By Josh Aubrey
Special for the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – Most of the offensive success for the Statesboro Blue Devil football team has come on the ground this season. Friday, Blue Devil quarterback Beckham Jarrard found a different route to success.
The freshman set a school record with five touchdown passes, all in the first half, to lead visiting Statesboro to a 41-7 victory over South Effingham at the Corral.
“We talked about starting fast and we did that tonight,” said SHS coach Matt Dobson. “We scored on the opening possession, created a turnover and scored again. I’m proud of our guys for playing up to our standard and no matter the opponent, doing what we needed to do.”
Jarrard completed 15-of-27 passes for 230 yards and five touchdowns. Jarrard has already thrown for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns with two games still left in the regular season.
“Beckham had a great game and our receivers did a great job,” Dobson said. “We had some good matchups on the perimeter and had guys get open and make plays with the ball in their hands after the catch as well.”
Statesboro opened with Jarrard connecting with Davis Harrison on a 54-yard touchdown for a 6-0 lead. Jaden Cope picked off quarterback J.T. Barkley’s pass on the Mustangs’ first possession and returned it to the SEHS 20-yard line.
Jarrard then found Keon Childers with a screen pass. Childers broke a couple tackles en route to the second touchdown and a 13-0 Blue Devil lead.
Statesboro’s defense continued to stymie the Mustangs on the next possession. Keyonne Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it to the Statesboro 41-yard line. Jarrard turned the turnover into points when he hooked up with Tony Nesmith for a 10-yard score and a 20-0 lead.
On their next series, South Effingham tried a fake punt from its own 20-yard line. The pass from punter Donato Urbino was picked off at the Mustang 45-yard line by the Blue Devils Ja’Kori Cope. The play set up Jarrard’s fourth TD pass, a 21-yard screen pass to Josh Brockett to give Statesboro a 27-0 lead.
Just before the half, Statesboro added another score. The Blue Devils managed to get a first down with just over three seconds remaining. Jarrard was able to hustle up to the line and found Childers all alone in the end zone for a 34-0 lead.
Statesboro finished its scoring on a 2-yard run by Chop Heath in the third quarter.
South Effingham prevented a shutout by scoring on a 2-yard run by Kadin Ward in the fourth quarter.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Blue Devils have to win out for a chance at the postseason.
“We definitely needed to build a little momentum tonight,” Dobson said. “We have two more games left against a couple of really good teams. We have to get back to work and get ready for next Friday.”
Statesboro will travel to Effingham County on Nov. 1 for a 7:30 start. SEHS will host region-leader Brunswick.
