FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The LaGrange College football team won 26-7 at Methodist University in USA South Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is the first time since 2013 the Panthers have started 2-0 in league play and the first time they have opened the season with a 4-1 record since 2008.
THE BASICS
Score: LaGrange 26, Methodist 7
Records: Panthers 4-1, 2-0 USA South | Monarchs 1-4, 0-2 USA South
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Panther defense put on a show against the Monarchs, combining for eight sacks on the day and allowing a season-low 111 passing yards.
- LC set the tone on the opening drive of the game by Methodist, allowing just one first down and tallying four tackles for a loss. After the punt put the Panthers near midfield, LaGrange junior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) engineered a seven play, 55-yard drive that was capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Dami'on Thompson (Atlanta, Ga.). The Panthers never trailed, continuing to pressure the Monarchs and forcing the opposition to punt on their first five drives.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Brodnax finished with 314 yards and two passing touchdowns.
- LaGrange senior wide receiver Ashton Bryant (Athens, Ga.) caught three passes for a career-high 114 yards in a breakout performance.
- LaGrange junior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the rushing attack with 69 yards and a touchdown off 15 carries. Junior running back Tacaris Bozeman (Montgomery, Ala.) added 42 off nine carries.
- Thompson finished with four catches – two for touchdowns – with 64 receiving yards.
- LaGrange junior defensive end Anthony Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.) had two sacks and three tackles for a loss for the Panther defense. Junior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.), sophomore linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.), junior defensive tackle Jahvon Wells (Winder Ga.) and freshman defensive lineman Zymarion Hudson (Cordele, Ga.) had one sack apiece.
- LaGrange senior defensive back Deon King Jr. (Vienna, Ga.) had a team-high six tackles.
- Methodist senior running back Bryson Ausby (Villa Rica, Ga.) led the Monarchs with 65 rushing yards off eight carries. Sophomore quarterback Ty Little (Wilmington, N.C.) passed for 111 yards and rushed for one touchdown.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field on Saturday when they play host to Brevard College in a 1:00 p.m. game. The game will be LC's Homecoming Game as part of Homecoming weekend activities.
- Methodist plays their next game at Southern Virginia University, that also coming next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
