Lafayette Routs Warren County in Second Round of 3A East Region Playoffs (w/ Video)

Though Lafayette allowed Warren County a rare 10-play, 77-yard opening drive to start the second round of the Region 3A East playoffs Friday at Wanner Stadium, the Rams quickly seized control of the momentum on their way to a 63-7 rout.

The Wildcats’ first drive turned into an 82-yard Ram touchdown, as junior Brendan McGinty stormed through the line to block the Wildcats’ field goal attempt. Sophomore Joey Kraegenbrink scooped the ball and ran 82 yards to pay dirt, the first of nine straight touchdowns before the Wildcats answered with one touchdown in the last minutes of the game.

The Rams struck quickly and often in the first half, as Lafayette went on to have scoring drives of 29, 46, 68, 39, and 15 seconds. One additional score took almost two minutes — hardly a time-drainer — and the Rams found themselves carrying a 49-0 lead into halftime.

“Special teams blocked the field goal for the touchdown. I think that was really the key to the game,” Lafayette coach Andy Linn said.

The other key may have been William & Mary-bound Jahlil Green, who ran five of his seven first-half carries in for touchdowns. Green entered the game tied with Lafayette great Rian Thompson for the school’s single season record of 28 rushing touchdowns. By the end of the game, Green had amassed 183 yards on 10 carries, accounting for a herculean six touchdowns to eclipse the Thompson record.

Green’s scoring romp started after Warren County quarterback Austin Butler threw an interception to McGinty, ending the Wildcats’ second possession. Lafayette’s Schekel Wallace (9 carries, 107 yards, TD) carried once for 17 yards, setting Green up for a 33-yard scamper around the left side for a touchdown.

The Rams led 14-0 heading into the Wildcats’ third possession. After Warren County could not convert on third-and-7, the Rams came up with their second big special teams play. Senior linebacker Darren Patton blocked Blake Steele’s punt to give Lafayette possession at the Wildcat 19 yard line. Green followed up a 6-yard plow from Wallace with a 13-yard run, going untouched and putting the Rams up 21-0 with a minute left in the first.

This was one of five Lafayette scoring drives that began in Wildcat territory, a direct result of the Rams’ defense and special teams making plays.

“You block the punt two series later and you’re off to the races,” Linn said. “Other than the first series — those long passes — we shut ’em down, took their 1,300 yard back [Demetrus Yates] and put him out.”

A great deal of that defensive effort had to do with junior Deacon Smith, who registered two sacks and two tackles-for-loss on the evening. Lafayette was suffocating defensively, holding the Wildcats to 2 yards on 28 carries, forcing three interceptions, and allowing 150 yards total. Warren County’s standout running back Yates managed 12 yards on 11 carries.

“We were practicing all week, doing their plays and everything, and we just take it like every other game,” Smith said.

The second half was slightly less electric. The Rams 49-0 lead was accompanied by a running clock. After Green ran 3 yards to make it 56-0 early in the third quarter, the Rams began to work in second team players.

QB Cheyton Pine accounted for Lafayette’s final touchdown on a 5-yard read-option play with :46 left in the third. Warren County got on the board with 2:34 left in the game on a 10-yard pass from Butler to WR Casey Stewart.

The Rams will need to carry this type of all-around effort into the next round, as they will face James Monroe in the Region 3A East final Saturday at Wanner Stadium.

Green says the Rams will take this week on the same way they have all season.

“I think we prepare so well during the week that we already have the team beat before we step on the field,” he said.