Don't let the score fool you. This was a lopsided game Thursday night at Callaway Stadium. The Grangers led 42-7 at the half, and while Columbus left their starters in the second half, every player wearing Granger blue saw action during the mercy rule half.
The Grangers' first four drives ended in touchdowns. A 44 yard catch by Q Ferrell, a 30 yard catch by Dee Smith, a 70 yard run by Quinton Jackson and a 25 yard catch by Dee Gates Gave LaGrange a 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Columbus did get a good drive going late in the first quarter, but turned the ball over on downs at the Granger one. LaGrange fumbled on second down in the end zone and the Blue Devils recovered for a touchdown. 28-7 Grangers. But LaGrange poured it on. Benny Gray scored from 9 yards out on LaGrange's next possession, then had a 46 yard touchdown catch near the end of the half to give the Grangers a 42-7 lead at intermission.
Columbus had to punt from the midfield stripe on their first drive of the second half, but it was mishandled by a backup Granger and the Blue Devils took advantage. Tony Alexander caught a 23 yard touchdown pass to cut the Granger lead to 42-14. The Granger backups fumbled but Derrick Johnson intercepted a pass from Columbus quarterback Wyatt Peterson. LaGrange turned the ball over on downs at the Blue Devil 23, and Columbus scored from it. Senior Anthony Padron caught a seven yard touchdown pass to make it 42-21. Columbus recovered an onside kick but could not convert a first down. Sophomore Wynton Heard's first pass was picked off and Columbus scored on their final drive with five seconds left in the game on another Padron catch.
If there are no upsets Friday, LaGrange and Troup will play each other next week for the #2 seed. Winner hosts the first round game, loser goes on the road. That game is always big anyway, but there always seems to be a little extra with playoff ramifications. I'll see you there.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
LaGrange 34 Central-Carroll 6
Mathematically, the loser of this game would not be eliminated from playoff contention. Realistically, if the Grangers would have lost, they would be on the outside looking in. But we will get to the standings later.
The Lions' first drive stalled at the Granger 35 and were forced to punt. LaGrange started their first drive inside their own five yard line, and punted from their own 34. An illegal procedure penalty gave Central the option to take the ball where their return stopped or back the Grangers up and make them kick again. The Lions chose the latter. So LaGrange punted again but this time Central muffed the fair catch attempt and LaGrange recovered at the Central 38. The drive stalled at the 26 and Alex Edwards missed a 43 yard field goal attempt wide right, but with plenty of distance. Central's next drive ended with a punt that was returned by Demoton Boyd 70 yards for a touchdown. 7-0 Grangers late in the first quarter. Central answered with a seven play drive going 78 yards. A 22 yard touchdown run by Stephon O'Neal cut the Granger lead to 7-6. LaGrange answered right back with an eight play drive of their own going 66 yards. A nice four yard catch by Dee Smith surrounded by four Lions gave the Grangers a 13-6 lead. What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game.
Central's last drive of the first half went 64 yards when they needed 65. One third and goal from inside the Granger one yard line, the defense shifted, making the Central offensive line jump. The defense then held on keeping the Lions out of the end zone. The score remained 13-6 at the half. Boyd ran the opening kickoff of the third frame to the Lion 39. This time the Grangers would capitalize on the field position. On the fourth play, Bennie Gray ran into the end zone from 23 yards out, extending the lead 20-6. Central fumbled the ball away and the Grangers recovered at their own 35. LaGrange would go the distance in 16 plays taking six and half minutes off the clock. Once again, Bennie Gray scores, this time from 12 yards out. 27-6 Grangers. Another Lion fumble was recovered by LaGrange, but they returned the favor, throwing the ball to a Central defensive back at their own eight. But the Granger defense held firm and the Lions punted on the fifth play of the drive. The Grangers churned out a five minute, 60 yard drive in 10 plays, ending with a one yard Quentin Jackson run after faking the ball to Mon Denson. 34-6 Grangers with 2:15 left in the game, and it would end with the same score.
The Grangers, by my math, had a second half time of possession of around 15 minutes to Central's nine, and snapped the ball 35 times to Central's 21. It was a big win mentally for the Grangers, not just in the standings.
