Lafayette rebounds with region victory

Two weeks after seeing a 26-0 halftime lead evaporate in a loss to Christian Heritage, Lafayette fans were on pins and needles at Jack King Stadium on Friday night after visiting Southeast Whitfield erased a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game at 21 apiece by the end of the third quarter.

However, the Orange-and-black would send the Rambler faithful home with smiles on their faces.

A 3-yard touchdown pass from Vyshonn Daniel to Alan Hu with just over four minutes to go in the game put Lafayette back and front and a final goalline stand in the closing seconds would preserve the Ramblers’ 28-21 region opener.

The win also snapped Lafayette’s six-game losing streak to the Raiders from Dalton.

Southeast Whitfield would march down the field in the closing moments, looking to tie or perhaps take the lead. They would move the ball all the way down to the Lafayette 5-yard line with under a minute to play, but the Rambler defense would stiffen on fourth down to force an incomplete pass and seal the victory.

Vyshonn Daniel, who completed 4-of-12 passes for 120 yards and one interception on the night, had a rushing touchdown in the first quarter and found Austin Rodgers on a TD pass in the second quarter. Jalen Suttle ran one in for the Ramblers in the third to regain the lead and Max Studdard booted all four extra point attempts.

Hu rushed 19 times for 120 yards, while Andrew Pendergrass was the team’s leading receiver. Pendergrass also had five solo stops on defense, three assists and picked off a Southeast pass.

Landon Rayburn had seven total tackles, five of the solo variety, and a sack. Chase Stultz had nine tackles, six solo. Jack Martin had four solo tackles, while Ben Maanum had four solo tackles and six assists. Suttle had four solo stops, one assist and broke up one pass, while Drake Bing had three solo tackles and broke up two passes.

Lafayette (4-1, 1-0) will look to remain unbeaten in 6-AAAA play this Friday night when they travel to Heritage.