SPRINGFIELD -- Pardon the bug stains on the new playing surface at Rebel Field.

Effingham County (2-2) squashed the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets 42-7 Friday night in their first home game on Sports Turf. The Rebels played their initial three games of 2022 on the road to give workers time to complete the $2.117,710 project that included extensive drainage additions.

The new piping proved helpful as it rained hard several hours before the game, letting up just before kickoff. The rain picked up again in the fourth quarter.

Despite the wet conditions, the Rebels were nearly perfect in the first half, rolling to a 28-0 lead. They tallied touchdowns on their first three offensive possessions and added blocked punt return for a score.

Nate Hayes connected on his first seven passes for 100 yards, including a 49-yard scoring strike to Timmy Brown in the second quarter. Keysean McCarr added two short first-half touchdown runs and  Landen Wright got the other early score by returning a punt blocked by Luke Roberts 10 yards.

The Jackets (0-3) were limited to 22 yards on 22 first-half plays. They rushed for minus-6 yards.

Effingham County continued the onslaught in the third period, getting an eight-yard scoring reception from Keion Wallace and a 1-yard touchdown run by Jayden Evans.

The fourth quarter began with a running clock. Southeast Bulloch scored on a touchdown pass with 13 seconds left against reserves.

In the passing department, Hayes finished 14 of 18 for 177 yards. Evans was the game's leading rusher with 84 yards on 13 totes.

The Rebels will be off next week before opening Region 2-AAAAAA play at home Sept. 23 against South Effingham.