Speaking of standings, Carrollton captured the region championship with their lopsided win over Columbus. Troup was three minutes away from being upset by Shaw, but a clutch field goal and a pick six virtually ensures the Tigers of a playoff spot. It would take all three, LaGrange, Haralson and Central winning out for Troup to not make the playoffs. Possible, but not probable. Haralson County, Central and LaGrange are tied for the last two spots at 2-2. If the playoffs were today, Haralson and LaGrange would be the last two in with a .500 record in all of AAA. Central is .400 with their week three loss to Woodward Academy. However, Shaw is still in the hunt with a 1-3 region record, and hosting Central next week and Haralson in the finale. Five teams still battling for three playoff spots. I love this time of year.
Next up, the Grangers honor the seniors, and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 2001 state championship. The opponent is the Columbus Blue Devils. Come out to Callaway Stadium and bring your radios. Airtime is 6:30 Thursday with kickoff at 7:00.
The Lions' first drive stalled at the Granger 35 and were forced to punt. LaGrange started their first drive inside their own five yard line, and punted from their own 34. An illegal procedure penalty gave Central the option to take the ball where their return stopped or back the Grangers up and make them kick again. The Lions chose the latter. So LaGrange punted again but this time Central muffed the fair catch attempt and LaGrange recovered at the Central 38. The drive stalled at the 26 and Alex Edwards missed a 43 yard field goal attempt wide right, but with plenty of distance. Central's next drive ended with a punt that was returned by Demoton Boyd 70 yards for a touchdown. 7-0 Grangers late in the first quarter. Central answered with a seven play drive going 78 yards. A 22 yard touchdown run by Stephon O'Neal cut the Granger lead to 7-6. LaGrange answered right back with an eight play drive of their own going 66 yards. A nice four yard catch by Dee Smith surrounded by four Lions gave the Grangers a 13-6 lead. What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game.
Central's last drive of the first half went 64 yards when they needed 65. One third and goal from inside the Granger one yard line, the defense shifted, making the Central offensive line jump. The defense then held on keeping the Lions out of the end zone. The score remained 13-6 at the half. Boyd ran the opening kickoff of the third frame to the Lion 39. This time the Grangers would capitalize on the field position. On the fourth play, Bennie Gray ran into the end zone from 23 yards out, extending the lead 20-6. Central fumbled the ball away and the Grangers recovered at their own 35. LaGrange would go the distance in 16 plays taking six and half minutes off the clock. Once again, Bennie Gray scores, this time from 12 yards out. 27-6 Grangers. Another Lion fumble was recovered by LaGrange, but they returned the favor, throwing the ball to a Central defensive back at their own eight. But the Granger defense held firm and the Lions punted on the fifth play of the drive. The Grangers churned out a five minute, 60 yard drive in 10 plays, ending with a one yard Quentin Jackson run after faking the ball to Mon Denson. 34-6 Grangers with 2:15 left in the game, and it would end with the same score.
The Grangers, by my math, had a second half time of possession of around 15 minutes to Central's nine, and snapped the ball 35 times to Central's 21. It was a big win mentally for the Grangers, not just in the standings.
Speaking of standings, Carrollton captured the region championship with their lopsided win over Columbus. Troup was three minutes away from being upset by Shaw, but a clutch field goal and a pick six virtually ensures the Tigers of a playoff spot. It would take all three, LaGrange, Haralson and Central winning out for Troup to not make the playoffs. Possible, but not probable. Haralson County, Central and LaGrange are tied for the last two spots at 2-2. If the playoffs were today, Haralson and LaGrange would be the last two in with a .500 record in all of AAA. Central is .400 with their week three loss to Woodward Academy. However, Shaw is still in the hunt with a 1-3 region record, and hosting Central next week and Haralson in the finale. Five teams still battling for three playoff spots. I love this time of year.
Next up, the Grangers honor the seniors, and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 2001 state championship. The opponent is the Columbus Blue Devils. Come out to Callaway Stadium and bring your radios. Airtime is 6:30 Thursday with kickoff at 7:00.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Carrollton 56 LaGrange 7
The Carrollton Trojans were held to ten points the previous week against the Troup Tigers. Like steam from a tea kettle, the Trojan offense was released on the Grangers resoundingly. Carrollton is the two time defending state champs in boy's track, and they made a track meet out of this football game.
