Columbus beats LaGrange for first time since 1967
Blue Devils beat LaGrange for first time since 1967
By STEPHANIE PEDERSEN
spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com
When Columbus High fell to Carver last week, coach Phil Marino said he told his team Friday night's game against LaGrange would tell them how good they are.
The Blue Devils never trailed Friday and beat the Grangers 21-13 at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium. It was Columbus' first win against LaGrange sine 1967.
"I think we're as talented as anybody," Marino said after the game. "These guys are resilient, and they're playing with a lot of confidence. The Carver game was a tough loss, not indicative of the score, and they just bounced back and played good defense."
Columbus (5-1, 1-1 Region 1-AAAAA) kept LaGrange (3-3, 1-1) off the scoreboard for three quarters before the Grangers cut the Blue Devils' lead to 14-7 when Keaote' Davis scored on a 2-yard run with 10:43 left in the game.
The Blue Devils answered three minutes later.
After Wake Forest commit Essang Bassey was dropped for a 5-yard loss, quarterback Derrick James found Bassey for a 59-yard reception to LaGrange's 21-yard line.
Ja'Quan Mason ran the ball three times and punched it in from the 4-yard line to put the Devils up 21-7.
Marino said that quick answer was the key to the game.
"The big thing is when we answered that drive after they scored that touchdown, I thought that was huge," he said.
LaGrange didn't go quietly, with another drive that ended with a Undriel Copeland 8-yard rushing touchdown just two minutes later. The
Grangers went for two, but the conversion failed.
LaGrange's last real hope was cut short after a long run from quarterback Laperion Perry was called back after a holding penalty.
"The quarterback is an outstanding player, a lot of speed. But our defense has played outstanding for us," Marino said.
Columbus led at halftime 7-0 after both teams drove down the field in the first quarter but fumbled on their initial drives.
After the Grangers fumbled, three plays later James found Bassey wide open for a 62-yard touchdown for the first score of the game.
Bassey finished with five receptions for 204 yards. James was 7-for-12 with 205 passing yards.
For LaGrange, Perry was the primary playmaker, running for 156 yards on 12 carries.
Shaw is next up on Columbus' schedule, with the Blue Devils' goals still firmly in sight.
"Our goal is to make the playoffs," Marino said. "The goals are to win the next four games and make the playoffs."
Friday at Memorial
LaGrange 0 0 0 13--13
Columbus 7 0 7 7--21
First Quarter
C--Essang Bassey 62 pass from Derrick James (Ryan Anderson kick), 3:01
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
C--Josh Lee 5 pass from James (Anderson kick), 3;47
Fourth Quarter
L--Keaote Davis 2 run (Chase Sams kick), 10:43
C--Ja'Quan Mason 4 run (Anderson kick), 7:41
L--Undriel Copeland 8 run (2-point failed), 5:38
Team records: LaGrange 3-3, 1-1 Region 1-AAAAA. Columbus 5-1, 1-1. Next: Columbus, vs. Shaw, at Kinnett, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 11:44 PM with the headline "Columbus beats LaGrange for first time since 1967 ."