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Rebels Set Scoring Records in 49-21 Win Over South Effingham
Rebels vs. South
Rebels wide receiver Trayvis Hunter dives across the goal line for a touchdown as teammate Isaiah Brown (21) looks on during Effingham County’s high-scoring win over South Effingham. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

GUYTON, Ga. – With its penchant for big plays, Effingham County continued its football dominance Friday night in the neighborhood’s biggest game.

The Rebels scored on their first four possessions but faced more resistance from feisty South Effingham before pulling away for a 49-21 victory in front of about 5,000 fans at The Corral.

It was ECHS’ sixth straight win in the annual showdown, which began in 1996 when South was formed after splitting from the county’s only high school at the time.

Friday’s combined 70 points were the most in the 32-game history of the series (now led by ECHS, 20-12), and the Rebels’ 49 points were the most scored by a winning team.

Rebels vs. South
Rebels strike fast! Jernard Albright recovers South’s muffed kickoff just 12 seconds in, setting up an immediate touchdown, with teammate Parker Nelson watching. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Rebels vs. South
On the very next play after the fumble recovery, Rebels’ Jernard Albright leaps over South’s Corey Woods (0) and, with Berry Randolph (9) clearing the way, lands on his feet and drives into the end zone for a 7-0 lead. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Rebels’ Big Plays Set the Tone

“The big play got us ahead by a couple of scores and put them in chase mode, which was what we wanted to do,” said ECHS coach John Ford, whose squad netted 202 yards and 27 points on its first 12 plays.

Senior quarterback Tucker Perkins ignited the big night with 283 passing yards – 216 in the first half – and four touchdowns. Perkins said the Mustangs’ defense left his receivers in man-to-man coverage.

Malik Letman, who entered the game with just two catches for 18 yards this season, finished with four receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. Trayvis Hunter caught TD passes of 13 and 8 yards, and Jmere Doe-Davis had a 26-yard scoring catch along with 122 rushing yards. Running back JR McKenzie, who leads the team with seven TDs, added scoring runs of 2 and 42 yards.

ECHS dominated total yardage, 435-200, and for the second straight week, the Rebels didn’t punt.

“They tried to blitz us like Brunswick did, but we kept getting the ball to playmakers,” Perkins said. “We came out hot in the first half.”

Rebels vs. South
Rebels quarterback Tucker Perkins (13) takes the snap as offensive linemen Landyn Ringnalda (60) and Payton Stafford (75) set up to pass protect. Perkins threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns, sparking Effingham County’s high-powered offense against South Effingham. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Lightning-Fast Start

Very hot. Within 12 seconds, hot.

ECHS (3-2, 2-1 Region 1-5A) recovered a muffed opening kickoff, and Jernard Albright scored on the next play on a quarterback run from a wildcat formation to make it 7-0. Doe-Davis added a touchdown catch on the next possession to make it 13-0, and the rout seemed on. Less than three minutes into the second quarter, the Rebels led 27-7. They won last season’s rivalry game 47-0 – the largest margin of victory in the series.

Rebels vs. South
Rebels’ Jmere Doe-Davis powers forward after a catch as South’s Landon Wells closes in. Doe-Davis finished with 122 rushing yards and a 26-yard touchdown reception, fueling Effingham County’s high-scoring attack. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Mustangs Show Fight

But South (1-3, 1-1) showed it has made up some ground in the series. Danny Murtha and Liam Coburn had first-half touchdown runs, and Maddox Vasquez’s 33-yard TD run on the Mustangs’ first possession of the second half made it 35-21.

The Mustangs drove into ECHS’ red zone on their next possession, but a fumble after a catch negated a chance to get within one score.

“The kids might make mistakes, but they’re going to come back. They’re fighters. Our kids do not give up. They do not lay down, and when they get hit in the face, they respond,” SEHS coach Loren Purvis said. Running back Khyran White displayed the Mustangs’ resolve with 102 hard-fought yards on 21 carries.

Rebels vs. South
South’s Hayden Still (18) barrels forward after a catch as teammate Jayden Hair (6) tries to block Rebels’ Jatiyus Scott (29). The Mustangs’ offense showed fight all night, with Khyran White rushing for 102 yards and Maddox Vasquez scoring a second-half touchdown. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Rebels vs. South
Mustangs’ Danny Murtha (1) battles for extra yardage as Rebels swarm for the tackle. Murtha scored a first-half touchdown, showing South Effingham’s determination despite falling behind in the rivalry game. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Emotions Flare in Fourth Quarter

The game got chippy late, with pushing and confrontations extending the fourth quarter. At one point, head coaches met at midfield for a discussion. ECHS finished the game with nine penalties for 100 yards.

Neither coach addressed the contentious fourth quarter in detail.

“There was a lot of emotion,” Ford admitted.

Rebels vs. South
Rebels defenders Holden Lovett (28) and John Baker (45) collapse on South’s QB Ian Coburn, pressuring him in the backfield. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)