By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD -- Effingham County's defense held South Effingham to 36 yards of total offense in the second half, and the Rebels' offense did just enough for a 10-0 win Friday at Rebel Field.
ECHS (2-3, 1-0 Region 2-6A play) won the cross county rivalry game for the seventh time in the last nine years and avenged a loss to the Mustangs last season.
Rebel quarterback Zach Garcia hooked up with Keion Wallace on a 46-yard touchdown pass to complete a 6-play, 94-yard drive in the first quarter and Wyatt Lein booted a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
ECHS' defense made the advantage stand up throughout the game. The Mustangs played shorthanded when starting quarterback Alex Cela left midway through the second quarter with an injury.
Rebel defensive back Miquel Allen came up with a key interception in the end zone late in the second quarter to ruin SEHS' best scoring opportunity.
SEHS slipped to 0-4. The Mustangs will be back in action next Friday at home against Brunswick.