PETTICOAT JUNCTION, S.C. --- A knee hit the ground, the buzzer went off and Silver Bluff casually lined up for the usual postgame handshake. After one last team huddle and a quick mumbling of The Lord's Prayer, the Bulldogs trotted off the field to enjoy a four-day weekend.

The rare Thursday night game, which saw Silver Bluff dominate Pelion 35-7, clinched the Region 5-AA Championship. But it appeared to be just another win for the Bulldogs -- no dogpiles at midfield; no standing ovations; not even a team picture with the scoreboard. After all, they have done this nine times in the past 11 years.

"It's just a usual thing for Silver Bluff," senior Austin Pollock said. "It's nice to win it, but we're looking for more."

Pollock is one of 14 seniors on the roster who clinched their fourth consecutive region championship. The game was decided early when Silver Bluff needed only 84 rushing yards to post 28 points in the first half.

A pair of Pelion fumbles inside its own 25 yard line gave the Bulldogs prime field position. Silver Bluff didn't waste it as both tailbacks Andre Washington and Robert Green scored twice in the first half.

"We got up early, and that was key," Silver Bluff coach Al Lown said. "I thought we came out and did what we needed to do. We were able to work on some things and get some other kids some experience."

Green led the Bulldogs with 140 yards on eight carries. He scored three touchdowns, including a 72-yard sprint down the Panthers' sideline early in the third quarter for a 35-0 lead.

Sophomore Cordrea Tankersley picked up some valuable playing time at quarterback, while Pollock, the team's usual signal caller, lined up as a wide receiver and caught two passes for 44 yards.

"We know in the playoffs we're probably not going to be able to match up with some teams physically. We'll have to spread the field some," Lown said. "So we were trying to do that a little bit and use our speed."