SPRINGFIELD — Effingham County needed a win in the worst way to remain in the playoff hunt Friday. What the Rebels didn’t need was an injured quarterback on the first play of the game.
They got the latter and Glynn Academy took full advantage in a 35-14 Region 3-AAAAA win that was one huge step toward the playoffs for Glynn and one giant step backward for Effingham.
Rebels junior quarterback Phillip Brown was injured on the first play from scrimmage and returned for only a few more plays before leaving the game. It was huge blow to the Rebels, who were also without backup quarterback Jake Dangerfield after he was injured during the week.
Effingham still had senior running back Nieem Bartley, who took snaps in the shotgun most of the night and ran like a man possessed, but it wasn’t nearly enough to hold off the Red Terrors, who didn’t commit any turnovers and benefited from one costly Effingham miscue.
“This is the best game we’ve played all year,” Glynn Academy coach Rocky Hidalgo said. “We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot and it shows in the scoreboard.”
Effingham’s Bartley ran 34 times for 160 yards and also had to learn the quarterback position in a handful of days this week if a worst-case scenario came to fruition. That scenario struck early with Brown’s injury.
“It was very basic and very simple,” Effingham County coach Buddy Holder said of the plays Bartley and senior Dusty Baker took at quarterback. “You had to teach them in four days. They went out and played it with everything they had.”
Bartley managed to complete three passes on the night, but the second dimension of the Rebels’ offense was in trouble from the first snap of the game.
“We pretty much did the same thing (on defense),” Hidalgo said. “Obviously not having the quarterback helped. Their offensive line still did a good job up front.”
Glynn (5-3, 4-2 Region 3-AAAAA) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on Garrison Hurd’s 3-yard touchdown run, which was set up by a high punt snap by the Rebels deep in their own territory. Hurd scored again on a 7-yard run five minutes into the second half to put the Red Terrors ahead 21-0 and well on their way to either the third or fourth seed in the region.
“If we win the next two, I know we’re in,” Hidalgo said of the playoff scenarios. “I’m not worried about the rest of it.”
Effingham got on the board in the fourth quarter when Baker scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 28-7 with 7:40 left in the game. Baker added a 1-yard run in the final minute.
Effingham County (5-4, 3-4 Region 3-AAAAA) is off next week before ending the season Nov. 7 at Statesboro. That game is a must win to have any shot at the playoffs.
“It’s the battle of the Ogeechee River,” Holder said. “Who knows? If we win, we end up 6-4. Crazier things have happened.”
Glynn Academy plays host to Statesboro next week. The Terrors were led Friday by Hurd’s 62 rushing yards on eight carries. Quarterback Zach Lamper added 53 yards rushing and was also 9 of 15 passing for 124 yards and two scores, both to wideout Deejay Dallas.
GA 7 7 14 7 — 35
EC 0 0 0 14 — 14
GA—Adrien Cross 13 run (Scott Churchwell kick)
GA—Garrison Hurd 3 run (Churchwell kick)
GA—Hurd 7 run (Churchwell kick)
GA—Deejay Dallas 2 pass from Zach Lamper (Churchwell kick)
EC—Dusty Baker 10 run (Ben Heller kick)
GA—Dallas 21 pass from Lamper (Churchwell kick)
EC—Baker 1 run (Heller kick)