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The LaGrange football went on the road to Griffin on Thursday and eked out a region victory over Spalding, 42-22.

It was a back-and-forth game and the Jaguars drew first blood. After a punt from LaGrange on the opening drive of the game, Spalding marched right down the field to take an 8-0 lead after a touchdown and successful two-point conversion.

Granger fans held their breath early in the first half when starting quarterback Dylan Barber left the game with an arm injury, but returned to the game after Denorayan Reid filled in for a play. 

Reid, who has been banged up to start the season, had his best game of the year as a wide receiver so far this season and caught multiple big passes from Barber.

It looked like the Jaguars might add to their lead late in the first quarter, but a Spencer Stroud sack on third down backed Spalding up and forced a punt.

The Barber-Reid connection sparked to life on the ensuing drive as the two got the Grangers deep out of their own side of the field. Malachi Fannin-Render did the rest when he scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. This was just the start of a big day for the senior running back as he scored four total touchdowns a week after scoring four touchdowns to bring his total up to eight in two weeks.

Fannin-Render found the end zone a second time in the third quarter to put the Grangers up 21-8. He was not done there, throwing his first career touchdown pass to Reid late in the third quarter. The senior proceeded to deliver the dagger after a late Jaguar rally when he tumbled down the field for a 55-yard touchdown with under three minutes to go in the game.

Spalding’s late rally came after LaGrange scored 28 unanswered points in the heart of the game.

It was Barber who gave LaGrange its first lead of the game when he ran it into the end zone from 13 yards out with under two minutes left in the first half.

LaGrange took a 28-8 lead into the fourth quarter but that evaporated with a pair of touchdowns from the Jaguars to cut the LaGrange lead to just six points with under four minutes left in the game.

Fannin-Render delivered the dagger and then Kayden Sutton delivered the exclamation point with an interception returned for a touchdown. It was the second interception of the night for the senior safety, who came up with a big one late in the third quarter. 

The LaGrange defense was immense all evening, coming away with four total interceptions.

LaGrange is now 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in region play. The Grangers will be on a bye next week before returning to action at home to Whitewater on Oct. 3