Working hard on the grid-iron and hoping to make the varsity squad someday, the junior varsity Liberty Panthers are looking at a 1-1 record after losing to McIntosh 6-0 last week, but defeating Effingham County Thursday 6-3 at home.
According to junior varsity coach Ryan Glazer, the score was tied at 0 with roughly 3 minutes to go in the half when Panther freshman quarterback Jerome "JJ" Grant threw a short pass to Javaughn Shuman who took it 60 yards for a touchdown. However, the coach said the ball was moved back after the referees threw a late flag, saying there was an illegal block to the back. The Panthers were penalized.With 1:30 left before the half, Shuman lined up as a linebacker on defense, blitzed the Effingham quarterback and caused the pass to be deflected to Panther defensive end Darron Townsend. Townsend ran the interception back for a 50-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 6-0 at the half.
Glazer said the second half was a battle of field possession. The coach said the Panthers were given good field position, thanks to a return from freshman linebacker Cory Lazenby, but they were unable to capitalize on it for a score.
In the third quarter, the Panthers turned the ball over to Effingham, but linebacker Charles Hall clocked the Rebels running back in the backfield for a loss to force the punt.
"The only score in the game for Effingham was a 30 yard field goal in the fourth quarter," Glazer said. "We went to our big formation in the fourth quarter and had two good drives. Sophomore running back Sam Carter was pounding three and four yards per carry."
Glazer said they converted a fourth and sixth situation when Grant tossed a play action pop pass to tight end Dominque Kanada.
"We saw the linebackers coming up hard to stop the run so during a timeout, we put the play in and they executed it," Glazer said. "That play helped keep the drive and clock going."
Eventually, Effingham got the ball back on its own 7-yard line with 1:45 left on the clock. Coverage by secondary Jamie Jones, Joey Irizzarry and Rodney Goffney, and pressure from the defensive line, led to four incomplete passes.
"We got the ball back and kneeled to end the game," the coach said.
Glazer added Cameron Livingston, Cornelius Butler, Warner McCray and Javious James all contributed on defense, holding the Rebels to three points.
"It’s typical for a JV team to be stronger on defense than offense early in a season," Glazer said. "The defense is playing very aggressive and is flying to the ball on every play. The offense is showing signs of improvement. Quarterback JJ Grant is starting to take leadership of the offense and needs to continue to gain confidence in his abilities."