Lanett tops Isabella to claim first place in region
Isabella was shut out by visiting Lanett in the second half of Friday’s 25-14 loss that cost the Mustangs first place in Class 2A, Region 5.
Both teams entered the contest unbeaten on the season, so the winner was in line to take over the driver’s seat in the region.
Isabella (5-1 overall, 3-1 region) went into the locker room at halftime leading, 14-13, after quarterback Tyler Smith found a wide open Jacob Carroll down the middle of the field for a 16-yard touchdown pass with just 22 seconds remaining until the break. Chanley Ratliff added the point-after to give IHS the lead.
Lanett’s Marlon Bridges Jr. struck for a touchdown run of 67 yards just a minute and a half into the game.
Isabella tied the score on a 2-yard Smith run, but then Bridges found paydirt again, this time from 23 yards out with 6:11 remaining in the first half.
Lanett’s early success moving the football on the ground was a sign of things to come in the second half.
The visitors (6-0, 4-0) took back the lead with 4:20 left in the third quarter on a six-yard run by Demontavious Daniel.
Then, with 9:22 on the clock in the fourth quarter, Bridges went through the heart of the Isabella defense for a 48-yard touchdown run.
IHS had three more possessions but turned the ball over each time.