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SEHS shows signs of life, but falls to Glynn Academy 31-0
SEHS mascot
In this file photo from earlier in the season, the South Effingham Mustangs mascot didn't have much to cheer about in the first half of the football season-opener with New Hampstead. The offense came alive in the second half, but SEHS lost 56-35 to New Hampstead. (Photo by Mark Lastinger for the Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

GUYTON – South Effingham’s football team put up some improved statistical numbers against Glynn Academy on Tuesday night Oct. 8 at the Corral.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, a key number on the scoreboard never budged.

South lost its fifth straight game to start the season, falling to the Red Terrors 31-0 in a game moved to Tuesday because of the potential threat of Hurricane Milton.

The Mustangs (0-5, 0-3 Region 1-5A) finished with 198 offensive yards and 14 first downs and made three trips into the redzone.

Defensively, South allowed a season-low 31 points, almost 20 points under its average entering the game. 

“It’s frustrating. I want our kids to be successful because a lot of them work really, really hard,” SEHS coach Loren Purvis said. “But it’s hard (for the players) when you’re in a year like this and you’re 0-5 and you can’t see anything beyond 0-5. We, as adults and coaches, saw we played harder tonight than against Effingham County (a 47-0 loss on Sept. 20). Ultimately, that’s going to pay off.”

Errors, however, hurt. Glynn blocked a punt which led to a field goal and two Mustang fumbles ended redzone drives.

And the Red Terrors, playing without a few key players, made big plays to keep South at bay.

Quarterback Tyree Chisolm ran 22 and 37 yards for touchdowns within about a four-minute span of the second quarter to build a 17-0 lead and a great catch by LaVonte Lockett on a 33-yard Hail Mary-like pass from Chisolm into the endzone on fourth down was a back-breaker with 36.2 seconds left in the half.

Da’sean Howard, who finished with 104 yards on 10 carries, broke a 74-yard TD run with 2:36 left to seal the win.

Kicker Tuck Tucker booted a 27-yard field goal and three extra points.

Chisholm ran for 79 yards on 10 carries and completed 8-of-13 passes for 99 yards.

But South was more competitive than the final score might suggest. The Mustangs emphasized their running attack and had a 67-37 edge in total plays. Their final three drives in the fourth quarter reached the Glynn 18, 13 and 16-yard lines before stalling twice on lost fumbles and when time expired to end the game.

Sophomore running back Khyran White ran 19 times for 71 yards.

“Khyran’s going to be really good. He comes to work every day and plays really hard. Success usually follows that,” Purvis said.

Corbin Mcguire had 59 yards on 19 carries and Kadin Ward added 35 yards on 10 carries.

SEHS’ passing game struggled with dropped passes and four sacks. Quarterbacks completed just 2-of-12 passes. JT Barkley’s 42-yard completion to Corey Woods was the lone highlight.

On special teams and defense, junior Jayden Hair returned a kickoff 54 yards to start the second half and added an interception in the endzone.

The Mustangs return to action at the Corral on Monday night at 6 against Evans (2-3, 0-3), a squad that has lost three games in a row, including 35-7 to Effingham County on Wednesday night.