LAGRANGE, Ga. – The LaGrange College football team – boasting a 5-1 record and a 3-0 record in USA South Athletic Conference action for the first time since the 2008 season – plays host to Huntingdon College this Saturday at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange, Georgia.

The Panthers are coming off a 17-10 Homecoming Day win over Brevard College last Saturday. LaGrange junior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) had a breakout game, rushing for a career-high 129 yards off 19 carries. Hays' 37-yard touchdown run with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter was the difference- maker against the Tornadoes, and his rush for a first down in the closing seconds of the game iced it. Hays enters Saturday having rushed for 400 yards on the season, averaging 4.5 yards per rush with two touchdowns. Hays also has ten catches for 78 yards to date.

Junior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) currently ranks second in the USA South with 1352 passing yards through six games with nine touchdowns in the air and a tenth on the ground. Brodnax had a 17-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Mychal Stillwell (Warner Robins, Ga.) with 11:12 left in the third quarter against Brevard put the Panthers up 10-3 to that point.         

Senior kicker Landon Eaker (Ringgold, Ga.) has emerged as one of the most consistent kickers in the nation, ranking third in Division III in field goals made per game at 1.67. Eaker's 83.3 percent success rate on field goal attempts leads the conference, while one of his two misses came off a block. The senior is a perfect 14-of-14 on point-after attempts thus far.             

The Panther offensive line – anchored by senior center Trenton Harrison (New Orleans, La.), who last Saturday was voted 2025 Homecoming's Mr. 1831 – has emerged as one of the best pass-protection units in the nation, ranking 13^th in Division III in fewest sacks allowed.  

The LaGrange defense has been a force for them all year, as the Panthers are currently ranked first in the USA South in defensive passing efficiency and passing yards while ranking second in the conference in fewest points allowed and total yardage allowed.  

Senior defensive back Deon King Jr. (Vienna, Ga.) has been a force all over the field with 31 tackles (second on the team) with 6.5 tackles for a loss, four pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. Sophomore linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) leads the team with 35 tackles with four sacks, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Junior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) has a team-high eight tackles for a loss with 27 total tackles, four sacks, two pass breakups and an interception.

The Hawks of Huntingdon (3-3, 2-1 USA South), the conference preseason poll pick to finish first in the league, were on a three-game winning streak before a 21-20 upset loss to North Carolina Wesleyan last week.

Huntingdon splits time at quarterback with sophomores Jake White (Gardendale, Ala.) and Knox Roberts (Hendersonville, Tenn.). White has passed for 802 yards with nine touchdowns while Roberts enters Saturday with 582 yards and five scores.

Senior wide receiver Timothy McReynolds (Geneva, Ala.) leads the Huntingdon receiving corps as he ranks third in the USA South with 486 receiving yards off 25 receptions and nine touchdowns while also representing a force in the return game. Sophomore running back De'Roderick Hepburn (Tallahassee, Fla.) leads the Hawks with 460 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 5.8 yards per carry.

Huntingdon junior linebacker Braylon Miller (Slocumb, Ala.) leads the Hawks with 40 tackles on the season. Junior linebacker Cameron Cooper (Gulf Shores, Ala.) and freshman defensive lineman Rashad Walker (Montgomery, Ala.) are two of the most dangerous pass rushers in the USA South, ranking first and second with 9.0 and 8.5 tackles for a loss apiece.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Callaway Stadium.

For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).