FORSYTH – It was a heavyweight fight, and Mary Persons struck the final blow.

In a hard-fought game, Mary Persons got a 37-yard field goal as time expired to beat visiting LaGrange 16-13 on Friday night.

It was the final non-region game for the Grangers, who will open Region 1-AAAAA play with Thursday’s home game game against the Hardaway Hawks.

LaGrange (2-2) played a challenging non-region schedule that concluded with Friday’s game against an unbeaten Mary Persons squad.

LaGrange was trailing by six points late in the game when it put together a touchdown drive that was capped by a 17-yard scoring pass from LaPerion Perry to Derieko Smith.

In a tie game, Mary Persons came through with a block on the ensuing extra-point attempt.

After beginning its ensuing possession from its own 16-yard line, Mary Persons drove down the field, setting up the game-winning field-goal attempt that sailed through the uprights as time expired.

LaGrange struck first in the game, with Perry hooking up with Mike Hardy for a touchdown pass of nearly 60 yards on a third-and-long play in the first quarter, and the extra point made it a 7-0 game.

Mary Persons answered with a 93-yard touchdown drive that was followed by a failed extra-point attempt, and LaGrange led 7-6 at the half.

It remained a one-point LaGrange lead until Mary Persons scored with four minutes remaining in the third quarter to take a 13-7 lead.

That touchdown was set up by a LaGrange fumbled punt return at its own 3-yard line.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports