By: Jeff WicK

Their starting quarterback was on the sidelines on crutches.

Their senior defensive captain was sidelined after halftime with back spasms.

But somehow the La Grange football team, which has already been no stranger to adversity this season, found a way to hold on to win their district opener 14-6 Friday over Gonzales.

“It was a battle,” said La Grange head coach Matt Kates. “These kids overcame a lot.”

And suddenly a season that seemed so perilous two weeks ago, now has a new shine to it.

At 1-0 in district the Leps are tied for first atop the 20-4A standings, despite being just 2-3 overall, and now welcome winless Smithville into Leopard Stadium this week.

La Grange prevailed Friday by being the exact opposite of Gonzales offensively. While the Apaches played a hurry-up no-huddle spread, La Grange was content to slow things down.

“Our offense did a great job of playing keep-away and that’s what we wanted to do,” Kates said.

La Grange quarterback Colter Siptak’s one-yard touchdown run capped a 13 play Leps drive that milked the final 5:50 off the first quarter clock.

That gave the Leps a 7-0 lead before La Grange made it 14-0 midway through the
second quarter on a 15-yard touch- down pass from Siptak to Julio Ramirez.

“It was just a play that had to be made,” said Ramirez, who fought through tough coverage to get the ball and get into the endzone.

Siptak was then sidelined early in the third quarter with a knee injury and replaced by Weston Aymond.

That was all the points the Leps would need.

Isaiah Moore, a senior move-in from A&M Consolidated, made his debut with the Leps Friday and had a big impact on the game as an outside linebacker and also ran the ball twice for 23 yards.

Moore has been practicing with the Leps since the first day of summer workouts, but has been waiting for UIL clearance to play – and he finally got it.

“He’s just a good kid. He’s come here and made great grades, As and Bs, went through the waiver process. He was granted that waiver and has come over and done a great job.

“He’s been at every practice and working his tail off since day one and that’s hard. Nine weeks to not be able to play and not knowing if he was going. He plays with a lot of passion and we’re going to continue to get him in the mix.”

Moore said getting to play, and helping the Leps to a win, was worth the wait.

“It was very tough waiting. I was anxious to get in. I missed it,” Moore said.

“Coming from a big school to a little school and not knowing anybody was tough but I got accepted immediately by the football team. I love these guys even though I’ve just known them for a short time. These guys are my family and I’d play with them for the rest of my life if I could.”

Friday’s scores: La Grange 14, Gonzales 6; Giddings 42, Smithville 7; Caldwell 21, Columbus 16.

This week: Smithville at LG, Columbus at Gonzales, Giddings at Caldwell.

The Fayette County Record