Carrollton's opening drive went 56 yards in six plays, with Telvin Brown finding the end zone from 11 yards out. 7-0 early. A Granger punt gave the Trojans the ball at their own 42 yard line. Two plays later Desmond Addison scored on an eight yard run. 14-0 Trojans. LaGrange got a decent drive together going ten plays to their own 47, but Cole Kemp was called on to punt again. The Trojans' next drive took only two plays. A sixty yard run followed by a ten yard touchdown catch by DJ Johnson gave Carrollton a 21-0 lead. Demoton Boyd returned the ensuing kick to the Trojan 36. Two plays later Dee Gates made a 28 yard touchdown catch and the Grangers narrowed the Trojan lead 21-7. But that was as close as they would get.
The next Carrollton drive started at their own 32. The very next snap, Telvin Brown scampered 68 yards for his second touchdown. 28-7 Trojans. The teams exchanged punts, but Carrollton's first drive of the second quarter went 69 yards in 12 plays. A 17 yard touchdown run by Telvin Brown made the score 35-7. A mishandled kickoff return gave the Grangers the ball at their own three, and Kemp had to punt from the back of the end zone. Carrollton only needed to go 31 yards and they did so in two plays, the second a two yard run by DJ Jackson. 42-7. The Grangers went three and out and the Trojans offense added another score on a 44 yard drive. Josh Barge caught a five yard pass in the end zone to make the score 49-7.
The second half was quick under Georgia's mercy rule. The Grangers' opening drive started at their own 25 and went 12 plays, before they turned the ball over on downs at the Trojan 9. Carrollton then went 91 yards in 10 plays with Don Harris rushing in from the Granger 1 yard line. 56-7. The Grangers then went on a fifty yard drive in seven plays, but could not move the chains past the Carrollton 30. The Trojans just ran out the clock from there.
To say the next game is big is an understatement. If LaGrange loses to Central-Carroll Oct. 21st, they will likely not make the playoffs. We will have the in-stadium transmitter set to 100.9 FM again, so bring your radios. I'll see you at Roy Richards Memorial Stadium.
Carrollton's opening drive went 56 yards in six plays, with Telvin Brown finding the end zone from 11 yards out. 7-0 early. A Granger punt gave the Trojans the ball at their own 42 yard line. Two plays later Desmond Addison scored on an eight yard run. 14-0 Trojans. LaGrange got a decent drive together going ten plays to their own 47, but Cole Kemp was called on to punt again. The Trojans' next drive took only two plays. A sixty yard run followed by a ten yard touchdown catch by DJ Johnson gave Carrollton a 21-0 lead. Demoton Boyd returned the ensuing kick to the Trojan 36. Two plays later Dee Gates made a 28 yard touchdown catch and the Grangers narrowed the Trojan lead 21-7. But that was as close as they would get.
The next Carrollton drive started at their own 32. The very next snap, Telvin Brown scampered 68 yards for his second touchdown. 28-7 Trojans. The teams exchanged punts, but Carrollton's first drive of the second quarter went 69 yards in 12 plays. A 17 yard touchdown run by Telvin Brown made the score 35-7. A mishandled kickoff return gave the Grangers the ball at their own three, and Kemp had to punt from the back of the end zone. Carrollton only needed to go 31 yards and they did so in two plays, the second a two yard run by DJ Jackson. 42-7. The Grangers went three and out and the Trojans offense added another score on a 44 yard drive. Josh Barge caught a five yard pass in the end zone to make the score 49-7.
The second half was quick under Georgia's mercy rule. The Grangers' opening drive started at their own 25 and went 12 plays, before they turned the ball over on downs at the Trojan 9. Carrollton then went 91 yards in 10 plays with Don Harris rushing in from the Granger 1 yard line. 56-7. The Grangers then went on a fifty yard drive in seven plays, but could not move the chains past the Carrollton 30. The Trojans just ran out the clock from there.
