Statesboro missed out on a handful of great opportunities, but good teams persevere which was exactly what the Blue Devils did in outlasting Liberty County by a 17-14 margin Friday night at Womack Field.
    Twice, the No. 3 Blue Devils (4-0) forced a turnover by the Panthers (2-2) inside the Liberty 30 yard line, but couldn’t muster any points. Then, Statesboro gave chase as Shadrach Thornton broke loose for 224 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
    Still, Statesboro found a way — much like it has all season — to come out on top.
    “We certainly missed on some opportunities,” said SHS coach Steve Pennington. “In any sport, if you leave great athletes on the field and keep giving them chances, you run the risk of sour consequences.”
    That risk nearly turned to reality as a fumble by Quan Daniels (15 carries, 113 yards) set up the Panthers for a possible go-ahead scoring drive late in the fourth quarter.
    Powered by Thornton, Liberty drove down to the SHS 35, but a wayward snap forced the Panthers into a third-and-24 situation. The Devils held tough, forced a punt, then watched Michael Summers (22 carries, 132 yards) and Daniels salt away the victory with a couple of first downs to run out the clock.
    “It’s kind of like a yo-yo,” said Pennington. “When the defense is out there, we tell them that the game is in their hands and to go make something happen. When our offense had the ball at the end, we told them the same thing.”
    Last season, Statesboro started its downhill slide towards a 29-0 defeat against Liberty with a turnover on its opening possession.
    The Devils fared a bit better Friday as they drove 46 yards in just eight plays. The drive eventually stalled, but Alan Rodriquez was able to put them in front with a field goal from 37 yards out to make it 3-0.
    In what looked like a 180-degree turnaround from last year’s matchup, Liberty immediately found trouble. The Panthers botched a handoff on their first offensive snap and Lex Womack pounced on it for the Devils, but nothing was gained as Rodriquez misfired from 35 yards out.
    After another stand by the Statesboro defense, the Devil offense got back into gear. With Daniels and Summers pounding into the line, Statesboro quickly crossed midfield before Summers broke loose on a 28 yard touchdown run late in the first half to put SHS up 10-0.
    Another recovered fumble by the Devils put them in prime position to put the game out of reach on the next possession, but another missed field goal kept the margin from growing and Thornton — making the most of Liberty’s second chance — ripped off an 80 yard touchdown run on the Panthers’ next play.
    “(Shadrach) is the kind of guy that can keep you in a game,” said Liberty coach Kirk Warner. “He was big for us tonight and we put up a fight, but give credit to Statesboro. They made enough plays to win.”
    With five minutes to play in the third quarter, Summers pushed the Statesboro lead back to 17-7 with a four yard plunge, but Thornton answered again for the Panthers — this time from 59 yards out to make it 17-14 just before the fourth quarter began.
    The teams exchanged possessions with no action early in the fourth before the Devils began to seize control. With the offensive line dominating, Statesboro seemed poised to score again or run out the clock before Daniels’ fumble.
    Trying to capitalize on its last chance, Liberty quickly drove across midfield before Thornton, who switched to quarterback in a wildcat formation, watched the errant snap — and the Panthers’ chance for a comeback win — slip just over his hands and bounce off down the field.
    Next week, the Devils begin sub-region play by hosting Lakeside, Evans.

    Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.