Tigers win Region 7-AAA opener at LaFayette

September 20, 2025

The Adairsville Tigers showcased their resilience and defensive prowess, defeating the LaFayette Ramblers 27-10 in a Region 7-AAA opener at LaFayette High School on Friday night.

The game kicked off with both teams trading blows. 

With 8:16 left in the first quarter, Adairsville struck first as Colt Sanford capped a 6-play, 53-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful PAT from Cooper Souders to take a 7-0 lead. 

LaFayette responded late in the quarter, when Jayvien Williams broke free for a 51-yard touchdown run with just 40.8 seconds remaining. His scamper tied the score at 7-7 after Harrison Gilstrap’s PAT.

The second quarter saw a defensive battle, with the only notable play being an interception by Adairsville’s Sanford at the 50-yard line off a pass from LaFayette quarterback Dax Edwards with 8:43 left. 

Neither team could capitalize further before halftime, leaving the score knotted at 7-7.

LaFayette took the lead early in the third quarter when a 6-play, 18-yard drive culminated in a 32-yard field goal by Gilstrap. The successful kick gave the Ramblers a 10-7 edge with 9:31 remaining. 

However, Adairsville’s offense found its rhythm in the fourth quarter, led by running back Jake Barszcz. With 9:03 left, Barszcz powered through for a 16-yard touchdown run, finishing a 9-play, 49-yard drive to put the Tigers ahead 14-10 after the PAT.

Just over a minute later, Barszcz struck again, breaking free for a 19-yard touchdown run on a single-play drive, extending the lead to 21-10.

The Tigers sealed the victory with 5:17 remaining when Barszcz intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. Though the PAT was unsuccessful, Adairsville’s 27-10 lead proved insurmountable for LaFayette.

Quarterback Braxton Elrod completed 8 of 16 passes for 119 yards. Barszcz finished with 73 rushing yards on seven carries. Jayvian Carson added 33 yards rushing on eight attempts. Sanford, Westin Crisp, and Torron Hale caught two passes each and combined for 81 receiving yards.

The Tigers (2-3, 1-0) aim to build on their region win as they host the defending AAA state champion, Calhoun, next Friday. Meanwhile, the Ramblers (3-2, 0-1) aim to rebound when they travel to face Ridgeland in Rossville.

~~ Larry Gardner contributed to this report