An hour and a half rain delay and a strong defensive front by the Americus-Sumter Panthers stifled Liberty County High School’s passing and running games Friday night. The local boys lost 28-7 in Americus.

LCHS coach Kirk Warner said the game got started, but was halted after six minutes of action because of rain and lightning.

When the action resumed, the ball and field conditions made Liberty’s passing game precarious, and Warner said Americus-Sumter stacked the defensive odds against them.

"They played us eight in the box," the coach said. "The balls were wet and we had absolutely no passing game. They stacked the box on us and pretty much shut us down."

To top it off, Warner said the Sumter team honed in on Liberty’s standout running back Shadrach Thornton and quarterback Matt Desbiens for every play.

"It was one of those nights were we could have used the passing game but the ball was so wet we just couldn’t throw anything," the coach said.

Desbiens completed a pass to Sam Carter for a 30-yard touchdown reception, tying the game at 7 before halftime.

The Sumter Panthers got on the scoreboard first when Ja’Rod Lewis broke seven tackles for a 79-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the home team’s opening drive.

Warner said the defense held up well, but did give up three costly plays.

"You take away three plays and it’s a seven point game," he said. "We gave up two fourth-down touchdowns passes and we gave up a 79-yard run. They wound up with 250 total yard offense, and those three plays are about 150 yards right there."

The coach said he was pleased with kicker Adrien Vakerics who placed two punts inside the 20, made an extra point and just missed a 38-yard field goal.

Warner said there are a few things he needs to tweak as the team prepares for Friday’s game at McIntosh Academy.

"We are young, defensively. We just have to get back to the basics and play team ball and I think we’ll be fine," he said.