So close: How Effingham Co. narrowly misses winning HS football region title vs. Brunswick
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BRUNSWICK – Speed kills, or at least can shatter one's region championship hopes.
Effingham County was burned on touchdown plays of 53, 68 and 73 yards in the first half and never could quite catch up with speedy Brunswick, falling 30-27 on Friday night at Glynn County Stadium.
The Rebels saw their dreams of winning a region title for the first time since 1995 dashed in a three-point loss to the Pirates for the second year in a row.
“We were obviously concerned about (Brunswick’s speed) going into the week,” ECHS coach John Ford said. “You do everything you can to mitigate it and rep it (in practice), but it’s hard to do.”
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Undefeated Brunswick, ranked ninth in Class 6A by ScoreAtlanta, won despite committing 18 penalties for 183 yards and had two touchdowns called back. The Pirates had three turnovers – one fumble was returned for a touchdown.
And there were other blunders that won’t show up as turnovers. Brunswick’s special teams failed to cover an onsides kick in the final minute. Earlier in the game, the Pirate punter couldn’t handle a bad snap and threw a hurried, incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs to ECHS.
But speed covers for mistakes. And wins region championships.
Here's what else you need to know from the game.
Takeaway sparks Effingham Co. rally
Trailing 20-7 early in the third quarter, the Rebels turned up the heat on Brunswick when Messiah Bacon just took the ball away from a Pirate ballcarrier and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown that seemed to come out of nowhere.
ECHS got within three points twice in the fourth quarter.
Mistakes by both teams mar the game
Brunswick had 18 penalties for 183 yards. The Pirates had two touchdowns called back because of a flag. ECHS had a touchdown on its opening drive negated by a flag.
Disappointing ending but playoffs ahead
Effingham’s quest for its first region championship since 1995 came to an end, along with a seven-game winning streak. However, the Rebels season didn't end with the loss. They will host Lee County, the No. 3 seed from powerful Region 1 next Friday night in the first round of the Class 6A state tournament. The Trojans won 6A state titles in 2017 and 2018 when Nathan Clark, now South Effingham’s head coach, was the offensive coordinator.
Early rushing success for Evans
ECHS junior running back Jayden Evans had 107 of his 133 rushing yards in the first quarter. It was Evans’ fourth straight 100-yard game and he topped the 1,000-yard mark (now 1,009) for the season.
He said it ...
“I’m proud of how we fought. We were down, but we were never out of it. It definitely hurts, but we have something to look forward to. We have a home playoff game and a playoff run to make.” – ECHS quarterback Nate Hayes.
Brunswick 30, Effingham Co. 27
ECHS|7|0|7|13|--|27
Brunswick|7|13|0|10|--|30
First quarter
B–Terry Mitchell 53 pass from Jarrod Elkins (McClain Fineran kick)
EC–Nate Hayes 8 run (Jonah Strickland kick)
Second quarter
B–Jamarious Towns 68 run (kick blocked)
B–Mitchell 73 punt return (Fineran kick)
Third quarter
EC– Messiah Bacon 15 fumble return (Strickland kick)
Fourth quarter
B–Fineran 32 FG
EC–Ashley Thompson 65 pass from Hayes (kick failed)
B–Jayden Drayton 3 run (Fineran kick)
EC–Keion Wallace 22 pass from Hayes (Strickland kick)
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Effingham County football team lost region championship Brunswick
