SEHS’ Crofts continues to set high jump marks at Statesboro Relays

South Effingham’s Harrison Crofts clears the pole at 6 ft 8.5 in. setting a new school record. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

Crofts High Jump record — South Effingham’s Harrison Crofts clears the pole at 6 ft 8.5 in. setting a new school record. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

Updated: Apr 17, 2025, 3:11 PM

Published: Apr 17, 2025, 3:08 PM

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

STATESBORO – South Effingham’s elite high jumper Harrison Crofts had a dilemma last week.

He looked forward to attending Grad Bash – a fun celebration for high school seniors at Universal’s theme parks in Orlando, Florida, four hours from home on Friday night– but the Annual Statesboro Relays, one of the bigger track and field meets of the spring, was only a few hours later on Saturday morning.

So, Crofts weighed his options and made the decision a lot of teenagers would make.

Forget about sleep. He went to both.

And he ended up with two pretty good memories – a night out with friends Friday night and a school-record high jump of 6 feet, 8.5 inches shared with his athletic friends on Saturday morning.

“It was a long day but a lot of fun,” said Crofts, who originally set his record at 6-7 last April at the South Effingham Invitational and added an inch to 6-8 at Game Changer Apex Invitational in Richmond Hill (March 21).

Crofts, who has signed to compete at Navy, has the highest jump in Class 5A, according to Mile Split.

Schoolmate Justine Nevels posted a jump of 5-4 to win the girls’ high jump.

“Just watching Justine and Harrison progress has been amazing,” SEHS assistant coach Haywood Ellison said. “What separates them is their willingness to compete. They want to win and they take it personally.”

Ellison helped lead the team with head coach Rico Campbell out recovering from a medical procedure during the week.

Overall, it was a good day for South Effingham and Effingham County in a meet that has a history spanning more than 50 years.

Mustangs hurdler Syraiah Wilkins continues to shine in sprint events. She broke her own school records with 25.47 (topping 25.55) in the 200 dash and a 45.37 (topping 45.59) in the 300 hurdles. She also won the 100 hurdles.

Other SEHS first-place finishers were Makenzi Polk in the triple jump, Lydia Alderman in the 800 and Ben Fluegel in the 1600.

Marcus Campbell placed second in the pole vault with a vault of 10-6 while tying his school-record.

For Effingham County, Theron Claridge posted a time of 10:09.21 in the 3200 to set a school record while finishing third.

Chloe Adkins continued to dominate the long-distance events with victories in the 1600 and 3200 runs.

Other Rebel first-place finishers were Kayden Gadson in the long jump and the 4 X 200 relay team of Kameryn Watson, Deymi Ramirez-Romero, Gadson and Kyla Hicklen.

South Effingham girls finished first in team points, 166.50, two points ahead of Brunswick. ECHS was fourth in the nine-team field.

In the boys meet, the Mustangs placed second to Brunswick with the Rebels seventh.

The Region 1-5A track and field meet will be held on the same track in Statesboro on April 24.

Here are the ECHS and SEHS athletes who scored points at the Annual Statesboro Relays on Saturday:

ECHS girls – Kayden Gadson (100, 13.00, 5th; LJ, 16-0.75, 1st), Deymi Tamirez-Romero (100, 13.32, 8th), Kyla Hicklen (200, 27.01, 8th), Jada Praylo (400, 1:02.27, 2nd), Natalie Nelson (800, 2:40.21, 4th), Chloe Adkins (1600, 5:28.22, 1st; 3200, 12:00.72, 1st), Braylin Nease (100H, 17.70, 6th; 300H, 54.72, 8th; HJ, 5-2, 2nd), 4 X 100 (52.32, 5th), 4 X 200 (Watson, Ramirez-Romero, Gadson, Hicklen, 1:50.54, 1st), Kinsley Cates (HJ, 4-4, 6th), Nakera Hawkins (Shot, 33-4, 4th), Kameryn Watson (LJ, 14-11.75, 3rd).

ECHS boys – Jaden Praylo (200, 22.50, 6th), Merlin Flores (200, 24.35, 8th), Cohlin Croy (800, 2:13.85, 5th), Andrew Moseley (800, 2:17.10, 8th), Theron Claridge (3200, 10:09.21, 3rd), 4 X 100 (46.43, 6th); Cory Dekle (LJ, 20-0, 4th; TJ, 41-4, 4th), Devin Aaron (Shot, 41-0, 3rd).

SEHS girls – Marquavia Williams (100, 12.99, 4th; 200, 26.14, 4th), Syraiah Wilkins (200, 25.47, 1st; 100H, 14.78, 1st; 300H, 45.37, 1st), Lyla Gergerich (400, 1:05.18, 6th), Lydia Alderman (800, 2:25.30, 1st), Olivia Johnson (800, 2:43.77, 5th), Natalia Melegari (1600, 5:46.29, 3rd; 3200, 12:17.01, 2nd), Rebecca Long (1600, 6:11.20, 6th; 3200, 12:59.49, 4th), 4 X 100 (51.40, 2nd), 4 X 200 (2:04.22, 5th), 4 X 400 (4:51.94, 2nd), Justine Nevels (HJ, 5-4, 1st), Danni Lynn (Shot, 33-8, 3rd; Discus, 109-4, 2nd), Brooklynn Hughes (Shot, 32-6, 6th; Discus, 101-4, 4th), Allie Grassi (Pole, 8-0, 2nd), , Adelyn White (LJ, 14-1, 7th), Makenzi Polk (LJ, 14-0.50, 8th; TJ, 32-4.50, 1st).

