Obviously, this one didn't turn out (the way we wanted) but it still feels different. It stings but it stings in a different way than it has the last couple years because I think we have a good football team and I think the boys believe that, too.South Effingham coach Nathan Clark
VIDALIA — Happiness was clearly evident on Jason Cameron’s face at the end of Friday’s thrilling football game at Buck Cravey Field.
So was a sense of relief.
Vidalia’s third-year head coach dialed up a play against South Effingham that resulted in a game-winning, 63-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left.
“The play looked kind of lucky but we executed it really, really well, which was great to see,” Cameron said shortly after the Indians’ 21-14 season-opening victory. “We didn’t play our best football but right now a win is a win.”
Antonio Barron, who alternated between quarterback and running back throughout the contest, launched the decisive toss to Kaleb Bennett, who caught the ball near the home team sideline at the 10 and dodged two defenders en route to the end zone.
“He’s special, man,” Cameron said while discussing Barron. “He’s a great athlete and he’s only a junior so he’s got another year. He’s a hardworking kid who is a dynamic athlete.
“I’ve just got to get out of his way and let him go.”
Barron’s heroic efforts were needed because the Mustangs played solid football much of the time. They led 7-0 at halftime and didn’t trail until there was 9:54 left in the fourth quarter.
“They are a well-coached football team,” Cameron said. “With them going to the wing-T, they are going to hurt somebody’s feelings for sure. I guarantee you that.
“They have a hard-nosed football team. (South Effingham coach) Nathan (Clark) and that staff do an awesome job. We knew we were going to be in for a war. There was no doubt.”
The fight to the wild finish started midway through the final period. Trailing 14-7 and facing a fourth-and-8 situation at midfield, the Mustangs opted to punt and Tyler Quick got off a beautiful 40-yard kick, pinning the Indians at their 3 with 5:27 left.
South Effingham’s defense rose to the occasion, notching a three-and-out series that resulted in the Mustangs getting the ball back at the Vidalia 39 with 3:48 remaining.
Eight plays later, running back Jah’Tavion Weickerson bulled across the goal line from two yards out. Quick then booted the PAT to knot the game 14-14 with 24 seconds to go.
Vidalia had 19 seconds to work with after the ensuing kickoff return to its 30. Barron connected with Bennett for seven yards to open the series before they connected again on a play that temporarily erased memories of the painful way their season ended last year.
While holding a 21-20 lead in the final seconds of a first-round Class AA playoff game against Westside-Augusta, the Indians were victimized by a high punt snap that set up a winning field goal on the final play.
“That’s what I said to the team after the game,” Cameron said. “It’s about time we got on the winning side of one of these because we’ve had some tough luck in the past year.”
Clark, in his fourth season at South Effingham, didn’t harp on the final play of Friday's game. He lamented earlier mistakes that prevented his team from taking a bigger lead in the first half.
The Mustangs hogged the ball with their new wing-T attack during the first 24 minutes, getting off 11 more snaps than the Indians. They outgained the Tribe in total yards during the stretch 100-45.
The Mustangs pushed into Indians territory three straight times to open the game but were limited to a 23-yard scoring toss on fourth-and-6 from Aubrey Heath to Justin Martell on the first snap of the second period.
“We were able to get some first downs but we weren’t able to put the ball in the end zone but one of the three possessions,” Clark said.
Cameron, who coached with Clark at an all-star game, admitted the wing-T, a formation that employs lots of misdirection, created some problems for his defenders.
“We were lucky that we had a bye week last week and were able try to fine-tune against the wing-T because it’s a tough offense to prepare for,” he said.
South Effingham wasn’t as successful moving the ball in the second half until its game-tying drive. It was hindered by a botched snap exchange on a third-and-2 situation in Indians territory in the third quarter, plus several flags.
“In this style of offense, you can’t do that,” Clark said. “We also created some problems for ourselves defensively by jumping offsides several times. We also had unsportsmanlike conduct one time.
“We had several things over the course of the game. You just can’t make mistakes and we had some that cost us on both sides of the ball.”
The Mustangs finished with 174 total yards on 53 plays. Vidalia racked up 241 yards on 37 snaps.
South Effingham has an open date this week. They are set to return to action against Islands at The Corral on Sept. 2.
“We’re going to evaluate personnel and some things that we are doing,” Clark said. “We’ve got to see how we can fix it. Obviously, we are going to keep doing what we are doing but I think we have to evolve a little bit. I think we’ve got some guys we may have to move around to different spots.”
Against Islands, the Mustangs will play on a new artificial surface for the first time.
“We’re excited about that opportunity,” Clark said. “I feel like this team has bought in to what we are doing as much as any team I’ve had since I’ve been here. They believe in what we are doing.
“Obviously, this one didn’t turn out (the way we wanted) but it still feels different. It stings but it stings in a different way than it has the last couple years because I think we have a good football team and I think the boys believe that, too.”