JV Panthers
LCHS Panthers, 14,
Effigham 7
The junior varsity Liberty Panthers played their last home game Thursday afternoon, beating the Effingham Rebels 14-7.
According to JV coach Ryan Glazer, his defense has driven a successful season, scoring five touchdowns in the last five games.
"When you play aggressive on defense you are able to force turnovers," Glazer said. "This can lead to good field position for your offense or even a touchdown."
In fact, the defense forced seven turnovers against the Rebels; five were interceptions and two fumble recoveries. A defensive interception by linebacker Cory Lazenby scored the JV squad’s first touchdown. Panther quarterback JJ Grant then connected to Jamel Perteet for the two-point conversion. The Panthers’ second touchdown came from defensive linemen Deante Lumpkin, who recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Panther defender Jamie Jones earned two interceptions in the victory and Rodney Goffney earned two interceptions and made a key tackle on a Rebel drive in the fourth quarter when they attempted a sweep run on a fourth down and one.
Glazer said defensive end Anthony Dabson kept the pressure on the Rebels’ quarterback the entire game.
The coach said the offense moved the ball well through the air, but the running game struggled. The JV squad improves to 3-2. Their final game of the season is Oct. 15 in Richmond Hill.
According to the Augusta Chronicle, Liberty County Panther Shadrach Thornton rushed for 132 yards and the Panther offense posted 252 rushing yards in their 31-0 rousting of the Bulldogs in Thomson.
In addition to Thornton’s touchdown, Panther quarterback Julian Stokes hit Sinjin Mullis for a 25-yard touchdown pass after recovering an onside kick. That gave the Panthers a 14-0 lead at halftime.
According to the news report, everything the Bulldogs did seemed to backfire.
Eddie Chipple added a field goal in the third quarter after a Thomson fumble and Solomon Ball had an interception for a 22-yard touchdown to go up 24-0.
Thomson blocked a Panther field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. A Bulldog player attemtped to pick up the ball only to fumble it back to a Panther player. That set up a three-yard run from Samuel Carter to seal the 31-0 shutout and give the Panthers their first region 3-AAA victory.They are 1-1 in the region and 4-2 overall.
Attempts were made to speak with the Panther coaching staff but the call was not returned in time for press.