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The Grangers left little doubt that they are a state contender on Friday night, blasting North Hall 49-17 on a cold night in Gainesville to punch their ticket to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. LaGrange is hunting for its first state title since 2004 and this team is hungry to bring another state championship back to LaGrange. 

“I’m excited to get to coach these guys at least one more week,” an ecstatic LaGrange head coach Matt Napier said. “We didn’t just come here to win this game though, our goal is to win two more (games).

“We will be back next Friday and it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

The night was a team effort but a large part of it was the magnificence of Malachi Fannin-Render. Fresh off being named the Georgia High School Football Daily Player of the Week, the senior running back put together his magnus opus, carving up the Trojans for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns in just the first half as the Grangers led 38-3 at halftime.

“The offensive line has been getting better every game and I’ve seen them put in the work at practice to get to where they are now,” Fannin-Render said. “It’s not about me because I couldn’t do it without my guys.”

Somewhat surprisingly, the Trojans led the game at one time, taking the opening possession right down the field to the 5-yard line, but the Granger defense held firm as the home team settled for a field goal. It was all Grangers from there. 

It took the LaGrange offense two plays, both runs from Fannin-Render to go 60 yards and take their first lead of the game.

“You’re starting to talk about this kid as one of the all-time elite Grangers,” Napier said. “We knew how special he was and now everybody else is getting a chance to see it.”

The Grangers forced a punt on the ensuing Trojan drive, took the ball over at midfield and quickly added a second touchdown when Caydin Thomas sliced his way into the end zone from six yards out. 

“On that second touchdown run we could see it in their faces, we broke them,” junior offensive lineman Carson Shattuck said.

North Hall would have a chance to get back into the game early in the second quarter, driving inside the 10-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal attempt that was squandered by a bad snap.

“We made some adjustments on defense and they did not allow a single point until the game was already decided in the fourth quarter,” Napier said. 

LaGrange smelled blood in the water and turned the game into a feeding frenzy. Fannin-Render went 95 yards to the house just two plays later to put the Grangers up 21-3.

The offensive line completely dominated the game, opening up holes left, right and center.

“We felt like we could push their defensive line back and Malachi was running through anybody and everybody,” Shattuck said. 

The Grangers did not even attempt a pass until 5:56 left in the first half when Dylan Barber hit Kalvin Snowberger for an 88-yard bomb to silence the home crowd as some of the Trojan faithful began looking for the exits.

LaGrange showed no mercy with Fannin-Render delivering another haymaker with an 85-yard touchdown run where he bobbed and weaved through the entire Trojan defense to put the team up 35-3 with just over three minutes to go in the half.

“I just had to let Jesus take the wheel,” Fannin-Render said with a big smile.

The Grangers delivered the death blow early in the third quarter. Zy Huzzie returned the kickoff to the 19-yard line and after a penalty LaGrange was able to extend its lead to 42-3 when Barber hit Snowberger for a 24-yard touchdown, the second scoring connection between the two on the night.

After the touchdown, the Grangers were able to empty the bench and get their backups some reps. 

Even the backups showed no mercy with Payton Davis scoring a short rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. 

The Trojans struck back with a consolation touchdown just 8:40 from the final whistle to cut the LaGrange lead to 49-10. North Hall got a second touchdown five minutes later against the JV team for the Grangers.

LaGrange will travel to Jefferson next Friday for the state semifinals. The winner of that game will play in Mercedes Benz Stadium for the 3A state title.

“Every game from here on out is a big game and we know that Jefferson is one of the premier programs in the state,” Napier said. “It’ll be a tough road environment, but our guys know how to handle it and I expect the Granger faithful will make the trip.”

If it is anything like this Friday night, expect the away side to be full of blue and white.