The Grangers turned
up the intensity for
their homecoming
Friday night at
Callaway Stadium,
leading Jordan 41-0
at the half on the
way to winning 48-0.
LaGrange opened the game with a nine-play 61-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Ocie Salter. It would be the longest drive in number of plays the Grangers would have all night. LaGrange cut short the Red Jackets next drive with a Jernard Johnson interception to Jordan's 31. It would be the first of five times LaGrange would start the a drive inside Jordan territory. Two plays later, Jamius Gunsby would run effortlessly 21 yards into the end zone to make the score 14-0.
Jordan then went three and out punting the ball, but LaGrange would turn the ball over via a fumble. Three plays later Qua Huzzie would cause a fumble and Tristian Johnson scooped and scored. 21-0 Grangers. The Red Jackets would get a first down on the ensuing drive, but they would have to punt. LaGrange then engineered a 77-yard drive on six plays that ended when Dez Lovett ran a yard inside the goal line. 28-0 good guys. A fumble on Jordan's very next play from scrimmage gave LaGrange the ball on the Red Jackets' 13 yard line. Jamius Gunsby scores on the next play, this time receiving a pass from Rodney Tolbert and it quickly became 34-0. One more first half fumble, this one caused by Mike Williams, gives LaGrange first and ten at Jordan's 29. Two plays later, Dionte Mains makes a 30 yard touchdown catch to make it 41-0. That is how the first half ended.
During the halftime interview, Tommy Traylor asked head coach Steve Pardue if we were going to see the starters any more. Steve said only if Tommy was going to be in the locker room at halftime.
Jordan opened the second half three and out and punting. LaGrange started on the Red Jackets' 47 and on the seventh play of the drive reserve Xavier Heard made a 37 yard touchdown catch. We did see Rodney Tolbert back out there for one play, however. He was the holder for Pat Simmons' PAT attempt. Otherwise, there were no starters playing the whole second half.
Jordan had a pretty good drive their next time with the ball. A 64-yard nine-play drive ended on fourth and five when their running back made only four yards on the carry. The backups on defense preserved the shutout and the crowd gave them a loud ovation for their effort. The Grangers started the next possession on their own one, but moved the ball out to their own 39 before punting the ball away. Joe Mansour had a tough time handling the high snap, but he did a rugby style punt sending the ball out of bounds near the Jordan 20. The clock would run out after four more plays.
It was a great team effort. Some will say "well, it was just Jordan." The Red Jackets have some good athletes on their team and Tony Graziano is building a foundation there of work ethic and pride. Those players never quit, even down 40+ points.
The Grangers last time having more than three consecutive shutouts was in 2001 with six in a row. I don't know if they will equal that this season, but this team is going to do all they can to make it happen. They are playing Granger style for four quarters again. Next up, the Kendrick Cherokees who were shut out 13-0 last season. The game is Thursday night at Kinnett Stadium. I hope to see you there.
LaGrange opened the game with a nine-play 61-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Ocie Salter. It would be the longest drive in number of plays the Grangers would have all night. LaGrange cut short the Red Jackets next drive with a Jernard Johnson interception to Jordan's 31. It would be the first of five times LaGrange would start the a drive inside Jordan territory. Two plays later, Jamius Gunsby would run effortlessly 21 yards into the end zone to make the score 14-0.
Jordan then went three and out punting the ball, but LaGrange would turn the ball over via a fumble. Three plays later Qua Huzzie would cause a fumble and Tristian Johnson scooped and scored. 21-0 Grangers. The Red Jackets would get a first down on the ensuing drive, but they would have to punt. LaGrange then engineered a 77-yard drive on six plays that ended when Dez Lovett ran a yard inside the goal line. 28-0 good guys. A fumble on Jordan's very next play from scrimmage gave LaGrange the ball on the Red Jackets' 13 yard line. Jamius Gunsby scores on the next play, this time receiving a pass from Rodney Tolbert and it quickly became 34-0. One more first half fumble, this one caused by Mike Williams, gives LaGrange first and ten at Jordan's 29. Two plays later, Dionte Mains makes a 30 yard touchdown catch to make it 41-0. That is how the first half ended.
During the halftime interview, Tommy Traylor asked head coach Steve Pardue if we were going to see the starters any more. Steve said only if Tommy was going to be in the locker room at halftime.
Jordan opened the second half three and out and punting. LaGrange started on the Red Jackets' 47 and on the seventh play of the drive reserve Xavier Heard made a 37 yard touchdown catch. We did see Rodney Tolbert back out there for one play, however. He was the holder for Pat Simmons' PAT attempt. Otherwise, there were no starters playing the whole second half.
Jordan had a pretty good drive their next time with the ball. A 64-yard nine-play drive ended on fourth and five when their running back made only four yards on the carry. The backups on defense preserved the shutout and the crowd gave them a loud ovation for their effort. The Grangers started the next possession on their own one, but moved the ball out to their own 39 before punting the ball away. Joe Mansour had a tough time handling the high snap, but he did a rugby style punt sending the ball out of bounds near the Jordan 20. The clock would run out after four more plays.
It was a great team effort. Some will say "well, it was just Jordan." The Red Jackets have some good athletes on their team and Tony Graziano is building a foundation there of work ethic and pride. Those players never quit, even down 40+ points.
The Grangers last time having more than three consecutive shutouts was in 2001 with six in a row. I don't know if they will equal that this season, but this team is going to do all they can to make it happen. They are playing Granger style for four quarters again. Next up, the Kendrick Cherokees who were shut out 13-0 last season. The game is Thursday night at Kinnett Stadium. I hope to see you there.