LAGRANGE, Ga. – The LaGrange College football team won 22-14 against visiting Greensboro College in USA South Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange, Georgia.
THE BASICS
Score: Greensboro 14, LaGrange 22
Records: Panthers 6-1, 4-0 USA South | Pride 2-5, 1-3 USA South
TOP PERFORMERS
- LaGrange junior linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) led the Panthers with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, half a sack, a quarterback hurry and a game-winning interception in the final seconds.
- LaGrange senior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) had one of his better performances of the season, passing for 237 yards and one touchdown on 22-of-35 completions.
- LaGrange junior utility Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) finished with five catches for 99 yards while junior tight end Mychal Stillwell (Warner Robins, Ga.) caught eight balls for 67 yards and one score.
- LaGrange freshman running back Amire Miller (Richmond Hill, Ga.) rushed for 94 yards on twelve carries.
- LaGrange junior linebacker Mark Buelow Jr. (Roswell, Ga.) posted a career-high seven tackles with 1.5 tackles for a loss, half a sack and one hurry.
DRIVE-BY-DRIVE
- On the opening drive of the game, the Panther defense completely shutdown the Pride, with Smith – last week's USA South Defensive Player of the Week – coming up with the hurry on third down to force the punt. LC promptly fumbled the punt return, giving Greensboro new life. But on the Pride's next snap, GC senior quarterback Chase Altis (Stuarts Draft, Va.) was picked off in the endzone by LaGrange junior defensive back Brandon Brooks (Davenport, Fla.), as the Panthers got the ball back.
- After a LaGrange three-and-out, Greensboro would soon again face a fourth down situation as the Panther defense stayed firm, with senior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) getting the hurry on third down. Facing fourth-and-seven at their own seventeen, the Pride went into the trick-play handbook with fake punt that rushed for a 27-yard gain by senior Guy Galardi III (Raleigh, N.C.) to pick up a fresh set of downs. The visitors marched all the way to the home 41 before their drive sputtered, forcing them to punt once again.
- Taking over at their own 13, Brodnax and the Panther offense chipped away at the Pride with rushes by senior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) and receptions by McLaughlin. Facing third-and-15 at their own 42. Brodnax hit graduate wide receiver Ashton Bryant (Athens, Ga.) on the left sideline for a 17 yard first down to extend the drive. Facing third down again three plays later, Brodnax found Stillwell for another first down on an eleven-yard reception. The Panthers ended the drive by coughing up the ball, giving it back to the Pride at the ten as the first quarter came to an end.
- Despite entering the second quarter tied, the LaGrange defense continued to dominate, as Buelow picked up the hurry on third down, forcing a punt.
- On the Panthers' next play from scrimmage, Brodnax found a wide-open McLaughlin for a 45 yard gain. Three plays later, Brodnax found McLaughlin again for a 13-yard gain, setting up a first-and-goal at the eight. Three plays later, Brodnax hit Stillwell for the three-yard touchdown. Stillwell took the handoff on the two-point conversion as LaGrange went up 8-0.
- Greensboro appeared to be picking up momentum on their ensuing drive as they reached their own 38. But on third down, the LaGrange defense struck again as Smith and Buelow combined on the sack, forcing another punt.
- After a LaGrange punt, the Panthers' special teams made a outstanding play as freshman cornerback Jah Evans (Waycross, Ga.) downed the ball at the one. Three plays later, the Panthers forced the fumble and it was recovered by freshman defensive end Christopher Sutton (Roanoke, Ala.) in the endzone for a touchdown.
- After another punt by the Pride, LaGrange was driving when Brodnax threw a pass over the middle that was intercepted and returned for a pick-six by GC sophomore defensive back TJ Croom (Winston-Salem, N.C.) as the visitors got on the board in the final minutes of the second half, 15-7.
- In the final two minutes of the half, the Panthers turned to freshman running back Bakari Hamilton (Peachtree City, Ga.) on back-to-back carries totaling 18 yards to reach midfield with a first down. The drive quickly fizzled, however, as LaGrange was forced to punt it away, giving Greensboro the ball back with seven seconds to go. That would end the half.
- The Panthers got the ball to open the second half, only to go three-and-out as Greensboro continued to stifle the LaGrange ground game. The Pride reached the LC 40 before a sack by sophomore defensive end Zymarion Hudson (Cordele, Ga.) on third down forced another punt.
- LaGrange had driven to the Greensboro 28 when a costly fumble after a completion was returned for a touchdown, pulling the Pride to within one at 15-14.
- Desperately looking to avoid the upset with time winding down in the third, the Panthers went on a nine-play 80-yard drive, recommitting to the run game as they rushed on all but one of those plays before punching it in from the four by freshman Jabari Zanders (McRae, Ga.) as LaGrange went up 22-14 with 57 seconds left in the third.
- Greensboro was driving early in the fourth when LaGrange junior defensive back Aidan Johnson (Winder, Ga.) made the tackle behind the line of scrimmage on third down, forcing Greensboro to punt for the seventh time of the day.
- LaGrange stuck to the running game on their next drive, using Miller to pound their way to their own 43 before Brodnax found Bryant for a clutch third down completion. Facing third down again at the GC 48, Brodnax was sacked for the first time in four games, forcing a punt that the Panthers downed at the Greensboro 5.
- The Pride reached their own 29 before a play by LaGrange junior cornerback Tavares Simmons Jr. (Perry, Ga.) on third down forced another punt.
- With the game on the line, LaGrange's next drive went nowhere. Two rushes and another sack forced the Panthers to punt the ball back with 2:11 to go.
- The Pride face third down with 2:01 to go before a completion to GC junior wide receiver KJ Brown (Elizabeth City, N.C.) saw him break two tackles and run 60 yards to the LC 26 before being brought down. With 1:44 left, the teams went into the two-minute warning with the game up for grabs. Back-to-back incompletions setup a third-and-ten with 1:31 left in the game. The Panthers made the stop but were called for a facemask, giving the Pride a first and ten at the eleven-yard line. With 1:00 left and with Greensboro facing fourth down, LaGrange was called for another penalty, giving the visitors another fresh set of downs. On first down, Smith and senior defensive lineman Anthony Lovett (Lithonia, Ga.) made the tackle for a two yard loss. After a GC timeout, Lovett picked up the hurry to force an incompletion on second down. After another incompletion on third down, Altis was hit as he threw on fourth down and was picked off by Smith at the three to end the game.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they travel to Huntingdon College for a game between the last two undefeated teams in the USA South. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. central time.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
