LAGRANGE, Ga. – The LaGrange College football team's 2026 season began on Saturday evening with a 31-7 win over visiting Point University in non-conference action on Saturday at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange, Georgia.
THE BASICS
Score: Point 7, LaGrange 31
Records: Panthers 1-0, 0-0 USA South | Skyhawks 0-1, 0-0 AAC
STANDOUTS
- LaGrange senior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) threw for 107 yards, completing 11-of-20 passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior quarterback Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) provided a spark, throwing for 90 yards off just three completions and rushing for a touchdown.
- LaGrange junior tight end Mychal Stillwell (Warner Robins, Ga.) caught four passes for 89 yards.
- Point senior quarterback Payton Allen (LaFayette, Ala.) threw for 151 yards on 16-of-23 passing.
- LaGrange senior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) overcame a slow start to finish with 80 yards rushing off ten carries and another ten yards receiving.
- LaGrange junior defensive back Messiah Scandrett (Atlanta, Ga.) tallied four tackles, a pick-six interception and a fumble recovery that saved a touchdown to lead a dominant defensive performance.
- LaGrange Sophomore kicker James Whatley (Birmingham, Ala.) averaged 61.7 yards per kickoff while going one-for-two on field goals and punting 37 yards.
DRIVE-BY-DRIVE
- On the opening drive of their 2026 season, the Panthers got a great kick return from sophomore running back Jaylon Teagle (Newnan, Ga.), giving LaGrange first down at the Point 40. On third and short, Brodnax found Hays on a three-yard screen pass for a first down. Two plays later, Brodnax hit Stillwell for a 14-yard gain, setting up first and goal at the ten. Three plays later, Brodnax again converted on third down, hitting sophomore wide receiver Austin Harris (Jonesboro, Ga.) for a 16-yard touchdown as LaGrange went up 7-0.
- On the Skyhawks first drive of the game, the new-look Panther defense appeared just as dominant as they did last season as LaGrange junior linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) and Scandrett combined for three tackles and held Point to just two yards before forcing a punt.
- On the ensuing drive, the Panthers turned to their running game, as Hays and freshman running back Amire Miller (Richmond Hill, Ga.) gobbled up yards at the expense of the Skyhawks, driving deep into Point territory. After setting up a first and goal with another completion to Harris, Brodnax would find graduate wide receiver Ashton Bryant (Athens, Ga.), his favorite target from last season, for an eight-yard touchdown reception as the Panthers went up 14-0.
- Point got the ball back at their own 40 and was immediately stuffed at the line of scrimmage as LaGrange sophomore linebacker Jayven Hall (Roswell, Ga.) tackled the ball carrier for no gain. Two plays later it was Scandrett making the tackle to bring the first quarter to a close with the Skyhawks facing fourth-and-three. Point tried to trick LaGrange into jumping offsides by swapping their offense back in from the punt team, only to be called for a delay of game themselves. The Panthers would get the ball back at their own 31.
- On their first drive of the second quarter, LaGrange used a mix of passes, rushes and penalties to grind their way back into Point territory. A seven-yard rush followed by a four-yard reception by freshman running back Bakari Hamilton (Peachtree City, Ga.) gave the Panthers a first down at the Skyhawk 43. Brodnax then hit Stillwell on the outside for a 17-yard gain, setting up LaGrange at the Point 26. Three players later, Brodnax sent a pass to Harris on the outside looking for another first down, but they were unable to connect as the Panthers settled for a failed field goal attempt.
- The Skyhawks looked to pass to open up their next possession, only to watch Ched Smith and sophomore defensive lineman Zymarion Hudson (Cordele, Ga.) – two of the standouts of last season's championship defense – reach the quarterback for the first LC sack of 2026. Three plays later, Point was again forced to punt.
- LaGrange's ensuing drive appeared to be floundering after a costly penalty. That's when LaGrange junior quarterback Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) hit Stillwell for a short pass that the tight end broke out for a 49-yard gain before being forced out of bounds. Three plays later, however, Brodnax was intercepted by Point junior linebacker Kwylek Woodham (Vienna, Ga.), giving the Skyhawks the ball back with 4:19 to go in the first half.
- The Panthers defense smelled blood with the Skyhawks backed up at their own six-yard line. After an incomplete pass and a rush for a loss in the backfield, Allen went back to pass only to be intercepted by Scandrett who returned it for a pick-six to give the Panthers a 21-0 lead with 2:49 remaining in the second quarter. It was the first interception of the season for LaGrange, who finished with 20 last season.
- With 1:54 to go in the quarter, Point's offense finally broke through as Allen found sophomore wide receiver Messiah Wilson (Thomasville, Ga.) for a 38-yard reception to the LC 18. Once again the Panther defense stiffened, forcing the Skyhawks to settle for a field goal. On the final play of the half, LaGrange senior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) blocked the kick which was eventually recovered by the Panthers as they withdrew to the locker rooms still leading 21-0.
- Point opened the third quarter determined to assert their rushing game. They battled their way to the LC 48 before a penalty, a knocked down pass by LaGrange junior linebacker Mark Buelow Jr. (Roswell, Ga.) and a stop at the line by Hudson forced another punt.
- Hays took over on the Panthers' first drive of the third quarter, busting out runs of 16 and 40 rushing yards to get LaGrange to the Point 24. Despite the deficit, the Skyhawk defense refused to buckle and the Panthers were forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal from Whatley, his first as a Panther.
- Trailing 24-0, Point turned to junior Lucas Alcalde (Elberton, Ga.) to get back into it, as he broke out a 22-yard run to reach the PU 45. Once again, however, the LaGrange stiffened, as the Skyhawks turned it over on downs to give the ball back.
- On the ensuing drive, McLaughlin found Harris for a 34-yard reception to reach the Point 11. On the next play, LaGrange handed off to Miller who was stopped just short of the endzone for a first-and-goal at the one. After a penalty against the Panthers, they went right back to Harris to reach the three, and McLaughlin punched it in himself to give LaGrange the 31-0 lead.
- As the fourth quarter got underway, the scrappy Skyhawks used penalties and trick plays to stay in it. Handing off to junior Jarkerious Bolden (Vienna, Ga.), Point finally broke through the LaGrange defense with a 34-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 31-7.
- After a Brodnax interception, the Skyhawks appeared to have scored again off a 55-yard reception by junior Trevor Boutwell (Hamilton, Ga.). But Boutwell was ruled to have fumbled just short of the endzone. Scandrett recovered the fumble, and the Panthers took over.
- With five minutes left in the game, LaGrange went right back to their running game, pounding their way to their own 35 before being forced to punt. As they had for nearly the entire day, the Panther defense gave the Skyhawks no breathing room, as Point punted it back with just over four minutes left.
- Refusing to let up, LaGrange kept rushing. Hamilton busted out for a 42-yard run to the PU 37, and a another four yard gain by the rookie took the game to the two-minute warning. Facing fourth and nine from the PU 36, Brodnax hit freshman wide receiver Colton Dodds (Newnan, Ga.) for a ten-yard gain, allowing the Panthers to run out the clock for their first win of 2026.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they travel to Berry College for a 6:00 p.m. game in a rematch of last season's NCAA Second Round matchup, that ending in a heart-breaking 18-14 last-second loss for the Panthers to conclude their 2025 year.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
