SPRINGFIELD -- Messiah Bacon's block of a field-goal attempt and Timmy Brown's subsequent 70-yard return with the loose ball for a touchdown just before halftime keyed Effingham County's hard-fought 35-22 victory over Evans Friday night on Homecoming.

The Rebels (6-2, 4-0 Region 2-AAAAAA) won their sixth straight game, equaling the school's best streak since 1995 when the team won eight in a row. ECHS also won six straight in 2002.

The Bacon/Brown special team's play came with the score tied at 14. Evans (3-4, 1-2) lined up for a 22-yard field goal try with less than a minute before half but the block and return provided a 10-point swing and a 21-14 Rebel lead.

ECHS scored on its first two possessions of the second half to pull away.

Jayden Evans had 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Damion Gordon added 72 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries and Keion Wallace caught a 52-yard touchdown pass.

Quarterback Nate Hayes threw for 161 yards and a score despite only playing only one possession into the third quarter because of a sprained ankle.

The Evans Knights finished with 356 offensive yards and made things interesting in the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but the final quarter might be better remembered for a streaker running across the field during a stoppage of play.

ECHS will have a bye week this Friday before traveling to Lakeside Evans on Oct. 28.