SAVANNAH – The tried and true coaching bromide of “if they can’t stop it, don’t stop running it” got another workout Thursday night at Savannah High Stadium.

The Liberty County Panthers resorted to a power set on offense, and with running back Brandon Roberts carrying the ball and the load, they overpowered Beach 14-0 in a Region 3-AAA game.

Liberty improved to 4-4 with the win and 4-3 in the region. The Bulldogs slipped to 4-4 for the season and 2-4 in the region.

“Anytime you get a shutout, you’re happy,” Panthers coach Tony Glazer said. “In the first half, we could have done things a little bit better. We weren’t getting the pressure we wanted to. We made a few adjustments midway through the second quarter, and we really getting some pressure and taking away some of the easy throws.”

After a scoreless first half dominated by Beach – the Bulldogs held a nine-minute edge in time of possession – it didn’t take long for the Panthers to put the ball in Roberts’ hands in a short-yardage set. Using two H-backs, the Panthers ran the ball on each of their last 16 plays and on 21 of their final 24 snaps.

Roberts scored from 1 yard out with 10:11 to go in the third quarter to break the scoreless tie, and he added an 11-yard run with 2:25 to play in the third for the game’s only touchdowns.

One of the Panthers’ few miscues in the second half came on the second play of the fourth quarter, as a Beach player’s helmet dislodged the ball from Roberts’ grasp. The Bulldogs recovered at the Panthers’ 43-yard line.

Beach converted a fourth down and a third down on the drive and got to the Panthers 8. But the Panthers defense held for no gain and then came up with back-to-back tackles for loss before Jayvion Williams’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Behind Roberts, the Panthers ran out the remaining 5:50 of the game.

The Bulldogs were trying to take away the Panthers passing attack, which had put up nearly 300 yards in its previous game against Southeast Bulloch.

“Football is a game of adjustments,” Glazer said. “They were spreading everybody out, trying to take away the pass. We decided at halftime we were going to load up and take it to them. That’s what we did in the second half. We punished them in the second half. They only thing that could have stopped us in that situation was us. There was a push on every play. That’s almost better than getting big plays.”

All five of Beach’s first-half drives got into Panthers territory, and one possession got to the Liberty 1. A false start on a quarterback sneak pushed the Bulldogs back and on the next play, De’shawn Wylie recovered Ladante Bright’s fumble, ending the threat.

Beach also got to the Liberty 21 later in the quarter but the Bulldogs were turned away again, thanks in part to Julian Gerena’s pass breakup at the goal line.

Beach finished the first half with 169 total yards and 11 first downs, and the Panthers managed just 58 yards of offense and three first downs on their four possessions.

Meanwhile, the Panthers defense held Beach to minus-1 yard rushing and just two first downs in the second half.

“In the second half, we pretty much dominated them, from a defensive perspective,” Glazer said. “We were all over them in the secondary. We took the run away. We were getting great pass rush. That’s how you play three-level defense.”

Roberts finished the game with 196 yards rushing, 177 coming in the second half alone. With Elijah Brown still on the mend from an injury incurred against SEB, Roberts had to get the call by himself in the Panthers’ backfield.

“He ran hard,” Glazer said. “We needed a big night from him and he stepped up. He had a career night. We’re proud of him.”

The Panthers will host Calvary on November 1 in the final regular-season home game. The Cavaliers, led by wide receivers Thomas Blackshear, a Georgia commit, and Edward Coleman and defensive tackle Walter Mathis, who has pledged to LSU.

Coleman and Blackshear have combined for 1,239 yards and 19 touchdowns on 51 catches. Sophomore quarterback James Mobley has thrown for 1,710 yards and 23 TDs while throwing just two interceptions. Mathis has 10 tackles for loss.

The Cavs, 7-1 overall and 7-0 in the region, are coming off a 42-6 win over Groves. They have outscored region opponents 300-58.