The Americus-Sumter County High School Panthers, the Bainbridge High School Bearcats Region 1AAAA homecoming opponent Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Field, relies strongly on their running game to move the football.

“Americus-Sumter County lines up in an I-formation and runs right at you,” Bearcats head coach Ed Pilcher said. “They have an outstanding senior running back in Jerroski Walton, and he runs behind a big offensive line. Their senior quarterback Shawn Robinson is quick and also has a good throwing arm.”

In the Panthers’ 44-7 Region 1AAAA loss to the Westside Macon High School Seminoles Friday night in Macon, Robinson completed 4 of 13 passes for 75 yards. He threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver James Burton.

For the season, Robinson has completed 64 of 150 passes for 903 yards and eight touchdowns, and Walton, the fourth leading rusher on the team, has gained 471 yards on 106 carries and scored one touchdown.

The Panthers’ leading three rushers are senior running back Sean Stewart, junior running backs Jonathan Battle and Tyshun Brown.

Stewart has 74 carries for 407 yards and five touchdowns, Battle has nine carries for 100 yards and one touchdown and Brown has 34 carries for 144 yards.

Right behind Walton in fifth place on the Panthers’ rushing chart is sophomore running back Elton Mitchell, who has 24 carries for 102 yards.

The Panthers also boast a couple of strong kickoff returners in senior wide receiver Keon Wiggins and sophomore running back Kendrick Jones.

Wiggins has returned 10 kickoffs for 187 yards, and Jones has returned 11 kickoffs for 151 yards. Wiggins also has two punt returns for 21 yards.

Wiggins is also the Panthers’ leading receiver with 27 catches for 397 yards and three touchdowns. Burton is second with 19 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns.