Jeff Hamilton’s two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete, and the Burke County Bears held on for a 22-20 win Friday night at The Corral over the South Effingham Mustangs.

The Mustangs trailed 22-7 midway through the fourth quarter before rallying and cut the score to 22-20 with less than a minute to play on Gage Marks’ 1-yard touchdown run, but they couldn’t convert on the needed two-point play to tie the game.

Burke opened a 19-7 lead at the half.

With the win, the Bears take sole possession of first place in the Region 3-AAA (A) at 3-0 in the subregion and 6-2 overall. The Mustangs, 6-2 overall, fall back into a tie for second with Benedictine and Liberty County at 2-1.
The Mustangs play Hephzibah next for homecoming and end the regular season at Liberty County on Nov. 9.