JEFFERSON — Jackson County opened its Region 8-5A schedule in impressive style Friday night shutting out Walnut Grove 20-0 at Panthers Stadium.
The Panthers (2-2, 1-0 Region 8-5A) defense put on another solid display holding the Warriors (1-3, 0-1) to less than 100 total yards for the game.
But the game was scoreless after a back-and-forth first quarter, The Panthers' Tra Ransom broke the tie with a 4-yard TD run early in the second quarter.
It stayed that way until the fourth quarter. Jackson County's Isaiah Maxey provided the cushion tossing a 24-yard TD pass to Anthony Finley with 6:02 left in the game and then Maxey scored on an 11-yard run with just 2:24 left to seal it.
The Panthers will get a chance to make an early region statement next week traveling to defending champion Clarke Central. The Gladiators (2-2, 1-0) whipped Apalachee 28-0 in their opener on Friday but have struggled in the early going of the season.
