LAGRANGE, Ga. – Coming into their showdown with the Blazers of Belhaven University, the Panthers of the LaGrange College defense had spent the previous eight games of their season establishing themselves as the toughest unit in the USA South Athletic Conference, ranking first in the league in nearly every major statistical category and ranking first in the entire nation in sacks and tackles for a loss.
Saturday's performance proved that the Panthers were as good as their reputation. Playing in the biggest game the Black and Red have seen in more than a decade and a half, the LaGrange football team prevailed in a dominating 38-6 win over visiting Belhaven in USA South Athletic Conference action at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange, Georgia.
With the victory, the Panthers clinch the league's automatic qualifier in the upcoming NCAA Tournament as well as at least a share of the USA South Conference championship. It is LaGrange's first conference title and tournament appearance since the 2008 season.
THE BASICS
Score: Belhaven 6, LaGrange 38
Records: Panthers 8-1, 6-0 USA South | Blazers 6-3, 5-1 USA South
DRIVE-BY-DRIVE
- The Panthers front seven showed off the playmaking ability they had demonstrated all season on the opening drive of the game as they stuffed the Blazers on a third-and-two with LaGrange junior defensive end Anthony Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.) making the tackle to force a punt.
- After a three and out by LC, the Panthers made the first critical play of the game as LaGrange senior cornerback Legend Doggett (McDonough, Ga.) picked off Belhaven senior quarterback Brock Morris (Jackson, Miss.) on second and short to give the home team great field position at the BU 33.
- Two plays later, LaGrange junior running back Tacaris Bozeman (Montgomery, Ala.) burst through a hole created by the Panther offensive line and stormed his way for a 33-yard touchdown as the hosts took a 7-0 lead with 9:49 to go in the first quarter.
- On the ensuing drive, the Blazers chose to go for it on fourth and one at their own 35 when they were again stopped by the swarming Panther defense, forcing the turnover on downs.
- Facing third down, the Panthers again turned to Bozeman for the big play as he made the clutch catch to setup a first and ten at the eleven-yard line. Three plays later Bozeman would punch it in from five yards out as LaGrange would go up 14-0.
- Facing a deficit with less than five minutes left in the first, Belhaven took advantage of some scrambling by Morris and a LaGrange penalty to reach the LC 26 before the Panther defense again stiffened. With the visitors again going for it on fourth down, LaGrange junior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) dropped the receiver four yards behind the line of scrimmage as the home team took over once again.
- As the second quarter got underway, LaGrange faced a fourth-and-one at their own 40. The Panthers handed off to Bozeman who picked up the first down with a three-yard rush. LC reached the BU 24 before their drive stalled, with LaGrange senior kicker Landon Eaker (Ringgold, Ga.) missing from 41 yards out with 11:04 remaining in the half.
- Desperate to build on the momentum, Morris and the Blazer offense went deep into Panther territory before a key holding penalty set them back and wiped out a touchdown. Morris was on the run when he went for a deep pass only to be picked off by Doggett for the second time on the day as LaGrange got the ball back.
- Forced to punt with 4:29 remaining in the second quarter, the LaGrange defense went to work. Jones dropped Morris for a sack of twelve yards on second down, and then on third down the receiver was tackled short of the original line of scrimmage as they were forced to punt.
- On the punt return, LaGrange freshman quarterback Kirk Scott (Richmond Hill, Ga.) setup the Panthers with fantastic return, setting the Panthers up at the Belhaven 41. Facing a third and ten, LaGrange junior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) hit sophomore tight end Mychal Stillwell (Warner Robins, Ga.) for a 21-yard gain, setting up a first and ten at the Blazers 12. The drive stalled, however, as Belhaven junior defensive back Alex Desarzant (Germantown, Tenn.) blocked the field goal attempt.
- In the closing seconds of the second quarter, LaGrange sophomore linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.), last year's USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year, picked off Morris to end the half, as the teams went into the locker room with the Panthers still leading 14-0.
