THOMASTON – The Marengo Panthers (2-0, 1-0 Region) used a platoon of running backs to chew up the clock and real estate in a 38-0 blowout win over A.L. Johnson (1-1, 0-1 Region) Friday night.

The Marengo offensive line manhandled the Eagles’ defensive front all night, consistently turning to one of seven runners.

The Eagles were forced to punt the game’s first possession out of their endzone. The Panthers took possession near the 40, but one false start penalty after another pushed them well past the 50. With four minutes left in the first, and the Panthers finally making some positive yardage, Michael Lewis hit Jamarcus Agee on a 30-yard scoring strike. However, a taunting penalty just before Agee crossed the goal line negated the score and set the Panthers back up on their 25. Marengo would turn the ball over on downs four plays later.

The Panthers kept the penalties in check in the second and marched down the field, capping their first scoring drive with a 15-yard run by Jakoby Aldridge.

The Eagles were forced to punt on their ensuing possession and the Panthers’ ground game went back to work. Lewis pushed his offensive line forward for a one-yard quarterback keeper with 28 seconds left in the half to give the Panthers a 16-0 lead at the break.

The second half was more of a pounding Marengo rushing attack.

One play after a Panther turnover on downs with two minutes to play in the third, Floyd Simmons pounced on an Eagle fumble to set Marengo up on the ALJ 12 yardline.

Two plays later Derrious Rodgers broke loose on an 11-yard run, giving Marengo a 22-0 lead with just more than a minute left in the third.

The Panthers would add two more scores with less than four minutes left to play to ice the win over their regional rivals.

Antheryius Aldridge led the Panther backfield with 119 yards on 19 carries. The Panthers rolled up 246 yards on the ground. Jakoby Aldridge had 71 yards on 10 carries.

Lewis had a big night in the air as well, throwing for 80 yards. Agee was his primary target with three catches for 80 yards.

The Eagles will host Linden next Friday night in another region contest while Marengo will host McIntosh.