Middle School Football: Heritage assumes NGAC East lead
The Heritage Generals took over the top spot in the NGAC’S East Division with a 22-14 home win over Lafayette this past Thursday.
The Ramblers (3-1) took nearly 6:30 off the clock in the game’s opening drive before Austin Tucker plowed his way into the endzone from three yards. The conversion attempt was no good.
Heritage ( 4- 0) would answer as Kaden Swope hit Payton Newman on a 3-yard TD pass to cap a long drive. A conversion run by Paxton Mccrary would give the Generals an 8-6 lead that they would take into intermission.
Three plays into the second half, Jacob Brown would force a fumble, which would be scooped up by Nick Adams to give Lafayette the ball. The turnover would set up a 35-yard Zach Barrett-toMason Russell scoring strike, while Barrett’s conversion keeper would make it a 14-8 game.
However, Mccrary got loose for a 34-yard TD run of his own later in the period, while Swope found Newman for the 2-point pass that regained a 16-14 lead for the home team.
After the Heritage defense stepped up to force a turnover on downs inside the Lafayette 35, the Generals would march in for what eventually became the gamewinning score. A long pass completion by Swope would set the table for Mccrary, who scored from five yards out.
Mccrary also had a 27-yard punt return in the game, while Swope finished with 55 yards in the air, 32 to Bryce Travillion and 18 to Tyler Cheatwood.
Dawson Pendergrass had 67 yards rushing on 16 carries for Lafayette. Tucker carried eight times for 16 yards and Barrett completed six passes for 85 yards, 57 going to Russell on two catches.
Defensively, Pendergrass had 10 tackles, followed by Brown with eight and Logan Stephens with seven. Barrett and Tucker finished with six each, while Adams and Sam Hall both had five stops.
Gordon Lee 24, Dade County 6
The Trojans moved to 4-0 on the season with a road victory at Dade on Thursday.
Nate Dunfee had 12 carries for 75 yards and a 60-yard punt return for a score. Bo Rhudy rushed 11 times for 45 yards, a touchdown and a 2-point conversion, while also catching a 25-yard TD pass. Conner Whitman had two conversion receptions.
On defense, Rhudy led the way with seven tackles, followed by Kade Cowan with six, Holt Roberts with five and Gabe Lowe with four, including a huge tackle for loss on fourth down.
Chatt. Valley 16, Lakeview 0
The Eagles moved to 2-2 with a win over Lakeview on Thursday.
Dakota Stone connected with Levi Millsaps on a 50-yard touchdown pass, while Jakobe Turner scored on an 18-yard run.
The Eagles’ coaches praised the blocking of Logan Fouts, Parker Johnson, Kain Brown, Nic Groce and Elijah Eaker.
Individual statistics for the Warriors (0-4) had not been provided as of press time.
In other action from Thursday, Rossville moved to 3-1 with a 38-6 win over Trion, while Ringgold received a forfeit victory over Saddle Ridge, who is playing only a JV schedule this season.
This Thursday will see Gordon Lee play at Rossville in a huge game that will likely determine the NGAC West Division champion. In other action, Heritage will be at Lakeview, Ringgold will travel to Trion, Dade will play at Chattanooga Valley and Lafayette will play at Saddle Ridge in a JV matchup.