MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The LaGrange College football team lost 20-17 at Berry College in non-conference action on Saturday at Valhalla Stadium in Mount Berry, Georgia. It was a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament second round match up that saw the Panthers' historic 2025 come to an end with an 18-14 loss.
THE BASICS
Score: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â LaGrange 17, Berry 20
Records: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Panthers 1-1, 0-0 USA South | Vikings 2-0, 0-0 SAA
STANDOUTS
- LaGrange senior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) threw for 129 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) passed for 53 yards and rushed for another 41, leading the Panther ground game.
- LaGrange graduate wide receiver Ashton Bryant (Athens, Ga.) led the Panthers with three catches totaling 42 yards.
- Berry senior quarterback Andrew Hunter (Huntsville, Ala.) threw for 157 yards off 12-of-18 passing with two touchdowns while rushing for another 73 yards on the ground to lead the Vikings. Junior running back Jake Turner (Lexington, Ga.) rushed for 108 yards with one touchdown for Berry, leading all players. Â
- LaGrange sophomore kick returner Jaylon Teagle (Newnan, Ga.) that three kick returns totaling an outstanding 147 yards, averaging 49 yards per return.
- LaGrange junior linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) led the Panther defense with seven tackles including a nine-yard sack.
KEY DRIVES
- The Panthers struck first on their first drive of the game as Brodnax guided his offense on a seven-play, 90-yard drive capped off with a 43-yard touchdown reception to senior running back Kolby Crawford (Douglasville, Ga.) to put LC ahead 7-0 with 8:04 to go in the first.
- Trailing 13-7 late in the second quarter, LaGrange turned to McLaughlin for a spark. McLaughlin guided the Panthers to the Viking five yard line with a series of short passes before a costly penalty and a pass breakup on third down forced them to settle for a 26-yard field goal from sophomore kicker James Whatley (Birmingham, Ala.) pulled LC to within three at 13-10 going into halftime.
- The second half opened with the Panthers receiving and Teagle capitalized with a 79-yard return to the Viking 18-yard line. Brodnax would hit sophomore wide receiver Austin Harris (Jonesboro, Ga.) who would be stopped at the one with a first and goal for LaGrange. Two plays later, McLaughlin would keep it himself, punching it in for a touchdown as the Panthers regained the lead, up 17-13.
- On the ensuing drive, the Vikings drove all the way to the Panther 30 before LaGrange junior defensive back Halbert Clark III (Mobile, Ala.) made a huge play, intercepting Hunter and giving LC a new drive.
- With the Panthers trailing 20-17 with 1:46 remaining with a fourth-and-ten, Brodnax went to Stillwell. Berry junior safety Brooks Thompson (Statham, Ga.) was there for the pass breakup, however, allowing the Vikings to take over on downs and run out the clock.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field on Saturday when they travel to Centre College for a 1:00 p.m. game.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
