The Tri-County Panthers -- a semi-pro football team from Screven, Bulloch and Jenkins counties -- lost to the Hinesville Hurricanes 41-14 at Portal High School Saturday night.

The Hurricanes have been around for more than 12 years and are “the team to beat,” said Panthers Assistant Coach Joseph Williams. “We just didn’t play up to our potential” in what was the Panthers’ second game of the season. “The turnovers and mistakes we made really hurt us.” On June 6, the Panthers tied the Middle Georgia Pit Bulls 6-6 in Cochran, Ga., in the first game of the season.

The Panthers play the Charleston, S.C., Hawks at 7 p.m. at Portal High School. Admission is $5. About 150 people attended the game against Hinesville, Williams said.

The Panthers are an attempt to resurrect the Sylvania Fury, which started three years ago and made it to the playoffs but had to forfeit because it didn’t have a home field on which to play, Williams said.

The Panthers have about 25 players ages 18 to 33.