By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

HINESVILLE – “Next man up.” Effingham County football players know the phrase well.

Friday night, backup running back JR McKenzie was next in line when starter Jmere Doe-Davis tweaked his shoulder in the first quarter against Bradwell Institute.

McKenzie kept the Rebels running efficiently. The junior finished with 109 yards on 20 carries and scored touchdowns on bursts of 1, 5, 7 and 1 yards to lead ECHS to a 35-14 victory over the host Tigers at Olvey Field.

The win broke the Rebels’ three-game losing streak to begin the season and provided some positive encouragement heading into Friday’s matchup with rival South Effingham.  

“When opportunity speaks, you have to answer,” McKenzie said. “I just played my game of football and did what I could do for my team.”

ECHS (1-3, 1-1 Region 1-5A) began the game on a positive note when starting quarterback Tucker Perkins trotted onto the field for the first snap. Perkins suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in the first quarter against Brunswick a week earlier. Perkins said by Tuesday the shoulder felt better. He wore a brace for added protection.

“It was his non-throwing shoulder and we wanted to be safe. It was one play at a time,” ECHS coach John Ford said.

With Perkins, the efficient Rebels (8-for-8 during their first eight third-down plays) scored on their first five full possessions and easily pulled away. Perkins completed 14-of-22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown to Ryan Wells.

McKenzie kept the ground game rolling on the first possession with runs of 9, 13 and 8 yards before powering in from 1 to complete a 12-play, 77-yard drive that used more than eight and a half minutes of the clock.

It was an affirmation of roster versatility. Doe-Davis entered the game as ECHS’ leading scorer with seven touchdowns and McKenzie, his backup, had only 55 yards on 18 carries during the first three games.

“(McKenzie) has quick feet and an unbelievably strong lower body. He has really good balance, really good vision,” Ford said. “Sometimes, if you don’t hit him clean he just bounces out (of a tackle). We’re lucky to have a talented backfield.”

The Rebels had a 2-3 touchdown cushion most of the way against Bradwell. The Tigers (1-3, 0-2) hurt themselves with four turnovers and 80 yards of penalties. Two long touchdown catches were negated because of downfield-blocking penalties.

Sophomore quarterback Carlito Savea ran for a score and threw for another as a bright spot for the Tigers’ offense. Savea was 14-of-29 for 217 yards with one interception.

Standout receiver Tyon Jones had four catches for 96 yards. 

For ECHS, the win provides a reset. Last season, the Rebels won a region championship after a 1-3 start.

“These kids have been through some wars to start the season (after losses to Houston County, New Hampstead and Brunswick),” Ford said. “The speed of play, execution, effort – those are all lessons and you just have to keep going.”

McKenzie didn’t try to overthink anything.

“Coming in 0-3 and then winning a game in the region, this feels good,” McKenzie said. “You try to be 1-0 every week. So, we’re 1-0 this week and we’ll get to work to be 1-0 next week against South.”