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The problem with Windsor Forest taking its first lead of the game on quarterback Jayden Martin’s 5-yard touchdown run with 28.9 seconds left in regulation was the 28.9 seconds.

That was enough time on Friday night for Liberty County’s Aaron Brown to return the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to the Windsor Forest 24-yard line.
Down 19-17 with one timeout in hand and 13.4 seconds on the clock, the Panthers had the flexibility to throw a pass for improved field-goal position or to the end zone.

Quarterback Jaeir Roberts, who was just 3-of-7 passing for 31 yards to the point, lofted a throw to the left side of the end zone. Myson Benjamin, with a defender draped on him, caught the pass for a 24-yard score with 4.4 seconds left and a 24-19 victory over the Knights at Groves Stadium.

“At the end, we wanted to get in field-goal range, but if we got single coverage, we were going to take a shot,” Liberty County coach Tony Glazer said of man-to-man pass defense. “We took a shot, and the quarterback made a great play, the receiver went and made a play. You ask your athletes to make plays; you put them in those positions.”

Glazer said the plan was to throw to an area of the field where Martin – also a standout safety for Windsor Forest – wasn’t. The coach figured that the pass play would be either incomplete, defensive pass interference, or a touchdown.

“You want to play the odds at that point in time,” Glazer said.

The odds suddenly grew long for the Knights, whose strategy had been to boot the kickoff out of bounds, and when that didn’t happen, have strong coverage on the return. Both teams had fresh memories of the Panthers’ Nykiem Ezell making a long kickoff return earlier in the fourth quarter to set up Aidan Ronk’s 29-yard field goal for a 17-12 advantage with 6:35 remaining.

Brown’s kickoff return and the Roberts-to-Benjamin TD connection left Windsor Forest just enough time for a kickoff return that was covered to end the game.

“The Panthers) get in scoring position and the receiver (Benjamin) made a great catch in the end zone. He made a hell of a catch,” said Windsor Forest’s first-year coach Willie Martin, also Jayden’s father.

“(The defender) was right there. Sometimes that’s just how it is. We play hard. This is a pretty good ballclub I’ve got right here. We’ll be fine moving forward. We’ve just got to take our bumps and bruises. We’ve got to get better each week.”

Liberty County improved to 3-3, 2-0 in Region 3-4A, while Windsor Forest dropped to 3-2 in losing its region opener.

The Panthers had led 14-0 at halftime on Noel Best’s rushing touchdowns of 3 and 43 yards, and it was almost more. The senior running back dashed 91 yards before he was caught at the 1-yard line by the hustling Martin, only for the play to be called back on a holding penalty.

Best had 12 carries and caught one screen pass on Liberty County’s first scoring drive and had 20 carries for 121 yards by halftime. He added another five carries and 14 yards in the third quarter before a scary situation with 3:26 left.

On a Liberty County punt, Best was on the ground for several minutes and attended to by medical personnel while a stretcher and then an ambulance came on the field. Best was able to get to his feet and walked with assistance to the sideline.

Glazer said after the game that he didn’t know Best’s condition and added that he was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

It was well known that the Panthers’ best offensive strategy was Best, especially during steady rain in the first half when the first two plays of the game were fumbles lost for each side.

“We build around him,” Glazer said of Best, who entered the game with 81 carries for 498 yards and eight touchdowns. “He’s our hog. Every time we get the ball to (No.) 14 is a good day. So we just keep feeding him, run behind our line. He’s done a great job.”

Willie Martin also lauded Best, calling him “a heck of a player.” The Knights had the Panthers’ offense under wraps most of the second half as they got better penetration on the defensive line and blitzed their safety more often, resulting in tackles at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield, the coach said.

Their comeback began on the opening possession of the second half, when Jaimeer Duncan ran 43 yards on the first play, and Dwane Franklin concluded the drive with a 6-yard TD run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the deficit 14-6 with 10:20 left in the third quarter.

Windsor Forest failed to take advantage when Camron Campbell blocked a punt, but the team later closed to 14-12 on Jayden Martin’s 60-yard TD pass to Franklin. Martin was tackled almost immediately on the conversion attempt with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter.

Ezell returned the ensuing kickoff to the Windsor Forest 12, but the Knights’ defense limited the Panthers to the field goal and a five-point lead.

Undermined by four lost fumbles throughout the game, the Knights put together a clutch scoring drive with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.

Martin ran 27 yards for a first down at the Liberty County 10. A handoff resulted in another fumble that the Knights kept for a 5-yard loss. Martin connected with Duncan for a 10-yard gain on a diving catch at the 5.

On third and goal, Martin sped around the right end, used blockers Kamari Duncan and Jaimeer Duncan, and ran through them and Panthers defenders into the end zone.

“We’ve got a lot of athletes, we’ve got a lot of total team speed, but when the game is on the line, we want the ball in Jayden’s hands. That’s typically our game plan,” Willie Martin said. “He said he would get in and he got in. He’s a heck of a ballplayer. I couldn’t ask for a better ballplayer to lead this team. He’s leading them in the right way.”

Jayden Martin finished with 79 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, and the junior was 8 of 17 for 163 passing for 163 yards and one TD.

“We allowed them to get back in the game, but they earned their way back in the game,” Glazer said of Windsor Forest. “They played extremely hard.”
LIBERTY COUNTY 24, WINDSOR FOREST 19

First Quarter
LC—Noel Best 3-run (Aidan Ronk kick)
Second Quarter
LC—Best 43 run (Ronk kick)
Third Quarter
WF—Dwane Franklin 6 run (kick blocked)
Fourth Quarter
WF—Franklin 60 pass from Jayden Martin (run failed)
LC—Ronk 29 FG
WF—Martin 5 run (Juan Garcia kick)
LC—Myson Benjamin 24 pass from Jaeir Roberts (Ronk kick)
Records—Liberty County 3-3, 2-0 Region; 3-4A; Windsor Forest 3-2, 0-1 Region.

Week 7 delivered big scores, big region wins. Here’s how Friday night unfolded around Savannah and the Coastal Empire.

Week 7 Final Scores

Thursday, Oct. 1

Savannah Christian 44, Savannah High 0*
Statesboro 49, Groves 14*

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Bradwell 57, Brunswick 49*
Effingham County 36, Glynn Academy 25*
South Effingham 46, Lakeside Evans 21 *
Benedictine 49, Evans 10*
Jenkins 47, Wayne County 6 *
Liberty County 24, Windsor Forest 19*
West Laurens 14, New Hampstead 7*
Pierce County 65, Beach 20*
Tattnall County 31, Islands 14*
Appling County 50, Johnson 6*
Screven County 14, Bryan County 3*
Calvary Day 54, Metter 7 *
Bethesda 49, Camden Military 0
Piedmont Academy 54, St. Andrew’s 34

* Region game

Photo credit: Shutters by Court

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To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.

Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.

Optim Orthopedics team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).