Windsor Forest running back Mike Cabellero took a handoff 30 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of a tied game versus visiting Liberty County on Friday night, October 8 at Pooler Stadium and the Knights retained the lead to win a critical Region 3-3A game, 12-6.
The Knights (3-2, 2-0 Region 3-3A) played suffocating defense against the Panthers, who had won two consecutive region games before falling to head coach Jeb Stewart’s gritty Windsor team.
With the win, WF now holds sole possession of first place atop Region 3-3A. Stewart’s squad will play four more region games to end the year, and the Knights should be favored in three of those four. A road game at Southeast Bulloch on October 22 figures to be the toughest test remaining for Windsor, which controls its own destiny moving forward.
Marques Johnson’s early touchdown run allowed Liberty County to go up 6-0 only three minutes into the first quarter. It was the first, and last, highlight of the night for the visitors from Hinesville.
Later in the first, WF quarterback Chris Glover tied things up at 6-6 using a one-yard quarterback sneak, and the score remained even into the second. For Johnson, who came in having rushed for 377 yards on 56 carries, the touchdown run was his third of the season.
Neither side was able to muster any type of offensive flow in the second quarter, as both Liberty County (2-2, 2-0) and Windsor punted twice in the stanza. The Knights muffed a punt around midfield with 4:54 left before halftime but the Panthers gave it right back, fumbling a shotgun snap two plays into the possession.
It’s an impressive win for Windsor, but it came at a cost. Last week, starting quarterback Donte Dorman was injured (broken jaw) badly enough that he’ll miss the rest of the season, and possibly basketball season as well. But Glover’s steadiness was evident after Dorman’s departure last week and again in the first half versus Liberty County.
Glover only played in the first half because of an injury to his collarbone in the second quarter. He missed the entire second half as WF was forced to go with its third-string quarterback for the duration of the third and fourth quarters. The position will certainly be a point of interest for Windsor and its faithful moving forward.
The Knights will get back to Region 3-3A action for four straight road games to end the regular season. Windsor plays versus winless Groves next week while Liberty hosts Savannah High.
LC — 6 - 0 - 0 - 0 — 6
WF — 6 - 0 - 6 - 0 — 12
HALFTIME — Tied, 6-6.
RECORDS — LC 2-3 (2-1 3-3A); WF 3-2 (2-0).
NEXT — LC vs. Savannah High (Oct. 15); WF at Groves (Oct. 15, Garden City Stadium).
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
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