BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College football team (5-1, 2-1 USA South) fell for the first time in 2026, dropping a 21-10 final to (RV) LaGrange (5-1, 3-0 USAS) on Saturday at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
The Panthers leaned heavily on the rushing attack, as Michael Hayes dashed for 198 yards on 23 carries, averaging 8.6 yards per rush with a pair of touchdown scores. Bakari Hamilton added a six-yard touchdown scamper on his only rush of the afternoon.
LaGrange was limited in the passing game, totaling only 79 yards with 54 of them coming on the first play of the game where Henry Brodnax found Ashton Bryant. BC out-gained LaGrange 169-79 through the air as Christian Conley completed a season-high 21 passes, with Shy Grant hauling in four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. A 13-play, 91-yard drive just ahead of halftime, capped by Grant's 22-yard touchdown reception, was the highlight of the afternoon for BC's offense.
Both sides combined for 12 punts, with Brevard's duo of Glen Kelly and Declan Sweeny handling the duties for Brevard. Kelly drilled a long of 54, with two punts pinned inside the 20-yard line. Spencer Crum connected on a 29-yard field goal for the Tornados as well.
LaGrange's defense was dominant, holding BC's high-powered rushing attack to 111 yards on 36 attempts (3.1 yards per carry) while picking off the Tornados three times in the second half. Chad Smith led the charge with 12 total tackles, 3.5 TFL, and a sack, as the Panthers racked up 12 TFL for 41 total yards lost. Dezmond Jones added nine tackles and two TFL, while Messiah Scandret picked off a pair of passes and Mark Buelow Jr. added an INT.
BC's defensive charge was paced by Will Hadden III's 13 tackles, forced fumble, and pass breakup. The Tornados were able to force a pair of second-half fumbles to give their offense some extra possessions. Sylas Scruggs added seven tackles, punched a fumble out, and recorded a TFL, while Deshon Hadden and Seth Murray recovered fumbles, and Donovan Reid blocked an extra point.
Special ceremonies for Saturday's Homecoming 2026 festivities included the 20th year BC Football reunion honoring the 2006 team, and the BC Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 - Donald Hudson, Cypress Gorry, Sarah Hill, and the 2016 national champion mountain bike team.
Brevard will now turn its attention to a road test at Huntingdon in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.
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