GUYTON, Ga. — Optimism reigns for South Effingham football this season. A year ago, the Mustangs went from zero wins to four, tying the school’s biggest improvement in one season.

Now, a shot at their first playoff appearance since 2019 no longer seems like a foggy dream.

A spring game victory over Wayne County and a preseason tie with Statesboro, a playoff team last season, kept the 2025 momentum rolling.

“We’ve gotten better, but when you look at our opponents, they’ve gotten better, too,” SEHS fourth-year coach Loren Purvis said. “Nothing comes easy, and if you want something in football, you have to take it, and you take it by working hard.”

Young players step up

Purvis began his tenure last season by showing faith in budding underclassmen, with a sprinkling of high-character seniors adding leadership.

Corey Woods, Jayden Hair and Damien Washington have graduated, but their spirit to turn things around lingered.

“I think what we’ve lost in experience, we might have replaced with high energy and maybe just as much athleticism,” Purvis said. “That’s every year in high school football. It’s about how well you can get (the newcomers) prepared.”

First-year offensive coordinator Will Chomskis, the son of highly regarded Lincoln County coach Lee Chomskis, will direct a wing-T offense that improved by more than seven points per game last season.

Liam Coburn, thrust into the starting quarterback role as a freshman last season, took some early lumps but finished strong as a dual threat, throwing for 546 yards and six touchdowns and running for 235 yards and five scores.

He threw three touchdowns and ran for the game-winning score in overtime to beat Greenbrier in a memorable midseason game.

“For him, a lot of (making forward strides) was understanding the concepts of our playbook,” Purvis said. “He’s put in the work, and we can trust him with more of the offense.”

At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, hard-nosed senior running back Khyran White was a prototype for the wing-T. The first-team all-region honoree tallied 1,002 rushing yards, including four 100-yard games, and five touchdowns.

“He’s a good bruiser, but he can make you miss in the open field, too,” Purvis said.

Kiran Boggess, a senior, backs up Coburn, while speedy sophomores Josh Mims and Darius Lane should get time behind White, who will help at linebacker on defense as well.

Seniors Maddox Vasquez (194 rushing yards, six TDs) and Danny Murtha (111 yards, three TDs) were productive while sharing time at wingback. Junior Cade Womack and senior Ashton Holder, a transfer from Veterans last year, add depth.

Juniors Brian Ford, Semaj Calhoun and Jackson McClure and seniors David Hernandez and Landyn White are targets on the outside.

Purvis called his offensive line “probably on the smaller side, but they’re grittier than anybody we play.”

Bookend tackles junior Tanner Horton and sophomore Sam Blaine, both about 6-2, 260 pounds, anchor the offensive line. Guards Caleb Hilton and George Helmey and center Richie Turner — all sophomores — will be counted on inside.

Woods’ graduation should open up more playing time for junior tight end George Bushatz.

Defense keeps improving

Defensively, the Mustangs made great strides last year under coordinator Carson McClellan, whose 4-2-5 alignment allowed about 17 fewer points per game than in 2024.

Woods, the leading tackler, is gone, but second-leading tackler Cole McMurry, a sophomore linebacker who had 63 tackles, slides into the spotlight. Murtha, who had 51 tackles, moves from safety to linebacker.

Senior Gage Roberson, juniors Karter Wilson and JJ Santana and sophomore Brennan Weston restock a defensive line that lost three starters.

The defense’s strong suit is the secondary, led by Calhoun, a first-team all-region cornerback who picked off three passes and recovered a fumble a year ago. Senior Hakeem Simmons will be the corner on the opposite side.

Vasquez leads the safeties with 54 tackles. Landyn White and Ford add good speed.

Junior Jack Wohler and sophomore Kenneth Cruz are battling for kicking duties.

Playoffs within reach

South (4-6, 4-4 in Region 1-5A a year ago) entered Week 9 with a shot at the state tournament. A little improvement might mean big games in November.

The Mustangs haven’t played in the state tournament since 2019.

“I think this team, more than any other year I’ve been here, cares about each other and wants to do things together,” Purvis said. “I don’t think they care who does what as long as we do it. That’s a big step for a high school team, particularly in this day and age.

“This is Year 4 for me, and I can definitely say the program is in a better spot than it was in Year 1.”

TEAM SNAPSHOT

Head Coach: Loren Purvis (fourth season, 10-20)

2025 Record: 4-6, 4-4 Region 1-5A

Key Returnees: QB Liam Coburn, RB/LB Khyran White, WR/CB Semaj Calhoun, LB Cole McMurry, RB/S Maddox Vasquez

Key Losses: Corey Woods, Jayden Hair, Damien Washington

Five Games You Can’t Miss:

Aug. 21 vs. Screven Co. (Gamecocks won 12 games, advanced to Elite Eight of Class A playoffs)

Sept. 18 vs. Greenbrier (teams combined for 62 points in an entertaining shootout won by South in OT)

Oct. 16 at Effingham County (county rivals)

Oct. 23 at Brunswick (Pirates are the two-time defending region champions)

Oct. 30 vs. Glynn Academy (Mustangs have never beaten Glynn in 11 meetings dating back to 2008)

FIVE GAMES YOU CAN’T MISS

Aug. 21 vs. Screven Co. (Gamecocks won 12 games, advanced to Elite Eight of Class A playoffs) Sept. 18 vs. Greenbrier (teams combined for 62 points in an entertaining shootout won by South in OT)
Oct. 16 at Effingham County (county rivals)
Oct. 23 at Brunswick (Pirates are the two-time defending region champions)
Oct. 30 vs. Glynn Academy (Mustangs have never beaten Glynn in 11 meetings dating back to 2008).