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LaGrange College

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24
Southern Va. SVU 1-9 , 1-7
50
Winner LaGrange LCC 6-4 , 6-2
Southern Va. SVU
1-9 , 1-7
24
Final
50
LaGrange LCC
6-4 , 6-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SVU Southern Va. 7 10 7 0 24
LCC LaGrange 20 14 3 13 50

Game Recap: Football | | Danny Talbert

Panthers Football wraps up season with a 50-24 home win

LaGrange College Football closed out the season with a 50-24 win over Southern Virginia University (Nov. 16), bringing the final record to 6-4 (6-2 USAS). With today's victory, Head Coach Wes Dodson and the 2024 LC Football Team cemented their place in LaGrange history by achieving the most USA South Conference wins in a single season. This victory also secured the Panthers their second winning season in program history. 

Game Details
First half
Offense
Despite a slow start, the Panthers offense quickly found their footing in the final game of the season. After LC fumbled in the opening series, sophomore quarterback Henry Brodnax commanded an 80-yard drive that was highlighted by a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Aubrey Carter. Following a Panther pick, the LC offense was set up in the SVU redzone with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Brodnax immediately found the big freshman tight end Mychal Stillwell with a 36-yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 13-7. Again, on the very first play of the possession, Brodnax delivered a touchdown pass, this time to the lightning-fast senior wideout Jasharie Anderson. This 65-yard touchdown catch marked the seventh game this season in which Anderson recorded a reception of 40 yards or more. With seven minutes remaining in the half, LaGrange held a tight 20-17 lead after the SVU knights were able to string together a 10-point scoring run. The Panthers countered by feeding senior running back Goldman Butler VI four times in a row to move the chains. This heavy ground attack put the Knights secondary to sleep, creating an open lane for Brodnax to hit junior wide receiver Ashton Bryant with a 33-yard pass to set LaGrange up with first down. With the Knights reeling, LC handed the ball off to Butler twice for the incredibly talented back to punch it in on his second attempt. LC regained possession with under two minutes left in the half, which has been proven time and time again to be too much time for Brodnax and Co. Using a combination of passes to Stillwell and Anderson to move the ball, the Panthers scored their fifth touchdown with time to spare. LC ended the half up 34-17.

Defense 
The Panthers defense started today's game with an inception by Jaylan Harris, shutting down the SVU opening drive. In the next series, the Knights were able to set up their lone touchdown of the first quarter by using the passing game and capitalizing off LC penalties. From the very first whistle, the Panthers made it abundantly clear to the visitors that their run-game was not going to be an option today. Each time SVU attempted to go to the ground, multiple Panthers were ready to pounce before the Knights could make it back to the line of scrimmage. Midway through the first quarter, junior linebacker Deon King Jr. secured the second Panthers pick. Despite the two early interceptions, Southern Virginia found most of their success through the air, scoring a touchdown and then knocking in a field goal in their next two series. LC ended the half up 34-17.

Second Half
Offense
The initial signs of offensive success in the second half appeared during the second series. Using a heavy Goldman Butler VI rushing attack mixed with passes to Jasharie Anderson and Mychal Stillwell, LC put together an 80-yard six-minute touchdown drive as time expired in the third. When LaGrange regained possession, the Panthers went back to the ground with Goldman. Despite the visitors' best efforts, there was nothing they could do to slow the back down. In the nine-play drive, LC handed the ball off to Butler seven times, securing his second touchdown of the day. The Panthers used their final drive to run out the clock and secure LC their sixth victory of the season.

Defense 
Following an early third quarter Knights touchdown, the LaGrange defense seemed to settle in. Blitzes by linebackers Ched Smith, Desmond Fogle and Dezmond Jones combined with fast-paced pressure by defensive ends Jaylan Harris and Yolando Barrett began to get to the SVU quarterback, forcing the Knight to throw the ball before his receivers were in position to make a play. Through three quarters, LC kept the visitors locked at 24 points, with no indication that would change. SVU's opening drive of the fourth quarter was quickly stopped as the Panthers' secondary stepped up with tight coverage. Reverting back to an almost 100% passing attack, the Knights offense moved into LC territory and were not slowing down. That was until SVU fumbled the ball, setting up LaGrange defensive leader Desmond Fogle with a 92-yard scoop and score. This defensive return set a new record for the longest in school history. The Panthers defense capped off the season, stuffing the final SVU drive on fourth down attempt.

Overall
Offense
Quarterback Henry Brodnax finished the season with a statement performance. The sophomore connected on 19 of his 26 passes (73%) for a career-high 390 yards and four touchdowns. Today's victory moves Brodnax into second place for the most single-season wins by a quarterback in program history. Wideout Jasharie Anderson led LaGrange with 145 receiving yards in addition to his one touchdown. Tight end Mychal Stillwell made a team-high seven catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. On 32 carries, Goldman Butler VI finished with 166 yards (5.2 average) and two touchdowns  This performance secured Butler an 1000 yard rushing season, which has been done only one other time in program history. It also ties him for third in single-season touchdowns (9).

Defense
The Panthers finished today causing three turnovers, with one being scooped and scored by Desmond Fogle. The defense made eight tackles for a loss and one sack. Ched Smith led the unit in tackles (13), TFL (3.5) and sacks (1). LaGrange finished the season holding a fourth opponent to under 100 rushing yards, with the Knights only tallying 36 yards today. 

Next up
The USA South Conference will announce the end of the year awards this week (Nov. 18-22).
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