Lanett’s defense dominates Lady Bulldogs
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Lanett High School spoiled LaFayette High School’s first-ever flag football game, handing their bitter rivals a 34-0 defeat at Bulldog Stadium on Aug. 20 with a smothering defensive effort.
Jennifer Trana-Hernandez stole the show with three interceptions, including a pick-six, for the Lady Panthers, while Serenity Roberts did the damage on offense with a pair of long touchdown catches.
Days earlier, Lanett head coach Tiara McCullough had told the Sun her team wouldn’t lose to LaFayette or Valley. On Thursday, her players more than backed her statement up.
“I really got a chance to see what we still got to work on, and I feel pretty good about the win,” McCullough said. “We didn’t lose to LaFayette, and we will continue to beat LaFayette.”
According to McCullough, Trana-Hernandez flashed her defensive playmaking toward the end of last season as an eighth grader, and the freshman more than continued that good form into 2026.
Trana-Hernandez credited Lanett’s work ethic for the good feeling the players carried into the game.
“It felt really good knowing my teammates were always there supporting me,” Trana-Hernandez said. “We were confident [going into the game], actually. We always boost each other’s energy up, we’re always positive and we stay as a team [no matter if it’s] practices or games. We just work together to get better.”
Trana-Hernandez set the tone early. With 5:08 left in the opening quarter, her interception near the goal line ended a dangerous LaFayette drive.
On the very next play, Roberts hauled in a high-arching pass and ran through two Lady Bulldogs tacklers for a 40-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt was no good, and Lanett led 6-0 with 4:33 to play in the first.
The freshman struck again with 2:12 left in the quarter, picking off her second pass near the LaFayette 20 yard line.
In the second quarter, Markala Bailey capped a short drive that began near the LaFayette 22 with a 6-yard touchdown run at the 6:52 mark of the second quarter. Bailey then hauled in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0.
Roberts added her second score, a 28-yard touchdown reception, with 1:28 left before halftime. Makenley James converted the two-point try to push the lead to 22-0.
Despite the early success through the air, McCullough said the passing game was still a work in progress.
“I was maybe about 60% [happy with the passing game],” McCullough said. “Our quarterback just came back, and she’s still getting in the rhythm of throwing the football again. Our backup did pretty good coming in too, so I’m glad we got some of the kinks out in the first game.”
Following halftime, the Lady Panthers’ defense delivered the knockout blows.
Trana-Hernandez completed her hat trick of interceptions in style by stepping in front of a Lady Bulldog and returning one 39 yards for a pick-six with 8:00 left in the third quarter. The extra point was no good, making it 28-0.
Aubree Cheeks followed with a pick-six of her own near the LaFayette 21 yard line with 4:45 remaining in the third. The extra point again was no good, and Lanett led 34-0.
Game officials then instituted the mercy rule at the end of the third quarter and called the game.
After the game, LaFayette head coach Demarco McNeil vowed his team would learn from the experience and go back to the drawing board.
“This is the first game ever, so you aren’t going to win a championship regardless if you win or lose right now,” McNeil said. “With that being said, you have to continue to play and try to get better every day. That’s it.”
McNeil also thanked the home crowd for coming out and supporting the team.
“We’re very happy for them to come out,” McNeil said. “We’re appreciative of them, and you know they’ll come out. They’ll support us. They’re LaFayette, we’re LaFayette, we’re all LaFayette. So, you can’t help but to be thankful for that.”
