Lovett won its fifth-straight game and took control of second place in Region 6-AA with a 21-7 homecoming win over previously unbeaten No. 3 Wesleyan Friday night.
Despite starting 0-4 and losing its region opener to Pace Academy, the Lions (5-4 overall, 5-1 in Region 6-AA) set up a winner-take-all region championship matchup with Greater Atlanta Christian next Friday night.
“Our effort was never an issue. Our execution has been much improved from where we were,” Lovett head coach Mike Muschamp said. “These kids have stepped up, they’ve grown up, and now they are starting to perform the way they want to perform.”
Lovett opened the game with a 15-play drive that included two successful fourth-down conversions. Wesleyan forced a third fourth down and punt, but Kevin Stipe fumbled at the Wolves’ 6 and Lovett recovered. On the second play, quarterback Brady Tindall hit Peyton Ringer for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lions extended its lead to 14-0 in the second quarter when Tindall scored on a 17-yard run. Tindall’s score with 8:49 left completed an 81-yard drive where he accounted for 63 yards rushing.
Wesleyan struggled early on offense and managed only 40 total yards in the first half. Quarterback Banks Ramsey was intercepted by Rob Pavloff at the Lovett 18, ending the Wolves best first-half scoring threat with 1:45 to play before halftime.
Tindall completed a 41-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to put Lovett ahead 21-0 with 1:33 to play in the third quarter. A personal foul by Wesleyan after a 16-yard scramble by Tindall put Lovett at the Wolves’ 13, and Tindall scored three plays later.
The Wolves pulled within 21-7 with 10:34 to play when Ramsey scored on a 5-yard run. He completed five passes for 51 yards during the drive. Wesleyan threatened again late but was stopped short of the end zone in the final minute. Ramsey finished 19-of-35 passing for 179 yards and was sacked five times. Harrison cook caught nine of Ramsey’s passes for 80 yards.
“Unfortunately I don’t think we were at their best tonight,” Wesleyan head coach Franklin Pridgen said. “We were not at our best and we made it easier on them than I thought we would. This is a great wake up call for us.”
Tindall finished 9-for-17 passing for 84 yards and 97 yards rushing on 19 carries. Jay Harris added 71 yards on 16 carries.
Wesleyan fell to 7-1 overall, and 4-1 in region play.
Wesleyan 21, Lovett 7
W 0 0 0 7 7
L 7 7 7 0 21
L - Peyton Ringer 8 pass from Brady Tindall (Cole McGowan kick)
L - Tindall 17 run (McGowan kick)
L - Tindall 1 run (McGowan kick)
W - Banks Ramsey 5 run (Jordan Weaver kick)
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