Lauderdale County mauls West Morgan

TRINITY - Lauderdale County used a bruising running game and a stingy defense to maul West Morgan 42-7 on Thursday, keeping itself alive in the Class 3A playoff hunt.

The Tigers (4-3, 3-2) rolled up 372 yards on the ground and punted just once in a dominant effort.

Trey Nance led the attack with 154 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while quarterback Joseph Patterson scored three TDs and gained 109 yards on 10 carries.

Nance followed up his two-TD performance last Friday by getting the scoring started against West Morgan (1-6, 1-5). Nance scored on a 33-yard run midway through the first quarter, putting Lauderdale County up 7-0.

West Morgan answered moments later on a quick touchdown strike, but the Tigers responded on the ensuing kickoff. Tony Horton took the kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, giving Lauderdale County the lead for good at 14-7.

With less than a minute to play in the first quarter, Patterson scored for the first time on a 15-yard keeper, putting Lauderdale County up 21-7. That lead would hold until the third quarter, when Patterson scored on a pair of runs for 10 and 2 yards out.

Samuel Grisham capped the night with a 4-yard touchdown run, sealing an important win for Lauderdale County.

The Tigers travel to take on Colbert County next week.

BRILLIANT — The only way Joel Ingle could have been more productive Thursday night was if he had gotten more touches with the football.

Ingle touched the ball three times and scored three times, all in the first seven-plus minutes of the first quarter to spark Hackleburg to an easy 40-7 win against Brilliant.

Ingle scored on a interception return, a run and a pass to help keep the Panthers (7-0, 6-0) unbeaten.

Ryan Bullock threw three touchdown passes for the Panthers.

Hackleburg’s defense also played a major role, intercepting three passes, recovering a fumble and holding Brilliant to -8 yards rushing.

Ingle set the tone on the first play of the game when he picked off a pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.

Three minutes later, he broke a 47-yard touchdown run for a 13-0 Hackleburg lead. He finished an amazing first quarter by catching an 8-yard pass from Bullock.

Bullock also connected with Steven Sutherland on a 30-yard TD pass and with Chris Cumbo on a 49-yard scoring play before the half.

Brilliant scored in the third quarter and Casey Fuller completed the scoring with a 12-yard run.