Tigers wreck Ramblers for first region win
September 21, 2024
Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com
Adairsville quarterback Ethan Long tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Tigers beat visiting LaFayette on Friday night, 44-13.
In the first quarter, Long threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kolt McCord, followed by an 18-yarder to Colt Sanford in the second quarter and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Xavious Nalls in the third quarter. He also scored a 1-yard keeper in the second quarter.
With 4:49 remaining in the first quarter, the Tigers took a 7-0 lead after Long's first touchdown pass. Cooper Souders successfully converted the extra point kick.
Later in the period, Souders capped a 6-play, 67-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal and a 10-0 advantage with 0:43 left in the quarter.
Long’s touchdown keeper gave the Tigers a 17-0 lead before the Ramblers got on the scoreboard.
LaFayette drove 65 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown with 1:40 remaining in the first half. The scoring play was a 2-yard pass from Khalas Finley to Dylan Henton. Gage Kohl made the PAT to cut the Adairsville lead to 17-7.
Adairsville took the ensuing kickoff and drove 84 yards in five plays to extend their lead. Long’s pass to Sanford gave the Tigers a 23-7 advantage at the intermission. The PAT kick failed.
LaFayette recovered an onside kick to begin the second half and took only two plays to narrow Adairsville’s lead to 23-13. Finley broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run, but the Ramblers' two-point conversion attempt failed with 10:53 left in the third quarter.
With the lead narrowed to ten points, Adairsville closed out the game with 21-unanswered points.
Long’s touchdown connection with Nalls capped a 45-yard, five-play scoring drive with 7:56 remaining in the third and a 30-13 lead.
On the next Adairsville possession, Jamarian Pullum scored on a 21-yard scamper to put the Tigers ahead 37-13 with 5:09 remaining in the third period.
In the fourth quarter, Ezekiel Carter posted the Tigers' final touchdown of the night with a two-yard run. Souders' PAT gave Adairsville a 44-13 lead and triggered a running clock for the remainder of the game.
LaFayette (0-5, 0-1) hosts Ridgeland next week.
Adairsville (4-1, 1-0) visits Calhoun on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report.
