'We learned some hard lessons.' Six straight wins later, Effingham is surging toward playoffs
Follow Effingham high school sports all year long at SavannahNow.com. Support our coverage of the Mustangs, Rebels and more by becoming a digital subscriber at SavannahNow.com/subscribenow.
SPRINGFIELD – The football season got off to a rough start for Effingham County. The Rebels had flaws exposed while losing their first two games.
ECHS still has flaws, but lately seems to make more plays than its opponents.
Friday, the Rebels’ stellar defense was gouged often but the offense was hard to stop during a 35-22 victory over Evans.
It was the sixth straight win for the Rebels, equaling their longest winning streak since 1995 when they won eight in a row. They also had a six-game winning binge in 2002.
“We learned some hard lessons (in early-season losses) at Richmond Hill and Burke (County). We had to make some hard decisions on who we wanted to be,” ECHS coach John Ford said.
More on the Rebels: Effingham County football making a run for it with Evans
Meet Effingham's 'Terrific 20': The fall athletes to watch at South Effingham, Effingham Co.
Evans tried to play spoiler Friday on the Rebels’ homecoming. The Knights had five plays of 35 or more yards and produced 356 offensive yards.
But ECHS never flinched and its three-touchdown run in the second and third quarters provided the difference.
“Obviously, the stat sheet doesn’t look great so we have some more work to do,” Ford said.
Here's what else you need to know about the Rebels' latest win:
Blocked field goal changes momentum
Just before halftime with the score tied at 14, Evans’ Tyler Wallace lined up for a 22-yard field-goal attempt to take the lead.
But Rebels’ Messiah Bacon swept in and blocked the try.
The loose ball bounded to the 30 where Timmy Brown scooped it and had a convoy of blockers en route to a momentum-changing 70-yard TD return and a 21-14 lead with three seconds left in the half.
Running back records career night
Junior running back Jayden Evans carried the ball 27 times for a career-high 150 yards and two touchdowns.
It was the third time in his last four games, Evans topped the 100-yard mark in a game.
Rebels take over first place in region
With undefeated Brunswick (7-0, 3-0 Region 2-6A) off on Friday, ECHS (6-2, 4-0) slips into first place in the region standings.
The Rebels and Pirates meet the final week of the regular season, Nov. 4.
Effingham has next week, Oct. 21, off before returning to action Oct. 28 at Lakeside Evans.
Quarterback plays through pain
Junior quarterback Nate Hayes turned in a gutsy performance while playing on a sprained right ankle into the third quarter.
Hayes completed 7 of 13 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.
His last play might have been his best, taking a shot from a defensive lineman while delivering a long pass that Keion Wallace caught and turned into a 52-yard TD.
He said it ...
“On the extra points, he was close to blocking both, but he dug down deep and found something extra and Timmy made a play and I’m proud of those 10 (other) guys running their guts out trying to get down and get in front (to block). A lot of things can go wrong in that situation, but I’m glad we executed all the little things correctly.” – ECHS coach John Ford about Messiah Bacon’s blocked field-goal attempt just before the end of the first half.
EFFINGHAM CO. 35, EVANS 22
Evans|7|7|0|8|--|22
ECHS|7|14|14|0|--|35
First quarter
EC–Jayden Evans 1 run (Jonah Strickland kick)
Evans–Dontevius Williams 47 pass from DJ Walton (Tyler Wallace kick)
Second quarter
EC–Evans 4 run (Strickland kick)
Evans–Rayshaun King 36 run (Wallace kick)
EC–Timmy Brown 70 blocked kick return (Strickland kick)
Third quarter
EC–Keion Wallace 52 pass from Nate Hayes (Strickland kick)
EC–Damion Gordon 8 run (Strickland kick)
Fourth quarter
Evans–Walton 1 run (Walton run)
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Effingham County football has won 6 straight games after early losses
