Ramblers, Bulldogs, Generals battle in tight tri-match
Catamounts come up short in semifinals
The LaFayette Ramblers, Hertiage Generals and Rossville Bulldogs all converged in Rossville on Thursday for what turned out to be a very entertaining tri-match.
Heritage emerged the big winner as they went 2-0 on the evening, but not before being pushed hard by both Walker County teams.
Heritage 48, Heritage 45, 39 Rossville 42
In the night’s opening match, the Bulldogs got pins from Evan Ferguson (86 pounds), Garrett Romans (94), Aiden Raymer (123), Preston Homsombath (140), Jeremiah Rogers (180) and Thomas Lamb (220) and a forfeit victory from Xavier Botts (72).
LaFayette
The Ramblers got pins from Mason Alexander (130), Hunter Deal (140), Bryce Blackmon (180) and Eli
Throughout the season, the Dalton High School football team always seemed to have an answer. For 13 games and 13 wins, whenever the Catamounts were faced with adversity, they found a way to overcome.
But the Catamounts made too many mistakes and not enough big plays to get past Valdosta on Friday night, falling 27-6 in the Class 6A semifinals at Harmon Field. Dalton ended its season 13-1, just one win away from the state championship game at the Georgia Dome.
“I give all the credit to (Valdosta coach Alan) Rodemaker and his staff,” Dalton coach Matt Land said. “Our young men played their guts out and the coaches coached their guts out. There just comes a point where your gun just runs out of bullets. But these guys, I’m telling you, I’d go to battle (with them) anywhere, any time, against anybody.”
Dalton’s season may be over, but the team’s 27 seniors went out on a high note for their final year in red and white. The Catamounts achieved their first No. 1 ranking since 1986, advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2001, tied a school record with 13 wins and formed a brotherhood that won’t soon be broken.
“It’s been a long ride,” senior defensive back/wide receiver Kyric McGowan said. “I love these guys to death. I wouldn’t want to be Prince (275). Jathan Harding (72) picked up a win by forfeit, while Hector Velez (100) won a decision.
LaFayette 45, 39 Rossville
The night’s final matchup saw the Ramblers pull out the victory behind pins from Jonah Neal (86), Alexander (130), Deal (140), Cody Cook (165), Blackmon (180) and Prince (275). Jacob Zwiger (123) was awarded a forfeit as Raymer was forced to default due to an injury.
Botts (72), Brandon Blakemore (78), Isacc Berry (115), Payton Rogers (150) and Lamb (220) all won by pin for the Bulldogs. Romans (94) won by technical fall and JoJo Giles (108) earned a major decision.
Ramblers win two in Trenton
LaFayette traveled to Dade County and went 2-1 in a tri-match that also included Coosa, Darlington and the host Wolverines. out there with anyone else. I’m sad we came out with the loss, but I’d die for these guys. (The seniors) have been playing together since rec ball. They will be my teammates forever and I love them.”
The Catamounts struggled to move the ball in the first half, crossing midfield just once and never traveling past the 41-yard line of Valdosta. The teams combined for just one first down through the first four possessions before Dalton running back Ahmaad Tanner had the first big play on a 23-yard run late in the first quarter. That drive stalled at the 41 and a well executed punt by kicker Ivan Mora pinned the Wildcats down at their 4-yard line.
After a couple big plays got Valdosta up towards midfield the Wildcats lined up to punt, but the kick was short and as McGowan ran up to field it for a fair catch the ball bounced out of his arms and Valdosta recovered. The Wildcats moved the ball inside the 10-yard line before a holding penalty put them in third-and goal at the 20. Then they utilized a trick play as an eligible offensive tackle slipped up the seam and made a leaping catch before stretching into the end zone for the game’s first score six minutes before halftime.
Valdosta (13-1) got the ball back just before halftime and had an opportunity to throw a hail Mary on the last play, which Dalton safety Maddux Houghton intercepted in the end zone to keep the Wildcats’ lead at 7-0 going into the break.
The Wildcats took the ball to start the second half but couldn’t get a first down and lined up to punt, but once again the ball would bounce their way. Another high, short punt came down on the back of Houghton, who was trying to block for McGowan. Valdosta recovered and three plays later quarterback Josh Belton hit tight end Jontae Baker for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
Belton finished the game 14-for-20 for 187 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
“When it hit one of their players on the punt return, that ended up being a big play and gave us a lot of momentum,” Rodemaker said. “With young people momentum swings are huge and that was a big one. There ain’t no doubt these two teams are more even than the score indicated.”
“We made mistakes that we couldn’t make in big games and they capitalized,” McGowan said.
After Dalton punted, the Wildcats put together their best sustained drive of the game which didn’t involve an assist from a Dalton mistake. Belton completed five of seven passes for 51 yards, culminating with a 25-yard scoring strike to J.R. Ingram, who got open on a well executed double move. The Wildcats led 21-0 late in the third quarter and appeared to have all the momentum.
The Catamounts had a little more fight left in them, however, as quarterback JP Tighe started to find a rhythm for the first time all night. The drive began at their 16-yard line, but Tanner’s long run and a couple passes to Nasir LovePorter moved the ball to the Valdosta 20-yard line, where the Cats would face a fourthand-nine.
Tighe completed a fouryard pass to McGowan, who instead of turning up field lateraled the ball to Tanner, who was streaking out for a hook-and-ladder. Tanner was able to beat the defenders to the corner and ran the remaining 16 yards for Dalton’s only touchdown. The extra point was missed and the Catamounts trailed 21-6 midway through the fourth quarter.
On Valdosta’s ensuing possession, Belton completed a pass to Ingram and he drug defenders forward for a gain of 14 yards before Houghton was able to wrestle the ball away from him at the Valdosta 39-yard line.
However, all the Catamounts momentum was deflated in an instant when Tighe took a hit on the 25-yard line on third down. He left the game with an apparent ankle injury and the Dalton offense left with him as the Cats lost six yards on their five final plays. Tighe finished 8 of 15 for 86 yards. Valdosta added the final score with just over two minutes remaining on a 22-yard pass to Ingram.
Land said he was proud of the fight his team showed and that he wouldn’t let himself second guess what might have been.
“There are a lot of questions you could ask about this game, why did this or happen or why did that happen,” Land said. “I’ve learned in 25 years of coaching that when you start to do that you will drive yourself crazy. These guys put everything they had on the field and when these guys do that, you can’t have any complaints.”
Dalton was missing senior Zeke Cobb, its leading receiver, who was suspended for the game along with backup receiver Clay Britton after both were cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana Tuesday night.
Tanner, who ran for 243 yards in Dalton’s quarterfinal win over Coffee last week, had 11 carries for 57 yards. Land said the Catamounts were taken out of their offense in the second half, but lauded his senior tailback’s performances throughout the playoffs.
“I tell you what, just an unbelievable player and has so much guts,” Land said. “When you look at what he put on the line game after game, play after play, run after run, it’s amazing. My only reservation with it is we probably should have used him so many other ways because of his talent. He’s a leader on and off the field and I am so proud of him.”