At about the same time, about 70 miles apart, how to end a high school football game was put on display.

In Springfield, as the visiting Benedictine Cadets marched their way to the Effingham County Rebels’ 1-yard line in the waning moments of the game, they opted to take two kneeldowns, genuflecting in the face of the goal posts with a 27-7 lead. Veteran Rebels coach Rick Tomberlin, still with timeouts at his disposal, eschewed stopping the clock on his own, allowing the visiting Cadets to end the game and lopsided decision mercifully.

But across the Savannah River, Bluffton, up 27-8 on South Effingham, had its starters still playing on its last possession and called for a pass that turned into a touchdown. Coach Ken Cribb said his starters needed the work. His team had rolled up 117 points in its first two games.

Coaches on the other end of a TD from the opposing first string late in a game that is well in hand have long memories. If Bluffton makes the trip to South Effingham next year, it will do so without many of the players who carried the Bobcats to the Class AAA Lower State championship last year and have piled up 152 points in three games this year.