As a linebacker, Andrew Taylor is usually a sworn enemy of running backs. Friday night, Taylor ran a few miles — or at least a few yards — in their shoes as he scored a pair of touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 40-0 victory over Butler.
    Three of Statesboro’s regular running backs were sidelined with injuries, so Taylor stepped up when the Devils had to find someone to get tough yards by the goal line.
    “We put in our ‘Blue’ package this week,” said Taylor. “I was excited to get in on offense. I didn’t know if I’d get the chance to score or not, but I was ready to help us get into the end zone any way I could.”
    Taylor handled the ball just twice, but made the most of both carries. His six yard touchdown run staked SHS to a 14-0 lead early in the game and he found pay dirt once again — this time from seven yards out – as the Devils’ lead ballooned in the second half.
    Even with his newfound offensive workload, Taylor continued to be a force on the defensive side of the ball. Taylor and the Devils forced three turnovers and held Butler to just 110 total yards, never letting the Bulldogs pose a serious scoring threat.

    With the postseason at hand, Effie Manahan has one more chance to add to her already impressive legacy on the softball diamond at Southeast Bulloch.
    Manahan entered the season as the unquestioned leader of the Lady Yellow Jackets and has lived up to the reputation, leading the team in batting average, home runs and runs batted in.
    Manahan has also contributed on the defensive side of things. A catcher for most of her first three years at SEB, Manahan has transitioned to shortstop in her senior season, leaving the catching duties to her younger sister, Mary Grace.
    “Effie is just a great team player,” said SEB coach Aimee Civalier. “Anything that we’ve ever asked of her, she’s done it and she’s done it well. Making that switch to shortstop is a big challenge, but I don’t think that anyone is surprised that she has been able to pull it off.”
    Her time at SEB is winding down, but Manahan’s playing days are far from over as she is verbally committed to play for South Carolina next year.
    The Jackets play Brantley County to determine their seeding heading into the GHSA Class AA state playoffs next week.