By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
South Effingham’s football players were probably happy to see Brunswick’s Towns leave town Friday night.
The Pirates’ brother duo of Ja’Marious and J’Shawn Towns combined for four touchdowns to lead a 57-20 win over the Mustangs at the Corral.
The loss dropped SEHS to 0-9, 0-7 in Region 1-5A play. The Mustangs will look to avert their first winless season ever when they travel to Greenbrier for the season finale Nov. 8.
Despite the setback to Brunswick, SEHS’ offense showed signs of life against the Pirates who clinched the region championship with the win.
“We made Brunswick work for the most part,” Mustangs coach Loren Purvis said. “We fought hard and when you give that effort against one of the best teams in the state, it makes you feel like you could have done better against some of the other teams on our schedule.”
The Mustangs scored three touchdowns and piled up 233 yards of total offense against Brunswick. They scored on their first possession and displayed fight with a touchdown to start the second half.
Senior Corbin McGuire threw a touchdown pass to Corey Woods and ran eight yards for another score. Lawton Bowen had a 16-yard run for a touchdown to start the second half.
But Towns and Towns made it a tough night to play catch up. Ja’Marious, a wide receiver/running back, scored twice on runs and J’Shawn, a linebacker, returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns.
Brunswick (8-1, 7-0) won its third region title in the last four years and registered its seventh straight victory over South Effingham since 2015.
The Pirates, who have averaged 54 points during their last four games, began the scoring on Ja’Marious Towns’ 9-yard TD run on the opening possession.
But South marched back and McGuire’s 5-yard TD pass to Woods cut the lead to 8-7.
Brunswick answered with Josiah Gibbons’ 13-yard TD run to make it 15-7.
The Mustangs couldn’t keep pace when J’Shawn Towns forced a loose ball and returned the fumble 63 yards for a touchdown. William Heck scored to make it 29-7.
SEHS had some chances to get back in the game. McGuire had his scoring run and the Mustangs recovered an onside kick, but on subsequent drive, J’Shawn Towns returned an interception for a touchdown and Brunswick regained its three-score lead, 36-13.
South ended the half with a drive that stalled at the Pirates’ 9-yard line, but remained resolute.
SEHS sliced the Pirates’ lead to 36-20 when Bowen scored to begin the second half, but Brunswick ended the Mustangs comeback bid by scoring three touchdowns to pull away.
Kadin Ward led South with 75 rushing yards on 12 carries. McGuire ran for 48 yards on 13 carries and completed 5-of-10 passes for 48 yards. Woods caught three passes for 43 yards.
The Mustangs’ improved offensive showing bodes well for the finale with Greenbrier, which has lost three games in a row and will enter with a 3-6 record.
The Wolfpack, however, has had moments of solid play and gave Brunswick its toughest test in the region before falling 21-14.
“The message to our kids this week is, ‘You were playing (well) with one of the best teams in the state,’” Purvis said. “Keep working and good things will follow.”
