Effingham County and South Effingham will play for county football supremacy Friday night. Kickoff at The Corral in South Effingham is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Rebels beat their cross-county rivals last year at Rebel Field 41-3, reversing a three-year losing streak.

Effingham County is entering the game on the heels of a 31-0 drubbing of Richmond Academy. The Rebels’ defense limited the Musketeers to only 132 yards, including a miniscule 25 yards rushing.

South Effingham won its season opener, defeating Groves 35-21. The Mustangs used a punishing ground game, which piled up 294 yards, and opportunistic play for the win.

To repeat as county champions, ECHS coach Jack Webb said his team must bring its best.

“We have to play well overall,” he said. “They (South Effingham) have a good football team and this is a big rivalry.”

Webb said his team has looked sharp in practice and appear ready for the contest.

To earn his first win against his alma mater, SEHS coach Greg Manior said his team must be focused.

“They’ve (Effingham) got a strong running game and a great quarterback but more than that, they have a great defense,” he said. “We have to concentrate on moving the ball and mixing up the run and the pass to catch them off balance. Our defense has to stop their offense some of the time for us to be successful.”