Tigers tune-up for state playoffs with dominant win over LFO
The Adairsville Tigers raced to a 35-3 lead in the first half and went on to defeat visiting Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Friday night in Tiger Valley, 42-3.
Adairsville opened the scoring with 6:41 remaining in the first quarter opting for a “big man” touchdown run by offensive lineman Dustin Willis from the 1-yard line. A 47-yard pass from quarterback Jonathan Gough to Evan Sanders set up the scoring play. Arthur Leffler made the first of six PAT kicks for a 7-0 lead for the Tigers.
A nice screen pass play from Gough to Chris Roper set up a series of runs by Eli Agnew and Gough to the 1-yard line on Adairsville’s next scoring drive. Agnew finished off the drive with a 1-yard plunge with 4:31 remaining in the opening period.
After LFO got on the scoreboard with a 38-yard field goal, the Tigers answered with a 45-yard touchdown run by Agnew three plays later and Adairsville led 21-3 with 1:05 left in the first quarter.
Gough connected with Chris Copeland late in the second quarter for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The scoring play put Adairsville up 28-3 with just 3:36 remaining in the half.
Just over a minute later, Roper picked off an LFO pass and returned it 37-yards for a touchdown and a 35-3 lead at halftime.
With a running clock in the second half, Ethan Blome added the only additional score for the Tigers with a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:47 left in the game.
Agnew finished with 98 yards on nine carries, putting him over 900 for the season. He also finished the regular season with 15 rushing touchdowns. Gough finished the night 7-for-8 passing for 92 yards and added 54 rushing yards. Adairsville (8-2) is the No. 3-seed from Region 6-AAA and travels to Region 8-AAA runner-up Oconee County (9-1) next Friday in the opening round of the state playoffs.
