LaGrange 26 Haralson 7

By Michael Buchanan

Saturday, October 2, 2010

http://voiceoflg.blogspot.com

The Grangers bounced back with a win Friday night at Callaway Stadium over the Rebels of Haralson County. Some self-inflicted mistakes kept the game close, but Haralson County is definitely a team on the rise.

The Grangers' opening drive started at their own 36 and got to the Rebel 6 when Q Ferrell tried to move the ball from one hand to the other. He fumbled and Haralson started their first drive there. Four plays later they would also fumble and Milton Lamar recovered at the Rebel 38. LaGrange would take nearly five minutes off the clock in nine plays going those 38 yards. The drive ended on a Braxton Smith quarterback sneak into the end zone. E Smith missed the extra point and it was 6-0 LaGrange. Two plays into Haralson's next drive the Rebels fumbled again and TK Morgan recovered. E Smith missed a 34 yard field goal attempt, however, and the score remained 6-0. Haralson would punt the ball on their next drive and LaGrange would capitalize. A six minute, sixty five yard drive in 11 plays finished with six points. John Wagner caught a pass in the back of the end zone from nine yards out. The two-point conversion failed and LaGrange goes up 12-0. The Rebels went three and out and LaGrange turned the ball over a second time, this one by Demoton Boyd. But Haralson could not score on their ensuing drive before the half ended.

The Granger defense held Haralson to two first downs the entire first half.

The Rebels' first drive of the second half was a three and out so LaGrange started at their own 47. Three plays later another fumble hit the ground and Haralson recovered. The Rebels found a way to move the ball, going 51 yards to the Granger 14. Price Oliver recovered and the Grangers found themselves at the Rebel 12. On the ninth play, Dee Smith caught a Braxton Smith pass from his shoelaces and stumbled into the end zone. E Smith's extra point was true and it was 19-0 LaGrange. Haralson County moved the ball again, starting at their own 20 and going to the Granger 41 before turning the ball over on downs. LaGrange started on the Rebel 49 and did not need a long drive. Demoton Boyd rushed five yards on teh fifth play of the drive to pay dirt and it was 26-0 Good Guys. With a little more than six minutes left to go it looked like Steve Pardue would have his 48th shutout as head coach, but Haralson had other plans. A 14 play, 80 yard drive ended when Antoinne Phillips ran into the end zone from six yards away. 26-7 LaGrange. On the Grangers' first drive, John Boyd turned the ball over but Haralson County could do nothing with it. The clock expired with the Grangers winning 26-7.

The Granger defense has caused 14 turnovers this season. That is Granger football. However the Grangers turned the ball over themselves 14 times as well. That needs to be corrected. Especially with the Carrollton game coming in a week. The downside is Carrollton has been scoring a lot while giving up a little. The upside is Carrollton is zero for LaGrange. The winner of this game will likely win the region. Let's have a packed stadium Friday night.