Brevard topped LaGrange 20-10 in a USA South clash Saturday in Callaway Stadium. The loss left the Panthers 1-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

LC outgained Brevard (4-3, 4-1 USA South) 309-290 in the game. The Panthers had 277 of their yards in the air. Quarterbacks Shedrick Lindsey and Tyler Coleman combined for 35 completions on 57 attempts, both team game highs for the season. The Tornados got their yardage on the ground, rushing for 229 yards.

"We fought today with a very good football team and came up short," said coach Earl Chambers. "Brevard did a good job in all phases. To give ourselves a chance to be successful, we must execute on offense, and find ways to score.

"Defensively, I thought we did a good job of getting off the field on third down, but we gave up too many big plays in the run game. Ultimately, we're improving each week as a team. We will get back to work tomorrow, learn from this opportunity, and get prepared for our next opponent."

Brevard needed to go only 39 yards on its first possession to take an early lead. Brandon Norris returned the opening kickoff 46 yards to the LC 39. Four plays later, Khaliyl Mattiso covered the final 18 yards to put the Tornados up 6-0 less than two minutes into the game.

The Tornados extended their lead in the second quarter, needing only seven plays to go 85 yards. Freddie Aiken ripped off a 50-yard run to the Panthers' 43. 
Aiken had 124 yards rushing on just eight carries in the game. Richedi Tshitoko ran it in from 29 yards out to up the lead to 13-0.

Freshman defensive back Cameron Grady personally stopped two Tornado drives with interceptions. Grady now leads the USA South with five interceptions, the second most by a Panther in a season. Former All-American Payton Haynes holds the school season record with seven.

The Panthers had the ball at their own 6 with 41 seconds left in the half. JayDon Cooper went for 21 yards to start the drive. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Tornandos moved the ball to the LC 42. Lindsey hooked up with De'queze Fryer for completions of 10 and 16 yards to get the Panthers to the Brevard 32. Alex Rivera nailed a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make it 13-3. It was the second longest field goal of Rivera's LC career.

The two teams played a scoreless third quarter. Brevard stretched its lead to 20-3 on Taylor Jackson's short 6-yard TD pass to Deshonte Kirkland.

The Panthers answered with an 18-play 80-yard drive. Coleman threw the ball 15 times alone on the drive. He finished the drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Fryer, who made a spectacular catch in the corner of the end zone. Rivera's extra point made it 20-10 with 1:41 left.

Lindsey was 19-of-33 in the game for 163 yards. Coleman had 16 completions in 23 attempts and the touchdown. He also had seven punts for a 39.9 yard average, including one for a season-long 55 yards. Ajani Williams had nine catches for 80 yards. Fryer had eight receptions for 77 yards. Hussan Tutson had seven tackles, including three for losses and a quarterback sack.  

The Panthers play at Maryville next Saturday in a USA South game. 

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