 2018. The Rebels have fallen in the opening round each of the past five years — a trend they’re eager to end Friday night at The Griff.
