AMERICUS — Americus-Sumter put a lockdown on Liberty County.
Ja'Rod Lewis scored on a 79-yard run, and the Panthers converted two fourth down plays for touchdowns as the Panthers won 28-7.
Head coach Michael Pollock turned the reigns over to defensive coordinator George Dean after having emergency appendix surgery earlier on Friday. Other than the one touchdown Liberty scored, the Panthers surrendered one first down until the next-to-last play of the game.
The game had an hour and a half lightning delay as the Panthers led 7-0 with 6:20 left in the opening quarter when the teams were pulled off the field.
Tied 7-7 with 18 seconds left in the first half and facing a fourth down, Tyran Goober reached over a Liberty defender to pull in a Malik Thomas pass and scampered in for the go-ahead score as Americus-Sumter went into the half up 14-7.
Lewis was taken off on a stretcher at halftime after what was guessed to be either a dislocated or broken ankle.
The Panthers took the second half kickoff and scored in five plays when Kedrick Jones broke through the middle on a fourth-and-1 for a 28-yard touchdown. Adam Heath squibbed the ensuing kickoff, and Claude Deriso recovered the loose ball setting the Panthers up at the Liberty 30. Three plays later, Thomas rolled to his left and hit Darante Jordan in stride for a 27-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 8:44 left in the third quarter.
The Panther defense held Liberty to 32 yards in the first half and 59 for the game.
Southland 27, Brookwood 20
THOMASVILLE — Collin Holloway rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown and caught another as the Raiders scored 21 unanswered to top the Warriors.
Southland's first score came on a Wes Downs 85-yard kickoff return.
Other scores
Schley County 35, Pacelli 16
Marion County 27, Chattahoochee County 8
