By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SEHS posts methodical 21-0 win over Screven County
Ashton Troutman
South Effingham defensive back Ashton Troutman (No. 2) makes an open-field tackle on Screven County wideout TaCorey Grant to prevent a big gain in the first quarter. South's defense registered its second shutout of the season in a 21-0 win over the Gamecocks on Sept. 29. (Photos by Mark Lastinger/Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

 

GUYTON – The Corral was a busy place Friday night.

South Effingham held Homecoming. Savannah's NBC affiliate WSAV televised the Mustangs' football game with Screven County. Low Country Radio did the radio broadcast and the Gamecocks' media did a live stream.

So there was ample chance for viewers and listeners to witness South's methodical 21-0 victory over Screven in a non-region matchup.

The Mustangs raised their record to 4-1, equaling the number of wins they had a year ago. They now go on the road for three straight weeks, starting with a Region 2-6A clash against Glynn Academy in Brunswick on Oct. 6.

Against Screven, a Class A school, South answered questions about its resiliency to bounce back from a devastating 42-7 loss to rival Effingham County a week earlier.

"The past three years, after every loss to Effingham, that next Monday everyone would be down," SEHS senior quarterback Kaden DeGenaro said. "We were different this time. There was actual energy. For once, we had turned the page after a hard loss."

It was a winning show for the homecoming fans, who were asked to dress in gold to bring awareness for the fight to cure childhood cancer.

The Mustangs had a comfortable 14-0 lead before senior Anna Elliott was named the homecoming queen at halftime.

DeGenaro scored on a 1-yard run on SEHS' first possession and hooked up with Ashton Troutman for a 34-yard TD pass on the third possession.

Gannon White
South Effingham running back Gannon White (No. 36) has a wall of blockers en route to his 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter against Screven County on Sept. 29.
Gannon White's 67-yard TD run made it 21-0 about three minutes into the third quarter.

White was the game's leading ball carrier with 92 rushing yards on four carries. Kadin Ward had 62 yards on 11 carries.

South finished with 262 yards – 205 rushing and 57 passing.

And the defense, led by linebackers Chase Whittle, Corbin McGuire, and Jeremiah Washington, limited the Gamecocks to 163 yards of total offense while pitching a shutout.  

"We had a good week of practice," South coach Loren Purvis said. "Monday is usually the worst day because you're teaching and correcting (the mistakes from the previous game). You have to be on them to work. But they came to work and it showed."

It was a homecoming, of sorts, for Purvis as well. He was back on the sidelines after serving a one-game suspension for arguing an official's call against Bradwell Institute.

He joked about arriving at Monday's practice with Troutman, who was the source of the disagreement after being whistled for targeting. He also missed the ECHS game.

"It felt great to be back," Purvis said.

Now the Mustangs' focus shifts to Glynn, which was a surprise winner over two-time defending region champion Brunswick on Sept. 22. The Red Terrors were equally surprising in a 42-3 loss to Effingham County last Friday.

South hasn't beaten Glynn since an 8-7 win in 1997. The Mustangs are 2-8 overall against the Red Terrors.

"I think they're going to be proud (to make amends for the lopsided loss to Effingham)," Purvis said. "They're going to be good and they're going to be well-coached. We have to have a great week of practice and be ready to roll."