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Photographs from this game are in the Photo Gallery

Depleted Lafayette overcomes Jamestown 7-6
By George Watson | Correspondent

JAMES CITY — Shane Fetty frankly admitted it was the most important play of his career.

The Lafayette junior linebacker stopped Jamestown quarterback Mike Laycock just inches short of a fourth down at the Eagles’ 39 with two-and-a-half minutes left to preserve a 7-6 Ram victory Friday night at a packed James City County Stadium.

Lafayette (4-0, 3-0 BRD) kept its perfect record intact against the cross-town rival Eagles (1-3, 0-3) by winning its 11th straight in the series. But this was by far the toughest.

“I just had to kick it up a notch and go 110 percent,” explained Fetty of his open field tackle on Laycock. “I just stayed with my fundamentals.”

The Eagles had one last chance with the ball deep in their own territory, but Tommy Dover sacked Laycock back on his own three to end the game.

“There was no doubt in my mind I was going to get him,” Dover said. “But the whole defense stepped it up tonight.”

The Ram defenders led by Dover, Chase Marley, William Hill and Zach Stillwell held the high scoring Eagles to 174 total yards and six first downs.

But the Eagles were no defensive slouches either, coming up with three Ram turnovers, including a fumble at the goal line at the end of the first half. Led by Brian Dillon and Marcus Walker, who thwarted a Ram drive with an interception at the 15 at the outset of the fourth quarter, the Lafayette rushing attack was held to 78 yards after intermission.

The Rams score came with 8:42 left in the first half on a five-yard run by William Hayes. That score came following Taylor Terry’s 20-yard interception return to the Eagle 22. It was Jamestown’s only turnover. Drake Kuhn’s PAT proved to be the decisive points.

Laycock’s 37-yard completion to Greg Farrell led to RaKeem Pressey’s 18-yard scamper for the visitors’ score. A missed extra point proved crucial.

Lafayette played without leading rusher and defensive back Garrick Piggott and back-up quarterback Nate Kepa, both of whom did not play because of “a coaches’ and athletic department decision.”

“I felt it would be this type of game (close) because Jamestown is a good team,” said Lafayette Coach Paul Wheeler. “After a poor job against Poquoson last week we worked hard on defense this week, and I felt we put together a good effort tonight.”

Jamestown Coach Ryan Turnage lamented his team’s penalties (10 for 81 yards). “Penalties killed us,” said the first-year Eagles’ coach. “We had too many false starts in critical situations. And of course the extra point cost us.

“I did think our defense played great.”

T.J. Ptachick took up the slack for Piggott with 98 yards on 20 carries while the elusive Pressey led Jamestown with 73 yards on just five totes.

LAFAYETTE 7, JAMESTOWN 6
Jamestown0060 — 6
Lafayette0700 — 7
L – Hayes 5 run (Kuhn kick)
J – Pressey 18 run (kick failed)
Jamestown Lafayette
First downs 6 15
Rushes-yards 24-98 53-183
Passing yards 76 91
Comp-Att-Int 8-16-1 4-10-1
Penalties-yards 10-81 4-25
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-2
Punts-avg. 6-35.6 4-37.0