Sophomore Panther running back Shadrach Thornton hit the end zone three times and had a two-point conversion Friday night during Liberty County’s victory over the Beach High Bulldogs in Savannah.
The Panthers are 2-0 as they prepare for their first home game of the 2009 season at Donell Woods Stadium next Friday against Effingham County.
The Bulldogs were determined in the first quarter, quickly sacking Panther quarterback Julian Stokes. In the second quarter, the Bulldogs downed Stokes again, dropping him deep inside his own 15-yard line.
Stokes led the third offensive drive with a few carries and drew an offsides penalty to set up a touchdown run by Thornton.
Later, Stokes opened up the pass and found Artavious Frost, who was brought down on the Bulldogs’ 1-yard line. Thornton was given the ball and he plowed through the middle for the second of his three touchdowns.
The Panther defenders kept the Bulldogs going backward and thwarted their passing game. They held the Bulldogs to only five first downs and 41 offensive yards.The Panther offense pushed through 200-yards on the ground. Thornton got his final touchdown on a 53-yard run, which set up a five-yard touchdown run on the next play.
Panther coach Kirk Warner said Thornton would be his go-to guy after Roderick Jones graduated. He said he saw Thornton’s potential when he was still a freshman last year, especially later in the season when Thornton spent time on the varsity squad.
Warner is looking for his offense to gel and knows he will have to rely on his experienced defense to carry the team in the meantime. The entire squad was still riding high from last week’s 13-12 win over McIntosh.
The Panthers host Effingham at Donell Woods on Friday at 7:30 p.m.