Lafayette’s football team provided more than a few highlights during its 49-8 rout of Petersburg in the 3A East Region final Saturday, but one in particular just about perfectly summed up the Rams’ performance as a whole.
On Lafayette’s first possession of the second half with the Rams leading 19-0, fullback John Douglass took a handoff up the middle and, with a gang of defenders trying to pull him down, dragged half of Petersburg’s defensive unit 26 yards downfield to set up quarterback Brendan McGinty’s third touchdown run of the afternoon.
It was the type of physical play that defined Lafayette’s dominant performance. From end to end, the Rams controlled both the offensive and defensive lines, which led to a 400-plus yard rushing effort while limiting their opponents to a mere 130 total yards of offense.
Holding the program’s first region championship trophy since 2002, Andy Linn stood on the field afterward as a proud but still very hungry coach.
“We play physical football, and if we can keep playing the way we did today we have a shot against anybody,” Linn said. “We want the chance (to play for a state championship) real bad, but our philosophy all season long has been one week at a time.”
Next up for the unbeaten Rams (13-0) is a state semifinal showdown with Western Albemarle on Saturday, with the winner securing a spot in the 3A final in Lynchburg on Dec. 13.
Lafayette’s defense was the story early on as the Rams forced a turnover on each of Petersburg’s first two possessions.
After Petersburg fumbled the ball away on the second play of the game, Lafayette’s Derrick Harris broke off a 52-yard touchdown run on the Rams’ first offensive play of the game.
McGinty, who ran for three touchdowns and passed for another, also starred defensively at linebacker. His finest moment was picking off Petersburg quarterback Gemonta Jackson on the Crimson Wave’s next possession before later cashing in on two short runs up the middle to give the Rams a 19-0 halftime lead.
Douglass, who led the Rams with 119 rushing yards, didn’t score during the game but set up several of Lafayette’s touchdowns with big gains. His relentless 26-yard pursuit early in the third quarter fired up his teammates and coaches on the sidelines before McGinty capped off the drive with his third touchdown run of the game to put the Rams ahead 26-0.
Lafayette’s ability to strike quickly forced the game into a running clock later in the quarter.
After the defense forced Petersburg into a three-and-out, Kyle Johnson (three carries, 57 yards) scored from 37 yards out on the first play of Lafayette’s ensuing possession.
Lafayette scored twice more during the final quarter. Early in the period, speedy wide receiver Brandon Villanueva-Pernell made a great leaping catch on third down before racing 79 yards into the end zone. Then Joey Kraegenbrink (six carries, 110 yards), who needed only six carries to amass 100 yards, outran Petersburg defenders for a 40-yard touchdown with 1:54 left in regulation.
The only play Lafayette’s defense allowed of 20 or more yards was a 28-yard touchdown run by Petersburg’s Daquan Smith late in the fourth quarter that cost the Rams doughnuts – a treat the team receives each time they shut out an opponent.
“We all wanted doughnuts,” McGinty said. “We might have lost a little focus being up 41-0, which is not a good thing to do because it takes away a little of the satisfaction from our dominance. But overall we played great. No doughnuts, but we’re still happy.”
Lafayette 49 Petersburg 8
Petersburg- 0 0 0 8 – 8
Lafayette- 13 6 16 14 – 49
First Quarter
Laf- Harris 52 run (Rouse kick)
Laf- McGinty 5 run (kick blocked)
Second Quarter
Laf- McGinty 2 run (2-pt failed)
Third Quarter
Laf- McGinty 1 run (Villanueva-Pernell catch)
Laf- Johnson 37 run (Neville catch)
Fourth Quarter
Laf- Villanueva-Pernell 79 yard pass from McGinty (kick failed)
Pet- Smith 28 run (2-pt successful)
Laf- J. Kraegenbrink 40 run (Neville catch)
Totals
Laf; Pet
Rushes-yards: 40-404; 38-123
Passing yards: 115; 7
Comp-att-int: 3-5-1; 3-8-1
Penalties-yards: 8-55; 1-10
Fumbles-lost: 1-0; 1-1
Individual standouts
Lafayette
McGinty 3-5, 115 yards, TD; 11 rushes, 45 yards, 3 TD
Villanueva-Pernell 3 receptions, 115 yards, TD
Douglass 16 rushes, 119 yards
J. Kraegenbrink 6 rushes, 110 yards, TD
Petersburg
Thompson 13 rushes, 50 yards
Smith 4 rushes, 37 yards, TD
