LaFayette dedicates football field to coach Ike Grant
BY LAFAYETTE
SUN STAFF
LAFAYETTE — LaFayette High School honored longtime educator and coach Ike Grant with the dedication of the Bulldog football field in his name.
Faculty members, community members, family and friends gathered Thursday night to recognize Grant’s decades of service to LaFayette High School and the Chambers County School System.
Grant is a 1972 graduate of Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City and earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University in 1974.
He began his teaching and coaching career at LaFayette High School in 1978. One year later, he was named head football coach and athletic director, serving in those roles from 1979 through 1986.
During that tenure, Grant led the Bulldogs to the first state playoff appearance in school history.
Grant later returned as LaFayette’s head football coach in 2001. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs recorded 10-win seasons in 2003 and 2005. He finished his coaching career with 85 victories.
Grant devoted 38 years of service to the Chambers County School System, serving as an educator, coach and administrator.
Those who honored him described his impact as extending far beyond wins and losses. Grant was recognized as a mentor, father figure, motivator and competitor who encouraged generations of students to pursue their academic and athletic goals.
His coaching emphasized discipline, determination, hard work and perseverance — lessons supporters said continued to influence students long after they left the field.
Grant’s career was recognized statewide in 2016 when he was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
The field dedication honored not only Grant’s accomplishments as a coach, but also the generations of students and athletes he influenced during his career.
“Your commitment to excellence has helped shape generations of Bulldogs, and your legacy will forever be a part of LaFayette High School,” the dedication program stated.
LaFayette v. Winterboro
LaFayette High School fell 46-14 to No. 3-ranked Winterboro High School (8-0, 5-0) in a Class 1A Region 6 game Friday, Oct. 9, at Bulldog Stadium.
Kemare Harrington led the Bulldogs (2-5, 1-3) on offense, completing 10 of 17 passes for 122 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jeremiah Whitlow ran for 53 yards on 15 carries, Zephi Madden had a 70-yard catch and Zaquarius Jackson caught two passes for 12 yards and a TD.
On defense, Madden posted 17 total tackles and three tackles for loss, and Kentravion Patton added 10 tackles. Kentavious Cobb returned an interception for a TD, Kemare Harrington added another interception and Aiden White recorded a sack.
Winterboro did most of its damage on the ground, rushing for 443 yards. Carter Castleberry led the way with 287 yards and three TDs on 23 carries, while Kevin McKenzie added 134 yards and a TD on 13 carries. Devecchio Servant completed 2 of 10 passes for 52 yards, and both completions went for TDs: a 30-yarder to Castleberry and a 22-yarder to Will Shephard. Shephard also intercepted two passes on defense.
LaFayette travels to face No. 5 Loachapoka High School (6-1, 3-1) at Jones-Tate Stadium on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.
