Breakthrough win for Grangers
Published 1:04 am Saturday, September 8, 2018
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
HAMPTON – That’s been a long time coming.
The LaGrange Grangers snapped a 17-game losing streak with an 8-6 road win over Hampton on Friday.
Hampton had the ball late with a chance to win it, but LaGrange’s Qua Bowles came through with a game-clinching interceptoin in the closing moments.
LaGrange struck first, with Laracco Glaze scoring on a 1-yard run with 4:12 to play in the first quarter.
The touchdown was set up by a Jakoby Smith punt return to the 1-yard line.
With 5:10 left in the first half, Robert Thornton blocked a punt, and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
Hampton was threatening late in the half, but Smith picked off a pass in the end zone and nearly scored before he was brought down at the 5-yard line.
That defensive gem allowed LaGrange to take an 8-0 lead at the break.
With 3:38 to play in the third quarter, Hampton scored a touchdown, but LaGranged stopped the 2-point conversion attempt to maintain an 8-6 lead.
With a little more than two minutes remaining, LaGrange had the ball in Hampton territory when a third-down play failed.
Wesley Kuhn was called up to punt, and Hampton’s returner was tackled at the 13-yard line.
After a JacQuez Smith sack, it was fourth down for Hampton.
Bowles picked the pass off and went the distance for the touchdown, but a penalty negated the score.
While Bowles was denied the touchdown, his pick put the game away.
LaGrange ran one kneel-down play, and the clock ran out.