Clouds swirled around Donaldson-Madray Field in Wayne County on Friday night but the rain and lightning never made it to the scrimmage between the Liberty County Panthers and the Wayne County Yellow Jackets. The Panthers won the scrimmage 10-7 in a defensive showdown between the two squads.
The starters and veterans took the field for the first half. Taking the Yellow Jackets’ snaps was senior Parker Welch. The two main ball carriers for the Jackets were Lorenzo Larry and Tyler Newsome. Welch displayed his ability to run the ball, and the Yellow Jackets set up a nice drive. Welch aired one to his receiver but Panther defender Artavious Frost stepped in front of the ball and dashed the Jackets opportunity for a touchdown.
The Panther offense took over, led by senior Julian Stokes. Stokes immediately put the running game together, handing the ball to Michael Rodriguez and Shadrach Thornton or running the ball himself. However, the Panthers fumbled the ball and the Yellow Jackets recovered.
The Yellow Jackets made another drive downfield and tried for a field goal on the third down, but the Panthers blocked the kick and recovered the ball.
The game remained scoreless until the last part of the second quarter when Newsome broke through a pack of Panther defenders and found the end zone. Jackets kicker Blake Penix made the PAT and the Wayne County squad was up 7-0.
With less than two minutes before the half, the Panthers went to the hurry up offense after Thornton returned the kickoff for roughly 35-yards. Rodriguez, Stokes and Thornton moved the ball. On the third down, Stokes dropped the snap but was able to pick up the ball. Just before he was tackled, Stokes tossed the ball to Sinjin Mullis who scored a touchdown for the Panthers, tying the game at half time.
For the third quarter, both squads substituted players and Matt Desbiens took the rein of the Panthers’ offense. Desbiens and running back Samuel Carter drove the ball inside the Yellow Jackets’ 20, setting up a field goal by Eddie Chipple, allowing the Panthers to go up 10-7.
In the four the quarter, the junior varsity players were given time on the field and while the Yellow Jackets offense were in scoring position twice, the Panther defense once again stifled their progress and earned a victory.
The Panthers have a veteran core of defensive players. Frost was responsible for the interception and blocked a few key passes. Jevon Jones pressured the quarterback and got a sack for the night. The core defenders, Solomon Ball, Byron Johnson, Trammal Morris, Marcus Jefferson, Tucory Rhodes, Shakur Cook, Demetrick Mothershed and Thomas Penny, swarmed the center of the line, getting the running back and sealing gaps for tackles.
Offensively, Stokes appeared composed and more open to the passing game, completing tosses to Mullis, Rodriguez and Thornton.
The downside, by head coach Kirk Warner’s own admission, is the Panthers were penalized all night. Three back-to-back defensive penalties placed the Yellow Jackets inside the 10-yard line, setting up Newsome’s touchdown run. The offense was repeatedly penalized for illegal formation, delay of game or false start, costing them positive yards already gained and twice forcing the punt. Mullis dropped two passes and Rodriguez had a fumble.
But the offensive side is harder to manage. If Warner can keep the solid defense he has and work on the offense getting their plays in quicker and managing the clock better, the Panthers should do well as they kick off the regular season next week at Olvey Field against McIntosh Academy.