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Mustangs can’t keep up, fall to Glynn Academy 35-0
Chase Whittle
Mustangs’ No. 6 Chase Whittle creates a Terrors’ fumble. (Photo by Birk Herrath/Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

 

BRUNSWICK – Many high schoolers have read the Frank Stockton short story, "The Lady, or the Tiger?"

The story is about an accused man who is forced to choose one of two doors for justice. Behind one is a beautiful woman whom he will marry. Behind the other, a tiger that will kill him.

South Effingham came into Friday's game with Glynn Academy with the chance of seeing two different Red Terror teams run from the locker room doors of Glynn County Stadium.

Was the squad that knocked off two-time defending region champion Brunswick coming through those doors?

Or was a squad that lost by 46 points to Effingham County a week later about to enter?

The doors opened and it wasn't a pretty sight for the Mustangs.

South was dominated along both sides of the line of scrimmage right from the start and Glynn roared to a 35-0 victory to send its alumni home happy on the Terrors' homecoming.

"Glynn Academy definitely came out with more fire than they did the last week (in a 49-3 loss to Effingham County)," SEHS coach Loren Purvis said. "They really came off the ball. We didn't see that on film against Effingham."

The Terrors (5-2, 2-1 Region 2-6A) used a power running game to amass 385 offensive yards (257 in the first half) and scored touchdowns on five of their seven full possessions.

Running back Willie Butler ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Zeb Jackson added a 34-yard score on a perfectly executed reverse, and quarterback Jayden Ellis threw a perfectly placed pass high enough that only 6-foot-4 receiver David Prince could haul it in for another TD.

SEHS' wing-T attack, a key to the team's 4-1 start coming into the contest, managed just 26 rushing yards on 29 attempts.

Kaden DeGenaro
Mustangs’ QB Kaden DeGenaro has a keeper for a gain of some yardage. (Photo by Birk Herrath/Effingham Herald.)
"When we can't run the football it's going to be a long night and that's what happened," Purvis said. "I was proud of our kids coming back in the second half and putting together a few drives."

The Mustangs' second-half fight was a bright spot. SEHS drove into Glynn territory three times after intermission. Twice, South was in the red zone.

But a dropped fourth-down pass stalled one drive.

The Mustangs executed a 29-yard pass play on a fake punt when Tyler Quick hit wide open Hayden Purvis, but Glynn's lone defender in the secondary defeated a blocker and made a touchdown-saving tackle.

South (4-2, 0-2 Region 2-6A) had a chance to avert the shutout in the fourth quarter, but a 39-yard field-goal attempt drifted wide left.

The Mustangs had 129 of their 155 total offensive yards in the second half, but didn't net a yard on the ground. Quarterback Kaden DeGenaro was sacked five times.

"We have to come out in the first half and play with a sense of urgency and not be so flat," said Coach Purvis, about his squad falling behind 21-0 during the opening 24 minutes.

South will get another chance Friday on the road against Lakeside (Evans), a squad the Mustangs beat 26-13 last season.

Lakeside (2-4, 0-2 Region 2-6A) has lost three in a row, but has shown spurts of good play. The Panthers led Brunswick last week 15-7 after the first quarter before falling 46-22.

Lakeside has wins over 0-7 Aiken, S.C., and 0-6 Greenbrier.

"We'll go back to work and we'll be ready to play (Friday)," Purvis said.