- On the opening drive of the third quarter, Scott faked the handoff then busted loose up the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown as the Panthers opened up a 21-0 lead just 55 seconds into the second half.
- On Belhaven's ensuing drive, LaGrange again swarmed Morris with senior defensive back Deon King Jr. (Vienna, Ga.) picking up the sack on third down. For the third time on the day, the Blazers were forced to punt.
- LaGrange was punting on fourth down when a roughing the punter penalty gave them a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Bozeman took the handoff and rushed for 57 yards before the Blazers finally pulled him down, giving the Panthers a first down at the Belhaven eight-yard line. Two plays later, Brodnax would find freshman wide receiver Aaron Bryant (Homerville, Ga.) for a nine-yard touchdown to bust the game wide open with the Panthers leading 28-0.
- Belhaven, who came into the day with the second-ranked offense in the conference, couldn't get it going. LaGrange sophomore defensive back Brandon Brooks (Davenport, Fla.) picked off Morris for the Panthers' fourth interception of the day, setting up a 31-yard field goal from Eaker to make the score 31-0.
- The Blazers finally broke through with 1:48 left in the third when Morris found sophomore wide receiver John Davis (Daphne, Ala.) for a 32-yard reception for a first and goal at the seven-yard line. On the very next play, Morris found sophomore wide receiver TJ Hatch (Moundville, Ala.) to get Belhaven on the board. LaGrange sophomore defensive back Messiah Scandrett (Atlanta, Ga.) had the pass breakup on the two-point conversion and the lead was cut to 31-6.
- As the third quarter came to a close, Brodnax found Bozeman on a short pass and the back evaded the Blazers front seven for a 60-yard gain. Four plays later and at the goal line, LaGrange junior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) punched it in as the hosts went up 38-6 with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter.
- With 9:50 left in the game, LaGrange junior defensive back Keyon Stoutemire (Pensacola, Fla.) picked off Morris for the Panther's fifth interception of the day, allowing LC to run out the clock the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Coming into the day leading the USA South in sacks and interceptions, the Panthers combined for three sacks and five interceptions in an ensemble performance, holding the Blazers to just 12 yards rushing.
- Bozeman had the best game of his career, rushing for 116 yards off eleven carries with two scores on the ground with two catches for 70 yards in the air to lead the Panthers, totaling 186 all-purpose yards.
- Morris, who came into the game as a three-time USA South Offensive Player of the Week this season as well as the conference leader in passing, finished 19 of 31 with 198 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions for the Blazers. It was the first time in 21 career games with Belhaven that Morris had been picked off three or more times.
- Running out of the option for much of the day, Scott rushed eight times for 90 yards and one score to go along with 30 passing yards. Brodnax passed for 111 yards and one touchdown.
SENIOR DAY
- Prior to the game, the Panthers and the LaGrange College athletics department took a few moments to recognize their graduating senior class as part of senior day. The class of Eaker, King, senior defensive end Jaylan Harris (Birmingham, Ala.), senior running back Andreas Anderson (Valdosta, Ga.), senior linebacker Chase Shelton (Loganville, Ga.), senior kicker Brandon Matson (Apopka, Fla.), senior defensive back Clark Howell (Gainesville, Ga.), senior offensive lineman Trenton Harrison (New Orleans, La.), senior tight end Wyatt Moore (Augusta, Ga.) and senior tight end Ryan Melia (Galway City, Ireland) have been instrumental in the program's 180-degree turnaround, as the Panthers improved from 0-9 in their sophomore year to the team's best season in years in their senior campaign. Each of these young men have given their all not only on the field, but to the entire LaGrange community as a whole. Although their time on the pitch may be coming to an end, they will forever be a part of the Panther family.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they travel to Southern Virginia University in a 1:00 p.m. contest in their final regular season game.
- Belhaven plays their next game at home against Huntingdon College, that also coming on 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 ).