SEHS boys – Jayden Hair (100, 11.29, 7th; 200, 22.03, 4th), Jeremiah Chance (200, 22.18, 5th), Hayden Still (400, 53.44, 7th), Nathaniel West (800, 2:09.28, 3rd), Ben Fluegel (800, 2:09.71, 4th; 1600, 4:44.61, 1st), Adyn Easton (1600, 4:58.03, 4th; 3200, 10:08.74, 2nd), Bryson Bonorato (1600, 5:22.89, 7th), Kenny Carlton (110H, 15.50, 5th; 300H, 42.38, 4th), 4 X 100 (43.34, 3rd), 4 X 200 (1:39.18, 5th), 4 X 400 (4:05.75, 4th), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 6-8.5, 1st; TJ, 40-7, 5th), Marcus Campbell (Pole, 10-6, 2nd), Tyler Long (Pole, 9-0, 4th), Christopher Brewington (LJ, 19-7, 8th), Hayden Lloyd (TJ, 38-3, 7th), Gage Roberson (Discus, 129-1, 4th).

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Mustangs Show Grit, Look Ahead After Tough Opener

Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

South vs. New Hampstead — Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Donald Heath

Updated: Aug 16, 2025, 5:22 PM

Published: Aug 16, 2025, 4:39 PM

GUYTON, Ga. – South Effingham freshman quarterback Liam Coburn decided to do something about his team’s struggling offense Friday night.

Facing third-and-long early in the fourth quarter, Coburn, not known for scrambling, took off out of the pocket and hit a defensive back so hard the defender’s helmet flew off.

The Mustangs bench erupted, and the hit provided some much-needed energy.

“I think our team is in a much better spot,” SEHS coach Loren Purvis said. “They care. They understand what it takes.”

The Mustangs couldn’t overcome a sluggish start and lost their season opener to New Hampstead 14-6. But the display of passion — often missing during the winless 2024 season — was readily apparent.

“We have nine more games left, and I think we’re going to build off this,” Coburn said. “This is a different team than in the past.”

A pregame downpour and flashes of lightning in the area delayed kickoff for about an hour and a half. The game ended at 11:52 p.m.

South Effingham vs. New Hampstead — South Effingham’s Alex Cabrera chases down a New Hampstead ball carrier. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Defense Keeps Game Close

Once the game started, South’s defense kept things close with four stops inside the red zone. The offense eventually scored on Maddox Vasquez’s 2-yard touchdown run with 5:58 left.

But the Mustangs couldn’t stop Phoenix running back Christian Kinlaw, who scored on runs of 31 and 20 yards and caught a two-point conversion from quarterback Erik Hockman to build a 14-0 lead through three quarters.

Kinlaw did most of his damage during the final three quarters, running for 160 yards on 18 carries. A year ago, New Hampstead rang up 56 points against South Effingham.

“I was very proud of the defense,” Mustangs middle linebacker Corey Woods said. “I think we took a major step as a defense. We had more energy. I love that. We all did our one eleven.”

Woods explained the team phrase “doing your one eleven” means there are 11 defenders on the field. You do your one job and trust your other 10 teammates to do theirs.

Special Teams, Offense Struggle

But SEHS special teams and offense couldn’t find traction. Special teams missed a short field goal and an extra-point kick after a touchdown, had a snap hit an upback during a punt formation, and surrendered an onside kick during a kickoff.

The offense had just two first downs until the final drive of the third quarter. Coburn’s 10-yard scramble and big hit—and a subsequent helmet-to-helmet 15-yard penalty assessed to the New Hampstead defense—highlighted South’s 11-play, 54-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

“I rolled out and saw a dude and I thought, ‘I’m going to get my lick on him.’ It got the energy going,” Coburn said. “We got a little momentum going, and we were gaining confidence as the game went on.”

Heart-Stopping Moment

After the touchdown drive, South’s defense stopped New Hampstead at the SEHS 19. On the Mustangs’ next offensive play, Woods just missed making a big play when he couldn’t haul in Coburn’s pass after gaining a step on the defender on a fly pattern.

“I’m going to move on from it,” Woods said. “I’m going to catch more balls in practice, and the next time I get that opportunity, I’ll be good.”

South had a last possession deep in its own territory in the final minute. Mustangs wide receiver Landyn White caught a short pass, took a hit on the sidelines, and laid motionless before responding to medical personnel, Purvis said. White was taken off the field on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

It was a sobbing moment that shook up players and coaches. Purvis tried his best to put the game in perspective in the silent locker room.

“The kids came out and competed. You can build on that,” he said.

Looking Ahead

South now has a bye week next Friday before traveling to Toombs County on Aug. 29.