Defense lifts LaFayette to season-opening win

Even in a loss, the Gordon Central Warriors showed that this is a different team in 2014.

Perhaps the LaFayette Ramblers did too.

After suffering an 0-10 season in 2013, the Warriors came out and competed in a very tight game throughout, but couldn’t quite get over the hump as a suddenly stingy Rambler defense allowed just one score in a season-opening 8-6 win.

It was the second straight outing that LaFayette has given up just one score to an opponent, coming on the heels of a 34-7 scrimmage performance against LFO on Aug. 15.

The Warriors had several chances in the second half after LaFayette led 8-6 at halftime, but couldn’t seem to put together enough momentum on offense to punch in a potential gamewinning score. Gordon Central had an efficient drive going on the first possession in the third quarter, but fumbled it away with LaFayette’s Cole Warren recovering.

Central also had the ball at the LaFayette 30yard line to start a drive in the fourth quarter, but was stopped on fourth downs.

The Warriors struck first after Bristol Bell recovered a muffed punt at the LaFayette 15 midway through the first quarter. Two plays later, Noah Bingiel capped the short

drive with a seven-yard run, although the extra point would sail wide.

LaFayette would finally answer later in the first half on a 47-yard pass from Evan Head to Kolbe Mosley on a thirdand-long play. Mosley then ran in the conversion to give the Ramblers the lead — a lead that would hold up the rest of the way.

The Orange-andBlack missed on several chances to add to their advantage, coming up empty on three trips

inside the Warriors’ 20. However, the LaFayette defense would rise to the challenge to hold down the fort. Matt Lemons helped thwart one Central march with an interception.

KaDarrian Ramsey led LaFayette with 81 yards on 16 carries. Head rushed 13 times for 65 yards and went 6-of-14 in the air for 79 yards. Ramsey finished with five catches good for 54 yards.

Bingiel finished as the leading rusher for the Warriors with 82 yards on 13 carries.

The game was a homecoming for LaFay-

ette head coach Chad Fisher, who was the Warriors’ head coach from 2007-2012, including a pair of state playoffs appearances in each of his final two seasons there.

It is also the first time since 2009 that LaFayette has began the season with a win and the Ramblers have now won three of their last four games dating back to last season.

LaFayette (1-0) will go back on the road this Friday to face Gordon Lee for the first time since 2003..

Calhoun Times Sports Editor Alex Farrer contributed to this story.