LAGRANGE, Ga. – Brevard (3-3, 1-2 USAS) held the league's top offense to 17 points, but LaGrange (5-1, 3-0 USAS) used a late touchdown to stay unbeaten in conference play with a 17-10 win.
The Panthers took the opening kickoff and led a sustained drive, lasting over six minutes. LaGrange reached the Brevard redzone, but a tackle for loss by Dre Burton on third down held the Panthers to three, as Landon Eaker knocked through a 40-yard field goal to take the early lead with 8:46 to go in the first quarter.
Brevard seemed like it would go three-and-out on its opening drive, but on 4th-and-10, punter Samuel Vargas took off for a 16-yard scamper to keep the drive alive. The Tornados worked into Panther territory with a couple of chunk gains, reaching the 38-yard line. However, a holding penalty paired with a false start created a 3rd-and-17, and the Tornados would punt after failing to convert.
Brevard held LaGrange scoreless on its next drive, and a 28-yard return from Jeremiah Lane to the Tornado 43-yard line. The Tornados entered the Panthers' redzone after a 30-yard pitch-and-catch from Ethan Beamish to Adam Douglas, putting the ball on the LaGrange 16. However, on the ensuing play, the Tornados coughed up the football, and the Panthers pounced on it.
LaGrange and Brevard exchanged scoreless drives until the Tornados created an opportunity late in the half, as Quintrell Bowman hopped on a Panther fumble to set up the Tornados at the LaGrange 32 with 2:21 before half.
Beamish connected with Jack Spotz for 21 yards on the drive's opening play, setting BC up at the LaGrange 11. The Panthers responded, however, sacking Beamish for an 11-yard loss to make it 3rd-and-20. Brevard would play it safe, settling for a 34-yard field goal off the foot of Hayden Vandergriff to send the two sides to the locker room tied at three.
Brevard went three-and-out to open the half, and a short punt set LaGrange up with good field position at its own 45. The Panthers would capitalize, as a handful of chunk gains led to a 17-yard connection from Henry Brodnax to Mychal Stillwell to take a 10-3 lead early in the third quarter.
The Tornados worked back into Panther territory, reaching the LaGrange 21-yard line. However, Hayden Vandergriff's 39-yard attempt was no good and the Panther lead remained seven.
Brevard would force a LaGrange punt on the ensuing drive, getting the ball back with 3:19 left in the third. The Tornados faced another third down on their own 25-yard line before Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel gashed the Panther defense up the middle for 48 yards to the LaGrange 21.
The Tornados entered the fourth frame with a 3rd-and-6 from the LaGrange 17, and Beamish found Fauntleroy-McDaniel out of the backfield for a 17-yard touchdown to even the tally at ten.
After a pair of scoreless drives, Will Hadden III jumped the route to intercept Brodnax, setting up Brevard in LaGrange territory at the 38. However, LaGrange's defense bent but didn't break, forcing a turnover on downs at a key juncture in the contest. The Panthers took over at their own 29 with 6:57 to play.
The two sides remained in the stalemate till later in the fourth quarter. LaGrange took over at its own 20 with 2:06 to play and quickly moved down the field before Michael Hays took off for a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:39 to play, taking a 17-10 lead.
Brevard tried to respond, but Dezmond Jones intercepted Ethan Beamish with 1:21 left in the fourth. The Tornados got the Panthers to 4th-and-3, but Hays picked up five yards to effectively end the contest.
Beamish ended the day 23-of-31 for 185 yards, a touchdown, and the late interception. LaGrange's Brodnak went 13-of-21 for 118 yards, a touchdown, and a pick.
Beamish spread the wealth to eight different guys, with Adam Douglas leading the way with six catches for 77 yards. Fauntleroy-McDaniel also had six catches including the 17-yard touchdown reception. Kolby Crawford led the Panther wideouts, hauling in five receptions for 55 yards.
Fauntleroy-McDaniel was the workhorse again for Brevard, notching 15 carries for 72 yards. Michael Hays was key for LaGrange, carrying the rock 19 times for 129 yards and a score.
Curtis Bowden Jr. had a nice day defensively, tallying eight tackles including a tackle for loss. Robert Dorsey, Dre Burton, and Deshon Hadden also notched TFLs. Ched Smith and Dezmond Jones led LaGrange with eight and seven tackles, respectively.
Brevard looks for a bounceback effort next week, traveling to in-state foe Greensboro for a 6 pm kick on Saturday, October 25th.
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