Matchup: LaGrange College (5-3) vs Belhaven University (3-5)
Location: Belhaven Bowl. Jackson, Mississippi 
Date and Time: Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. 
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LaGrange College Football aims to extend their winning streak to five as the Panthers travel to Jackson, Mississippi, to take on the defending conference champions, Belhaven University, this Saturday (Nov. 9) at 1 p.m.

Scouting Report
The Panthers improved to 5-3 (5-1 USAS) following a historic 24-21 road win over Huntingdon College this past weekend (Nov. 2). Click here to read about how sophomore quarterback Henry Brodnax led a final two-minute touchdown drive to secure LaGrange's first win against HC since 2014. 

Through eight games, Brodnax has improved as the season progressed. In the last two victories, the gunslinger amassed 359 yards and four touchdowns without giving up an interception. This brings his year total to 1370 yards and 10 touchdowns with a solid 55% pass connection rate. Coming off an outstanding performance is junior widout Ashton Bryant. Not only did Bryant make the game-winning touchdown grab, the lengthy receiver kept the chains moving in the second half by creating space and high-pointing sideline catches over any Hawks defender who dared to cover him one-on-one. He leads the team with 39 catches, accounting for 461 yards and three touchdowns. Another Panther who put together a remarkable performance in last weekend's LaGrange win is senior running back Goldman Butler VI. The Corinth, Mississippi native carried the ball an incredible 40 times for 170 yards, gashing the Huntingdon defense with 4.3 yards per rush. This season, Butler has accumulated a career-high 722 yards and six touchdowns on 176 carries. 

The storyline for the LC defense has recently been their formidable run stop, holding three of the last four opponents to under 100 rushing yards. In the past two games, Greensboro (Oct. 26) and Huntingdon (Nov. 2) utilized the ground attack 46 times, totaling just 87 yards for a measly average of 1.9 yards per carry. The unit also extended their turnover streak to five games thanks to a fourth quarter interception made by sophomore standout Keyon Stoutemire in the win over the Hawks. Out of the Panthers' nine interceptions and eight fumble recoveries, the defensive back leads the team in caused turnovers with four picks. Graduate student linebacker Desmond Fogle continues to sit atop the team leaderboard with 58 tackles alongside his five tackles for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Linebackers Dezmond Jones and Ched Smith have posted nearly identical stats, each tallying a team-high 8.5 tackles for a loss in addition to both making 40 tackles, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble as well. 

Coming off of the heels of their first ever conference championship, the Belhaven University Blazers hold a 3-5 (3-3 USAS) record as the end of the 2024 season draws near. Last winter, CJ Nightingale was hired as the Blazers' Head Football Coach shortly after the BU championship staff departed to take over the Northwestern State University (La.) Football Program. From 2019 to 2023, Nightingale served as the defensive coordinator at Wheaton College (Ill.). His resume is highlighted by a standout 2021 season in which his defense led the country in total sacks and sacks per game, ranked second in rushing yards allowed per game and third in total tackles for loss. 

Orchestrating the Blazers offense is senior quarterback Blake Kirby. Through seven appearances, Kirby has connected on 78 of his 130 (60%) passing attempts for 929 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. His top targets are senior Jacobey James-Grace and junior RJ Garrison. Building on his Second Team All-Conference season, James-Grace continues to showcase his playmaking abilities. He currently leads the position group with 383 yards and five touchdowns on 25 catches. Trailing slightly behind is Garrison, with 24 grabs for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Devin Daniels is the primary running back for the Blazers, accumulating 379 yards and a team-high five touchdowns off of 74 attempts (4.8 average). If Daniels is not carrying the ball, more than likely BU is using junior Caleb Gallashaw in the rush attack. Gallashaw has rushed the ball 72 times for a Blazers-best 419 yards and four touchdowns. 

Taking a look at the BU defense, remnants of last year's conference championship team can still be found throughout. The Blazers returned three of their four First Team All-Conference players including; senior defensive back Josiah Raymond, junior defensive back Dee Gray and junior linebacker Wyatt Beck. Through eight games, Beck posts a team-high 70 tackles as well as 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and an interception. Junior defensive back Icarius Hodgin leads BU in caused turnovers with two interceptions out of the Blazers' six picks and five fumble recoveries.

When and Where
Kickoff in Jackson, Mississippi is set for 1 p.m. this Saturday (Sept. 9). Click here for the live coverage links.