A week after upsetting the No. 1 ranked Class 2A team, the Southern Choctaw Indians, the Georgiana Panthers were faced with another monumental task Friday night, but fell just short of the No. 1 Leroy Bears, 28-0.

The Bears used a power running game to wear down the Panthers but Georgiana head coach Donald Ray Mixon said he was proud of his team's effort.

&#8220The (Class) 2A championship is going to go through Leroy,” Mixon said of Friday night's opponent. &#8220Our kids played hard the entire game but playing the No. 1 team two weeks in a row took its toll on us.”

The Bears took advantage of three, 60-plus yard runs to down Georgiana but Mixon said, beyond those three runs, his defense played solid.

On the defensive side of the ball for the Panthers, Donald Scott had 10 tackles, three for loss, while Dedric Rich also had 10 tackles, including two for a loss.

Defensive back Zebbie Mitchell, who returned an interception on the final play of last week's game for a touchdown, also had another pick Friday night.

&#8220It seems like (Mitchell) gets one every game,” Mixon said.

The Panthers return home Friday night as they host A.L. Johnson for homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

&#8220Thank God we don't have to play another No. 1 team,” Mixon said jokingly.