Effingham County’s Markese Herbert usually rotates in at fullback for the Rebels, but with the Rebels’ leading rusher, Stewart Hamilton, out for Friday’s game against Jenkins, Herbert knew he would have a bigger role in the offense.
Herbert did a bit of everything in a memorable performance, helping lead his team to a 36-30 victory in double overtime.
Herbert rushed for 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries, caught two passes for 58 yards and helped pave the way for 117 yards by teammate Cameron Edwards with eight knockdown blocks.
“Markese plays on all our special teams and with him and Cameron (Edwards), we feel like we have two No. 1 fullbacks,” said Effingham County coach Rick Tomberlin, whose team improved to 5-3 and 4-0 in Region 3-AAAAA play. “He had some very key blocks down the stretch. Markese runs hard, blocks well and he can catch the ball. He’s a complete player who understands his role. He’s a team guy.”
Herbert helped set up the Rebels’ first touchdown when he caught a swing pass from quarterback Cal Baker and found open space on the right sideline for a 32-yard gain to the 6-yard line. Edwards took it up the middle for a touchdown on the next play.
“I thought I was going to be open, and I knew Cal would get me the ball. It was a bootleg pass and he put it right there,” Herbert said. “With Stewart out of the game, I knew I had to step up and be the best player I could be.”
Herbert was consistently breaking off chunks of yardage. He had carries of 10, 9, 8, 10 and 15 yards to help keep the chains moving all night.
He came up big when the game went into overtime, scoring both Rebel touchdowns.
“Everybody was calm in the huddle, but we were gritting our teeth,” Herbert said. “Cal (Baker), Cam (Edwards) and I were telling the guys ‘We do this in practice everyday. Let’s block hard and stay on our blocks.’ Coach always tell me ‘don’t be denied,’ so I wanted to get the job done in overtime.
“This was one of our biggest wins of the year,” Herbert said. “It was close, but we found a way to pick things up and win it.”
Other top performances:
• Esai Morrison, Windsor Forest: The senior running back rushed for 126 yards and scored all three Knight touchdowns as Windsor Forest beat Groves for its first win of the year.
• Robert Heyward, Calvary Day: Led the Cavaliers with 93 yards rushing in a win over Jenkins County.
• Cameron Rooker, Richmond Hill: Connected on three field goals in the Wildcats’ loss to Ware County.
• Chase Marini, Savannah Christian: The freshman quarterback ran for 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Raiders’ win over Portal.
• Cameron Edwards, Effingham County: The senior rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Jenkins.
• Paris Baker, Jenkins: Rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the Warriors’ loss to Effingham County.
• Malcolm Quarterman, Memorial Day: Rushed for a touchdown and two-point conversion in the Blue Thunder’s win over Edmund Burke.
• Taylor Faulk, St. Andrew’s: Rushed for 137 yards and two scores in the Lions’ loss to Hilton Head Prep.
• Keynnard Campbell, Bible Baptist: Ran for 156 yards, passed for 224 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in the Braves’ win over Holly Hill.
• Josh Mercer, South Effingham: The senior scored three touchdowns in a loss to Wayne County.
• David Grayson, Bethesda Academy: Ran for two scores and passed for another in the Blazers’ loss to Brentwood.
• Craig Sheffield, Windsor Forest: The senior recorded nine tackles and intercepted a pass to help lead the Knights to their first win with a victory over Groves.