As the lights brighten the field at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School this evening, two teams with a penchant for grinding it out will face off. The Lafayette High School Ramblers, with their ground-and-pound style, will clash with the pass-heavy Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe Warriors in a battle of contrasting offensive philosophies.
With 1,331 rushing yards under their belt this season, the Ramblers’ run game, led by junior K. Finley’s remarkable 861 yards in seven games, has been the team’s backbone. Conversely, the Warriors’ sophomore QB D. Keefe has lit up the passing columns, accumulating 1,173 yards with a commendable 55.1% completion rate.
While the Warriors might have the edge in total yardage (2,054 to the Ramblers’ 1,641), it’s worth noting the Ramblers have a better turnover margin (+5) compared to the Warriors’ +6, considering the number of turnovers each has committed (9 for Ramblers, 6 for Warriors). However, where the game could tilt in favor of the home side is in the scoring column. The Warriors average 23.6 points per game compared to the Ramblers’ 16.3.
GHSA GAME BROADCAST INFO:
2023 Regular Season, GHSA Non-Conference Game
Lafayette Ramblers vs LFO Warriors
Date: October 19th | Time: 7:30pm EST
Location: Rambler Stadium – Lafayette, Georgia
TV: N/A | Radio: WQCH 93.7 FM and AM1590
Announcer(s): Gabriel Schray, N/A
The season has been a roller-coaster ride for both teams. Lafayette High sits with an overall record of 1-6, their sole victory coming from an impressive 28-3 win over Chattooga in their season opener. Their closest bout was a heartbreaker against Gordon Lee, which they lost in overtime 21-20.
The Warriors, under the guidance of Coach Bo Campbell, haven’t fared much better in terms of record, sitting at 2-5. Their bright spots came with a 33-25 win against Murray County and a solid 21-9 victory over Ridgeland.
Players to Watch in Tonight’s Game
- D. Pendergrass (Sr): Despite his low completion rate (32.9%), Pendergrass’s ability to manage the game and limit mistakes will be crucial.
- K. Finley (Jr): With four 100+ yard games and eight touchdowns, Finley is the Ramblers’ primary weapon.
- A. Thompson (Sr) and N. Whitefield (Jr): Both have shown they can impact both sides of the ball. Thompson leads the team in receiving yards, while Whitefield leads in tackles and also chips in with a sack.
- D. Keefe (So): With nine touchdowns and over 1,000 passing yards, Keefe has been a revelation this season.
- T. Lewis (Jr): The dynamic junior has racked up 613 rushing yards in just five games, with an impressive 6.3 yards per carry.
- P. Simpson (Sr): The defensive stalwart has tallied a whopping 94 tackles in seven games, leading the Warriors’ defense.
This matchup promises to be an intriguing battle of styles. Will the Ramblers’ run game grind down the Warriors’ defense, or will the home side’s aerial attack prove too potent?
Fans are in for a treat under the lights in Georgia tonight. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans can tune in both on-air and online for free via WQCH’s live stream to catch all the action from the field. Pregame will begin 20 minutes before kickoff,
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