PREP FOOTBALL: Lanett cruises past LaFayette

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LAFAYETTE — Lanett needed one play to put away LaFayette.

One play and 61 yards, courtesy of Aspen Peterson.

Peterson took a handoff on the first play of the second half, went around the right end, cut back left and then outran the LaFayette defense to the end zone.

That touchdown run took the air out of the Bulldogs and paced the Panthers in a 33-0 win to end the regular season Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.

Lanett (6-4) will travel to Ider next for the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. LaFayette’s (2-8) season is done.

Peterson’s run made it 20-0 just 28 seconds into the third quarter. The Panthers would tack on two more touchdowns, both late in the fourth quarter, for the final margin.

But it was that first play of the second half that made the difference, according to LaFayette head coach Ike Grant.

“I could tell we weren’t ready to play,” Grant said of the second half. “We didn’t regroup (after that touchdown run).

“We just got whooped in the second half.”

Peterson finished with 132 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, including 74 on just four touches in the second half before leaving the field with cramps.

“I’ve got to take my hat off to AP,” Lanett head coach Cliff Story said. “The same way he ran tonight is the same way he runs every day in practice. He plays like he practices.

“He’s just a bruiser.”

The Panther defense also played the same way Friday, giving up just 88 total yards, including minus-35 yards rushing. LaFayette freshman quarterback Raquazious Boyd was 8-for-15 for 122 yards.

The Lanett D also contributed a touchdown to the cause when Zanquanarious Washington recovered a fumble and returned it 19 yards for a score to make it 14-0 with 3:55 to play in the first half.

Peterson scored the Panthers’ first TD on a 21-yard run in the first quarter.

LaFayette had plenty of chances to take an early lead as at least three deep passes just missed being completions and easy scores.

“We had opportunities in the first half,” Grant said. “If we could have completed some of those passes, it would have been a different ballgame.

“We didn’t capitalize and lost some steam because of it.”

Capping off the scoring for Lanett was C.J. Jackson, who went 54 yards for a touchdown with 3:49 to play in the game to make it 26-0.

After Lanett’s defense recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff — the second of three Bulldogs’ fumbles — Dericoh Kyles scored a 21-yard touchdown with 2:28 to play for the final margin.

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