By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

Effingham Co. rolls past South 34-0

GUYTON -- Effingham County’s stifling defense allowed just 33 total yards and the Rebels’ offense came alive in the second and third quarters to throttle South Effingham 34-0 Friday night before a packed crowd at The Corral.

ECHS quarterback Matthew Ford ran for a touchdown and threw scoring passes of 10 yards to Timmy Brown and 23 yards to Caleb Williams.

Rebels running back Xayvier Coppock carried 19 times for 103 yards and a score.

And kicker Luis Meza booted field goals of 30 and 36 yards with four extra points.

A key play came in the second quarter with ECHS clinging to a 3-0 advantage. South gambled on a fourth-and-2 play from the Rebels 47. Cameron Edwards was stopped about a half yard short and ECHS took over on downs.

Five plays later, with the aid of three Mustang penalties, ECHS went 54 yards for a touchdown, capped by a 1-yard run by Coppock.

Ford scored on the next possession in the final minute of the half and the Rebels took a 17-0 lead.

A 73-yard pass play from Ford to Khiry Wallace on the first play after intermission set up Ford’s TD pass to Brown.

Ford was 10-of-14 for 162 yards overall -- 7-for-7 for 140 yards in the third quarter.

ECHS raised its record to 3-1, 1-0 in Region 2-6A play. SEHS dropped to 1-3, 0-1 in region play.