Big game for Cougars

Published 12:42 am Friday, September 21, 2018

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was the high point for a proud program.

Heading into the 2015 season, the Lafayette Christian School Cougars had made back-to-back appearances in the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association eight-man state playoffs.

The Cougars believed they had a team that would win it all in 2015, and they won their semifinal game in the state playoffs to get a championship shot.

Lafayette Christian’s opponent in the title game was Central Christian, and it was their second meeting of the season.

Earlier, Central Christian beat Lafayette Christian 58-56 in an overtime thriller.

Two months later, the teams played again, and the stakes were considerably higher.

The second time around, it was Lafayette Christian capturing a 41-30 victory to win the state title.

Today in Sharpsburg, those two rivals will square off again, and Lafayette Christian is hoping the result is the same as it was back in 2015.

Lafayette Christian improved to 3-2 with last week’s 48-12 win over Covenant Academy in Macon, while Central Christian is 1-4.

It’s not a region game, so it will be all about bragging rights.

Lafayette Christian won its first two games this season, both against region opponents, before dropping two in a row.

The Cougars got back on track with last week’s road win in Macon.

Mitch Crandall had a big night with 116 rushing yards on just six carries with a touchdown.

Amani Jenkins had two touchdown runs, and quarterback Landon Whitley had a scoring run.

Cason Firth contributed 34 yards on three attempts, and Cason Spradlin had two rushes for 27 yards.

Whitley, who was a freshman quarterback on the 2015 championship team, completed 5-of-6 passes for 38 yards last week.

Firth had two long catches, one for 65 yards and the other for 30 yards, and they both went for touchdowns.

Nathan Fain had two catches for 29 yards.

LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN     VS. CENTRAL CHRISTIAN

WHEN: Today, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sharpsburg

RECORDS: Lafayette Christian (3-2); Central Christian (1-4)