Nothing soothes a two-game losing streak
like a 51-0 blowout at home. The only thing
better would be beating the crosstown rival
and securing a playoff spot. That will have
to wait until next week.
Northside opened the game going three and
out and punting the ball away. LaGrange
would then engineer a 54 yard drive in five
plays, with Jamius Gunsby capping it with a
15 yard touchdown run. 7-0. The Patriots
would then put together a 52 yard drive, but
turned the ball over on downs at the Granger
28. After a Granger punt, Northside would
have a 59 yard drive. But a 27 yard field
goal attempt would fail when Brian Dowell
swatted the ball off the tee before the
kicker could kick it! Tristian Johnson would
run the ball in 72 yards and LaGrange would
go up 14-0. It did not get better for the
Patriots. A blocked punt set the Grangers up
at Northside's 24 and Ocie Salter would run
the ball in from there. 21-0 LG. Northside
would go three and out and actually get the
punt off. Brian Dowell would return it,
however, to the Patriot 24. The Grangers
failed to move the chains and Joe Mansour
hit a 46 yard chip shot field goal that
would have been good from 60. And that is
NOT an exaggeration, folks. 24-0 LaGrange.
The next kickoff set Northside up at their
own two. A penalty gave them breathing room
to the 12, but they would fumble the next
snap and Justin Gilber recovered. Two plays
later, Dez Lovett would score from 10 yards
out. 31-0. Northside would fumble on their
very next play from scrimmage and John
Jackson capped off a 13 yard drive with a
four yard touchdown run. Jackson then took
the ball to the sideline, thinking he was
going to keep the ball as a souvenir of his
first touchdown. I don't think it works that
way. The half would and 38-0.
The third quarter would not be played under
the mercy rule as head coach Nathan Laney
chose to keep the clock at a normal pace.
That gave both teams more snaps for the
youngsters, and seniors who don't see a lot
of action, a chance to get some work in. The
Grangers didn't need a lot of work to open
the second half. On the second play from
scrimmage, Xavier Heard would scamper 62
yards for a touchdown. The extra point was
bobbled and Rodney Tolbert's pass was
intercepted in the end zone. 44-0. The
Patriots would punt, Gunsby would throw an
interception, and the Patriots would punt
again. The Grangers would open the fourth
quarter with an 83 yard, 6 play drive,
finished off with a 56 yard touchdown run by
freshman Deonte Hardy. 51-0. The teams would
exchange punts and the clock would run out
on Northside.
Next up, LaGrange takes on the Troup Tigers
in a game of extreme importance for both
teams. If LaGrange wins, they seal up third
place and a playoff spot. If Troup wins and
Kendrick beats Harris County, then Troup is
third and LaGrange is fourth. But if Harris
defeats Kendrick and Troup beats LaGrange,
the two Tigers and the Grangers will have a
three-way tie for the last two playoff
spots. I spoke with Assistant Head Coach
Thomas Crocker about when and where the
minigame would take place, and he said no
one is thinking about a minigame. They are
focusing solely on Troup. I like that
mindset.
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