To say the next game is big is an understatement. If LaGrange loses to Central-Carroll Oct. 21st, they will likely not make the playoffs. We will have the in-stadium transmitter set to 100.9 FM again, so bring your radios. I'll see you at Roy Richards Memorial Stadium.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Haralson County 27 LaGrange 21
The first trip to Haralson County since 2002 ended in the first ever loss to the Rebels, 27-21 Friday night. Haralson's opening drive resulted in a fumble on the second play and LaGrange only had to go 31 yards to score. A one yard run by Zach Giddens gave the Grangers an early 7-0 lead. The teams exchanged punts and LaGrange looked to have flipped the field well. But the Rebels' longest drive of the half went 81 yards in ten plays, the last a one yard run by Nii-Okai Reindorf and Haralson tied the game at 7. Giddens fumbled on the next drive and the Rebels capitalized with a 28 yard drive. It was Reindorf again, this time from 25 yards out and Haralson took a 14-7 lead. LaGrange had to punt, but on Haralson's next possession, Deshawdrick Varner intercepted a pass and ran it in for the touchdown, tying the game at 14. The teams exchanged fake punts that were ineffective, but the Rebels fumbled at the Granger 40. Five plays later, Quentin Jackson found Javon Cameron in the end zone and LaGrange took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.
LaGrange's first drive of the second half ended with Cole Kemp punting the ball away, but the Rebels muffed it. The Grangers took the ball at Haralson's 19, but could not do anything with it. The 30 yard field goal attempt by Kemp missed and the score remained 21-14 Grangers. But not for long. On haralson's very next drive, they went 80 yards in seven plays. Reindorf ran into the end zone from two yards out and the score became knotted at 21. LaGrange would punt, hold Haralson on downs and punt again. Then on third and ten from their own 19, Haralson would burn LaGrange deep. An 81 yard touchdown pass gave Haralson a 27-21 lead, but the PAT failed. LaGrange would get three more attempts to win. But the Rebels intercepted a pass and take it to the Granger six yard line. The Granger defense held firm and Haralson would miss a 23 yard field goal attempt. On the second play of the Grangers' next drive the ball hit the ground on a fumble and Haralson got the ball again. The Granger defense did their job, keeping the Rebels from getting a first down, so LaGrange had one more chance. The Grangers marched down to the Rebel 36 in eight plays but would get no farther, turning the ball over on downs with 43 seconds left in the game.
This was a very different game than any I have seen. Haralson County went 3-8 last year and played like they weren't confident they were going to win. The fans were quiet as if they were expecting the Rebels to blow it. But the Grangers played like they did not know how to finish the Rebels off. A touchdown after the muffed punt gives LaGrange a 14 point lead and the air is gone from Haralson County. But like Shaw did at Taylor Memorial Stadium last year, LaGrange let the Rebels hang around and the home team found a way to win. Next up, the Grangers travel to Grisham Stadium to face the Carrollton Trojans. I'll see you there.
LaGrange's first drive of the second half ended with Cole Kemp punting the ball away, but the Rebels muffed it. The Grangers took the ball at Haralson's 19, but could not do anything with it. The 30 yard field goal attempt by Kemp missed and the score remained 21-14 Grangers. But not for long. On haralson's very next drive, they went 80 yards in seven plays. Reindorf ran into the end zone from two yards out and the score became knotted at 21. LaGrange would punt, hold Haralson on downs and punt again. Then on third and ten from their own 19, Haralson would burn LaGrange deep. An 81 yard touchdown pass gave Haralson a 27-21 lead, but the PAT failed. LaGrange would get three more attempts to win. But the Rebels intercepted a pass and take it to the Granger six yard line. The Granger defense held firm and Haralson would miss a 23 yard field goal attempt. On the second play of the Grangers' next drive the ball hit the ground on a fumble and Haralson got the ball again. The Granger defense did their job, keeping the Rebels from getting a first down, so LaGrange had one more chance. The Grangers marched down to the Rebel 36 in eight plays but would get no farther, turning the ball over on downs with 43 seconds left in the game.
This was a very different game than any I have seen. Haralson County went 3-8 last year and played like they weren't confident they were going to win. The fans were quiet as if they were expecting the Rebels to blow it. But the Grangers played like they did not know how to finish the Rebels off. A touchdown after the muffed punt gives LaGrange a 14 point lead and the air is gone from Haralson County. But like Shaw did at Taylor Memorial Stadium last year, LaGrange let the Rebels hang around and the home team found a way to win. Next up, the Grangers travel to Grisham Stadium to face the Carrollton Trojans. I'll see you there.
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