The plan for the South Effingham Mustangs was to throw the ball as few times as possible.

Their second and last attempt – and lone completion – Friday night proved to be pivotal to the outcome.

Hayden Still caught Liam Coburn’s third down pass and raced to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, putting the Mustangs in front for good as South Effingham held on for a 26-21 win over Bradwell Institute at The Corral.

The loss dropped Bradwell to 2-5 on the season and 2-4 in Region 1-AAAAA, virtually ending any hopes at a state playoff berth. South Effingham, not regarded as a contender in the preseason for one of the region’s four spots, improved to 4-4 on the year and 4-2 in the region and in a tie for the last spot.

“We tried to keep the clock running and keep the ball in our hands,” Mustangs coach Loren Purvis said. “We wanted to keep it away from them. They’re really good and Coach (DeShon) Brock’s done a heckuva job over there.”

The Mustangs faced third-and-11 from their own 20-yard line when Coburn executed a play-action fake and found an open Still down the middle of the field. Coburn lofted a two-point conversion pass to Benja Crofts in the corner of the end zone to put the Mustangs in front 20-14.

South Effingham stretched the lead to 26-14 with 2:58 left in the game. Facing fourth-and-6, Purvis kept the offense on the field, and they drew an offsides penalty on the Tigers. Coburn converted a quarterback sneak on the next play for the first down.

Maddox Vasquez delivered the back-breaker on the next play, breaking free and sprinting 50 yards down the Mustangs sideline for South Effingham’s final score of the game.

The Tigers went 75 yards in six plays, with Jahbarri Felix’s 39-yard scoring strike to Carlito Savea bringing the Tigers within five. But South Effingham recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

“These kids do not quit,” Purvis said of his team. “Their hearts are bigger than anything. I’m proud of all of them.”

Khyran White ran for 142 of his game-high 151 yards in the first half, accounting for both of the Mustangs’ first two scores. He opened the scoring with an 8-yard run with 2:33 left in the first quarter, capping a six-play, 58-yard drive following Corey Woods’ interception. Bradwell also committed two offsides penalties on the possession.

But the Tigers, relying mostly on their running attack throughout the night, answered. Jacobi Pasley ended a nine-play, 75-yard march with a 16-yard touchdown run, spinning out of a pile of Mustangs’ tacklers.

On Bradwell’s next play from scrimmage, Pasley gave Bradwell a 14-6 lead, again churning away from the Mustangs defense and sprinting for a 72-yard TD run with 5:48 left in the first half.

White broke away for a 50-yard scoring run with 1:38 remaining in the half to bring the Mustangs within 14-12.