Lamar County earned an impressive 24-3 victory Friday night against another tough region opponent, Putnam County. Head Coach Travis Ellington credited the win to a strong week of practice, praising both his coaches and players for their efforts. He also expressed gratitude to Trojan Nation for their enthusiastic support. “Our players love it when Trojan Field is packed and loud!” Ellington remarked.
The game was the perfect highlight for Homecoming 2024, which saw a large turnout of students and alumni. The festivities included class tailgates with great views of the action and the crowning of the new homecoming queen, Faith Buice. Community members were pleased to hear the Marching Trojan Pride, commenting how classy they looked in their uniforms. The cheerleaders also did an excellent job leading the crowd in support of the team, and the student section brought plenty of energy, making Thunder Alley a challenging environment for the War Eagles. Additionally, the AJROTC presenting the colors was a moment that made many Gordon Military alumni especially proud.
Photo by Donna Flournoy
Top Offensive Performers:
The Trojans ended the game with 135 total rushing yards on 37 plays. All yardage was earned on the ground. Lamar County attempted two passes, but the War Eagles were flagged for pass interference on both plays.
- Kaden Carter led the offense with 14 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown.
- Qua Hughley contributed 6 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown.
- JahNizae Few added 3 carries for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Top Defensive Performers:
Defensively, Lamar County suffocated Putnam County. Putnam’s first drive was long, lasting 14 plays. They got inside the 10 yard line, but the Trojan defense forced Putnam to settle for a field goal. It was Putnam County’s only score of the game. “We knew from film how good they were on offense and what we needed to do on defense to be able to stop them,” Ellington said. “Our players stuck to the game plan and did a great job executing.” The Trojans held Putnam County to 143 total yards (32 rushing and 111 passing).
- Kaden Carter was a force on defense, recording 13 tackles, 2 assists, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and a sack.
- Jermaine Doctor had 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry, and a sack.
- JahNizae Few added 4 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Special Teams:
The Trojans saw a success on special teams. They were able to flip the field and keep the team in control of the game. The Trojans’ punting team performed excellently, with three punts totaling 107 yards, including a booming 60-plus yarder.
- Caleb Miller handled all punting duties with 107 total yards and a 60-yard punt. He was perfect on PATs and added a 21-yard field goal to the Trojans’ total.
Players of the Game
Offense: #52 Jalen Lasster
Defense: #15 Jermaine Doctor
Special Teams: #36 Caleb Miller
Upcoming Game at Social Circle
Ellington said he is happy with how his team executed against Putnam, but he is still looking for a game in which the team has a equal success in all three phases. He will get that chance Friday night when the Lamar County football team travels to Social Circle High School for its next contest. The Trojans have faced the Redskins only twice in school history. The series is tied 1-1 which began when Social Circle became a region opponent in 2022. The Trojans lost the inaugural contest that season in a game that was perceived by many as an upset. Because he knows its a tough place to play, Ellington is encouraging Trojan Nation to make the trip to cheer on the team this Friday night. “We still remember our last game there, so we are going to have to have a good week of practice and travel well. I hope to see all our Trojan fans there to support our team.” Lamar County defeated the Redskins 19-7 last season.
Social Circle is 5-3 so far this season. Most recently, the Redskins lost in triple overtime at home to the Monticello Hurricanes (31-29).
Time: Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Game Location: Redskins Stadium
Address: 154 Alcova Dr Social Circle, GA, 30025
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
