GUYTON, Ga. — Three consecutive senior classes at South Effingham have gone through their football careers without beating Effingham County.

But South safety Landyn White knows what it takes to end a long losing streak against the Rebels in another sport. Effingham County defeated South in basketball 17 straight times from 2007 to 2024.

During White’s sophomore and junior seasons, the Mustangs split their four basketball games against the Rebels.

“I got them back in basketball, but I need it in football,” he said.

Friday night, White and his teammates will get a chance to end Effingham County’s six-year winning streak in the football rivalry between the cross-county schools.

A rivalry rooted in familiarity

South enters the game with a 5-1 overall record and a 2-1 mark in Region 1-6A play. The Rebels (4-2, 3-0) sit atop the region standings.

“Obviously, a win would be huge for our program,” South coach Loren Purvis said. “They’ve been so good for the past few years. It’s almost been like a ‘big brother, little brother’ feeling for our kids.”

The rivalry began in 1996, when the area’s growth led to the division of Effingham County High School and the formation of South Effingham High School.

The schools have met on the football field every year since, with the Rebels holding a 20-12 advantage in the series.

“Not a lot of counties have just two schools in them,” Purvis said. “These are guys you might have shared classes with in elementary school. You definitely played rec ball together. You might have played middle school together.”

That familiarity can breed contempt, and the rivalry can get chippy.

“I didn’t grow up here, so, for me, if you went to another school, I didn’t like you,” White said. “(Last year), from the kickoff return, there was trash talking. Throughout the game, there’s trash talking. You have to keep your cool and don’t get off your game.”

Mustangs look to reverse the trend

For the third time in five years, South will enter the game with a better overall record than its northern neighbor. In 2023, the Mustangs were 3-0 while Effingham County was 1-3.

But the Rebels won 42-7. During their six-game winning streak in the series, they have outscored the Mustangs 211-31.

“We’re practicing hard, and the atmosphere here has changed. Day by day, we’re getting better,” South running back Khyran White said. “Our objective is just to win. It’s going to be a hard-fought, emotional game, and we just have to play our hardest. It would be good to win my senior year because we haven’t won the other three years.”

Purvis was the offensive coordinator under Nathan Clark when the Mustangs last defeated the Rebels, 41-27, in 2019. He said the formula for winning the rivalry game hasn’t changed.

“Just to come up there and play really hard and compete, that’s what we preach here. Give yourself a chance to win,” Purvis said. “The outcome will be a byproduct of how you play the game.”

Game-by-game results

Sept. 19, 2025: Rebels 49, Mustangs 21

Sept. 20, 2024: Rebels 47, Mustangs 0

Sept. 22, 2023: Rebels 42, Mustangs 7

Sept. 23, 2022: Rebels 29, Mustangs 3

Sept. 24, 2021: Rebels 34, Mustangs 0

Oct. 9, 2020: Rebels 10, Mustangs 0

Sept. 13, 2019: Mustangs 41, Rebels 27

Sept. 7, 2018: Rebels 30, Mustangs 17

Sept. 7, 2017: Rebels 43, Mustangs 20

Sept. 9, 2016: Rebels 34, Mustangs 7

Sept. 11, 2015: Mustangs 17, Rebels 14

Sept. 12, 2014: Rebels 14, Mustangs 7

Sept. 13, 2013: Rebels 22, Mustangs 8

Sept. 14, 2012: Rebels 36, Mustangs 22

Sept. 23, 2011: Mustangs 20, Rebels 14

Sept. 24, 2010: Rebels 35, Mustangs 17

Sept. 25, 2009: Mustangs 12, Rebels 7

Sept. 26, 2008: Mustangs 18, Rebels 13

Sept 7, 2007: Mustangs 20, Rebels 6

Sept. 8, 2006: Rebels 41, Mustangs 3

Aug. 26, 2005: Mustangs 33, Rebels 20

Aug. 27, 2004: Mustangs 25, Rebels 7

Sept. 5, 2003: Mustangs 9, Rebels 0

Sept. 6, 2002: Rebels 34, Mustangs 14

Oct. 5, 2001: Rebels 14, Mustangs 3

Oct. 6, 2000: Rebels 39, Mustangs 14

Sept. 10, 1999: Mustangs 35, Rebels 28

Sept. 11, 1998: Rebels 42, Mustangs 0

Nov. 14, 1997: Mustangs 13, Rebels 6

Sept. 5, 1997: Rebels 22, Mustangs 21

Nov. 15, 1996: Mustangs 14, Rebels 0

Sept. 6, 1996: Rebels 29, Mustangs 15