High school football roundup: Hardaway, LaGrange, Central win close games
The best and worst of Hardaway and Troup were both on display Friday night, which made for an entertaining ending.
Troup returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Hardaway then scored on its second offensive snap.
Both offenses struggled after that. Hardaway built a two-score lead.
Then, with two minutes left, the Tigers scored two touchdowns and recovered two onside kicks. But the Hawks defense, led by 4-star recruit Mykel Williams, stood tall on the Tigers’ final two-point conversion, and the Hawks brought home a 28-26 road win to open region play.
Here’s how the rest of the area’s teams fared.
Final scores
- Smiths Station 24, Benjamin Russell 14
- Central 21, Opelika 19
- Beauregard 23, Russell County 0
- Callaway 35, Douglass 0
- Manchester 62, Central Talbotton 8
- Carver 52, Kendrick 0
- LaGrange 39, Columbus 32
- Hardaway 28, Troup 26
- Georgia Force 42, Calvary Christian 28
- Mount de Sales 27, Brookstone 26
- Jordan 18, Spencer 8*
- Northside 24, Shaw 22*
* denotes Thursday night game.
Three stars of the week
1. Jordan Moultrie, running back, Hardaway
Moultrie was Hardaway’s biggest offensive threat Friday night, accounting for the majority of the Hawks’ offensive production.
Moultrie ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard touchdown run on the Hawks’ second play from scrimmage.
2. Jaiden Credle, running back, Carver
Any question as to who would replace star running back Khari McCoy in the Carver backfield appears to have been answered.
Jaiden Credle ran for over 100 yards and three touchdowns Friday against Kendrick, as the Tigers cruised to another 50-plus point win.
3. Joseph McKay, running back, Central
At this point, McKay might as well be a lock for star of the week.
McKay and the Red Devils held off a late-charging Opelika Friday night, and the senior running back certainly did his part to ensure a Red Devil win. He ran for 245 yards and two touchdowns, including a first-down run with under a minute left that sealed the victory.
Best game
LaGrange 39, Columbus 32
LaGrange used a late rally to beat Columbus Friday night at Kinnett Stadium.
The Blue Devils led 32-22 with under 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter and 32-25 with 7:45 to play, but a Jaylan Brown touchdown run tied the game with 4:50 to play.
Brown added another touchdown run, this time from one yard out, minutes later to put LaGrange ahead for good.
What’s next?
Central vs. Auburn, Oct. 2, 8 p.m. EST: The biggest game of the week and Central’s biggest game, so far, this year. The Red Devils have won four straight since their 0-2 start, grinding out a close win over Opelika this week.
Auburn visits Garrett-Harrison Stadium next week in one of the top Alabama class 7A matchups.
Harris County at Newnan, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. EST: The Tigers are 3-0 and travel to unbeaten Newnan next Friday. Harris County’s offense, led by quarterback Cooper Corey, has shown it can score. And the defense hasn’t given up over 14 points in a game yet this season. Will it be enough to topple Newnan?
