LaFayette struggles to find footing against star-studded Loachapoka
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — LaFayette High School struggled to overcome short fields and relentless defensive pressure on Oct. 16, falling 41-0 to No. 5-ranked Loachapoka High School in a Class 1A Region 6 clash at Jones-Tate Stadium.
The win clinched a playoff berth for the Indians (7-1, 4-1), who built a 34-0 halftime lead over the Bulldogs (2-6, 1-4). Loachapoka’s first six possessions all started near midfield or in LaFayette territory.
Loachapoka’s defense held the Bulldogs to 6 total yards, recording 11 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. LaFayette finished with minus-18 rushing yards on 16 carries, with Jeremiah Whitlow leading the way with 7 yards on seven carries. The Bulldogs went 9-of-19 passing for 24 yards, as Kemare Harrington completed 4-of-11 passes for 2 yards and Demetrius Harrington finished 2-of-4 for 14 yards and an interception.
Ryquan Butler led the Indians with seven tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception, while Qua’shaun Satterwhite, Emmanuel Baker and TaKaq Brown had two sacks each.
On the other side, the Bulldogs had trouble containing Loachapoka’s rushing attack, which piled up 306 yards on 29 carries. Hayden Lipscomb ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries, and Lareaco Echols added 119 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
Lipscomb opened the scoring with an 11-yard TD run with 7:02 left in the first quarter, capping a drive that began at the Loachapoka 48 yard line. Echols added a 3-yard TD with 1:11 left in the period to put the Indians up 14-0.
LaFayette’s defense delivered one of its brightest moments with 7:48 left in the second quarter, when T.J. Lockhart intercepted a pass near the goal line and returned it to the Bulldogs’ 33 yard line.
Loachapoka scored on its next possession, however, as Lipscomb broke free for an 18-yard TD run with 6:05 left in the half. The extra point was no good, keeping the deficit at 20-0.
The Bulldogs’ offense couldn’t find a rhythm. Kemare Harrington was sacked on fourth down at the Loachapoka 47 yard line with 4:28 left in the half, and Echols scored from 7 yards out with 1:42 remaining.
A bad snap on a punt deep in LaFayette territory then gave Loachapoka the ball at the Bulldogs’ 13 yard line with 32 seconds left, and Cruz Hall threw a 14-yard TD pass to Zemarion Hughley on the next play to make it 34-0 at the break.
LaFayette came out of halftime with more fight. The defense got a stop on Loachapoka’s opening drive of the second half, giving the offense the ball at the Loachapoka 25 yard line with 8:02 left in the third quarter.
Zephi Madden led the LaFayette defense with 11 total tackles, Jaden Lacey had five solo tackles, and Elijah Tolbert added three tackles and a sack.
The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize, though, and Lipscomb broke a 75-yard TD run with 2:25 left in the period to make it 41-0 and start the running clock.
Lockhart nearly gave LaFayette another spark with a long return to near the Loachapoka 15, but a holding penalty brought the ball back to the Bulldogs’ 37 yard line. However, Butler then intercepted a Demetrius Harrington pass at the Indians’ 40 with 7:12 remaining to end another LaFayette possession.
The Bulldogs’ defense forced one more stop late, taking over at the Loachapoka 28 yard line with 3:24 left, but the offense was unable to get on the scoreboard.
LaFayette head coach Douglas Jones Jr. was unavailable for comment before the Sun’s Tuesday press deadline.
LaFayette hosts Wadley High School (4-4, 3-2) at Bulldog Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. Wadley is coming off a 22-20 road win over Fayetteville High School (2-6, 2-3) on Oct. 16.
