Effingham County withstood a dramatic fourth quarter rally by Jenkins as the Rebels prevailed 36-30 in double overtime in a Region 3-AAAAA game at Memorial Stadium.
View more photos from the game.
The Rebels were in trouble in the first overtime after an illegal procedure backed them up to the 7-yard line on a two-point conversion attempt. But quarterback Cal Baker eluded the rush and found Tim Pratt in the back of the end zone to tie it back up at 30.
Markese Herbert scored the go-ahead touchdown for Effingham in the second OT, but the Rebels’ two-point conversion failed.
On Jenkins' final possession, quarterback Paris Baker scrambled loose and fired a pass to Malik Benlevi, but he couldn’t corral it in the end zone. And Jenkins didn't score on its last two downs as the Warrior homecoming festivities were dampened.
The Rebels (5-2, 4-0 in region) played without leading rusher Stewart Hamilton, who was sidelined with an injury, and linebacker Dalton Mydell, who sat for most of the game but saw action in overtime.
“We had to make some adjustments, but we were able to pull it out,” said Cal Baker, who was 6 of 7 passing for 98 yards on the night. “On that two-point conversion, a linebacker slipped through, but I was able to step up in the pocket and saw Pratt in the end zone. He did the rest. This win ranks up there with one of our best, along with last week’s against Richmond Hill.”
Herbert replaced Hamilton and rushed for 73 yards and two scores. Cameron Edwards led the Rebel ground game with 117 yards and two scores on 24 carries.
Paris Baker started at quarterback for Jenkins and rushed for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one in overtime, to lead the Warriors’ ground attack. But his biggest play came at wide receiver.
Brenden Carter, a transfer from Bethesda Academy, entered in the second quarter and sparked the Warrior offense with a 50-yard scoring strike to Benlevi.
Carter was 9 of 19 for 154 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But the real drama came in the fourth quarter. With 3:44 remaining facing a fourth and 24, Carter rolled left to evade a heavy rush and fired a high bullet that Baker leaped high to grab in the end zone. But Clay Cabrera, who hadn’t attempted a PAT all night, missed the kick left and the score was tied at 22.
Effingham scored first after the Rebel defense made a stop to set up the offense with excellent field position at the Jenkins 36-yard line.
Baker hit Herbert with a swing pass for a 20-yard gain to the 6-yard line, and Edwards rumbled up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown on the next play. Baker took it in for the 2-point conversion as the Rebels led 8-0.
Jenkins tied it up in the second quarter on a 12-play, 67-yard yard drive. Paris Baker scored on a critical fourth down at the Effingham County 6-yard line. Baker dropped back and rolled to his left getting a bone-crushing tackle from Deonta Polite to spring him for the touchdown.
Jenkins made a huge stop on fourth down at its own 3-yard line with 2:47 left in the half to thwart a Rebel drive.
But Effingham took the lead after getting great field position once again to start a drive at the Jenkins 40-yard line. Cal Baker fired a pass to Ashton King, who was well covered in the end zone but somehow managed to come away with the ball for an 11-yard score. Baker hit Dusty Baker with a pass for the 2-point conversion with 57 seconds remaining in the half to give the Rebels a 16-8 lead.
Effingham 8 8 0 6 8 6 — 36
Jenkins 0 8 8 6 8 0 — 30
EC—Cameron Edwards 6 run (Cal Baker run)
J—Paris Baker 4 run (Baker run)
EC—Ashton King 11 pass from Cal Baker (Dusty Baker pass from Baker)
J—Malik Benlevi 50 pass from Brenden Carter (Baker pass from Carter)
EC—Edwards 7 run (pass failed)
J—Paris Baker 26 pass from carter (kick failed)
OT
J—Baker 4 run (Ralik Singleton run)
EC—Markese Herbert 2 run (Tim Pratt pass from Cal Baker)
EC-Herbert 3 run (pass failed)