LaFayette preps for Sonoraville showdown
The LaFayette Lady Ramblers improved to 5-0 in Area 6-AAA after a 25-17, 25-14 home win over Murray County last Tuesday night. The Orange-and-Black later handed county neighbor Oakwood Christian a 25-17, 25-12 defeat to complete the tri-match sweep.
Colby Charland collected 29 more assists on the night to go with eight digs, three aces, a kill and a block. Sarah Ray had seven kills, eight digs and three blocks. Imani Cook had six kills and three blocks, while Jaden Tucker had a team-high nine kills to go with one block.
Kloe Ludy ended the night with 17 digs, while Daisy Felipe had 12 digs and one ace. Alex Wysong recorded four kills, five aces, six digs and one block. Markella Johnson had five kills and three digs and Shelly Warren picked up one ace.
In junior varsity action, LaFayette defeated Murray County, 25-10 and 25-12, before beating Oakwood’s SCAA team, 25-15 and 25-8.
No individual stats were available as of press time.
Late in the second quarter, the Region 8-AA Wildcats turned two interceptions into touchdowns and alertly pounced on their own squib kickoff to help collect another score.
For the Panthers, Henry Ellis caught four passes for 103 yards, and Jeremiah Turner ran for a team-best 52 yards on 10 hard-nosed carries. Ke’Sean Eubanks rushed for 31 yards on 10 attempts.
Ridgeland had a chance to make an early statement, recovering a Wildcat fumble on the second snap of the night. After quarterback King Mason, Jr. found Ellis for 29 yards, the threat expired on downs at the Rabun 7-yard line, and the hosts never reached the redzone again.
Wildcat quarterback Gunner Stockton, the five-star future South Carolina Gamecock, completed 11 of 16 passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 80 more and a score on 13 carries. Two of his scoring throws went to Tate Ramey.
Lang Windham turned his 13 carries into a gamehigh 153 yards and opened the scoring with a 1-yard plunge in the opening period. He also had 40 yards receiving.
Hunter Moore’s interception ignited an 11-play, 80yard scoring march, capped by Stockton’s 3-yard flip to Ramey 2:56 before intermission. Hogan Woodard picked off Mason near midfield on Ridgeland’s next series and Stockton bulled over from the 1-yard line five plays later.
The Wildcats beat the Panthers to a bouncing ball on the ensuing squib kickoff, reclaiming possession at the Ridgeland 6 in the final minute. Stockton found Turner Grimmett in the end zone on the next snap for a back-breaking six points and Rabun closed the scoring late in the third on Stockton’s 12-yard toss to Ramey.
Mason, Jr. had 78 yards passing on 2 of 3 attempts, while Chase Watkins threw for 24 yards on 2 of 5 passing. Both were intercepted once.
Jonathan Woodall led the Ridgeland defense with six tackles and one assist. Ashton Turner had four tackles, one assist and recovered a fumble. Cade Dunn had a tackle for loss and Kyle Brown recorded a sack.
This Friday, Ridgeland (0-1) will host Dalton (0-1), who is still smarting from a 41-14 loss to Calhoun, while Rabun has its home opener against Prince Avenue Christian. That game will be televised by ESPNU.