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South Effingham Football Dominates Johnson 39-0
South Effingham football
South Effingham running back Josh Mims heads toward the end zone for a touchdown Friday night against Johnson. Mims rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on eight carries as the Mustangs rolled to a 39-0 victory, improving to 2-0 on the season. (Craig LeTourneau / Effingham Herald)

GUYTON, Ga. — South Effingham started fast, hit a lull, then went into a full gallop Friday night.

The Mustangs rolled past Johnson 39-0 at the Corral, improving to 2-0 and recording their first shutout since a 21-0 victory over Screven County on Sept. 29, 2023.

South Effingham will face another Savannah public school next Friday when Windsor Forest comes to town. Johnson fell to 1-1.

With light, intermittent rain falling most of the night, South Effingham's offense generated 317 yards while its defense kept Johnson out of the end zone.

“Our offense went down and scored pretty quickly in the first quarter, then we sputtered in the second quarter,” South Effingham coach Loren Purvis said. “Give Johnson some credit. They played hard. We picked it back up in the third quarter.

“Our defense played lights out all night.”

South Effingham football
South Effingham quarterback Liam Coburn completed 7 of 14 passes for 130 yards Friday night as the Mustangs shut out Johnson 39-0 to improve to 2-0. Coburn also connected with Jackson McClure on a 44-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. (Craig LeTourneau / Effingham Herald)

Mustangs strike quickly

It was South Effingham's first regular-season matchup with Johnson since 2011. Purvis said his relationship with Atomsmashers coach Steven Smith helped the schools agree to meet.

The teams played a preseason game in 2024 and have participated in some OTAs (organized team activities) during the summer.

“I think everyone struggled to make a schedule with the (postseason rankings determining postseason play),” Purvis said. “We set the game up a year ago.”

The matchup worked out well for the Mustangs.

Khyran White, who missed three quarters because of a sprained ankle in the opener against Screven County, scored a first-quarter touchdown. Quarterback Liam Coburn then connected with Jackson McClure on a 44-yard scoring pass to give South an early 12-0 lead.

South Effingham football
South Effingham junior Jackson McClure had a big night against Johnson on Friday, catching six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown as the Mustangs rolled to a 39-0 victory. McClure's 44-yard touchdown connection with Liam Coburn helped South take a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. (Craig LeTourneau / Effingham Herald)

South pulls away after halftime

Cade Womack, Josh Mims, Ashton Holder and Danny Murtha added second-half touchdowns as South Effingham pulled away.

McClure, a junior, caught six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Mims led the rushing attack with eight carries for 72 yards.

Coburn completed 7 of 14 passes for 130 yards.

South Effingham football
South Effingham defensive lineman Karter Wilson puts pressure on Johnson quarterback Shamari King Friday night as the Mustangs' defense turned in its first shutout since 2023 in a 39-0 victory. (Craig LeTourneau / Effingham Herald)

Special teams show improvement

Purvis also saw improvement from his special teams.

The Mustangs blocked a punt and recovered a kickoff.

Against Screven County in the opener, two bad snaps in punt formation led to both of the Gamecocks' touchdowns.

The improvement was another positive for a South Effingham team that heads into its third game of the season at 2-0.