BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
LOACHAPOKA — Jalady Winchester dominated with offensive and defensive touchdowns and two interceptions as Loachapoka High School (2-3, 2-3) cruised to a 32-7 home win over LaFayette High School (0-4, 0-4) on Sept. 17.
The victory was the Lady Indians’ second Class 1A-4A Region 6 win in a row following an 0-3 start to the season.
“It feels amazing,” Jalady Winchester said. “We just come out here and play, and all my teammates come in with good energy and get the win.”
Loachapoka head coach Ashley Anderson credited the defense for the turnaround, noting how much the unit has matured despite its youth.
“We’re just so locked in,” Anderson said. “We’re young on defense, too, so that shows the maturity they’re having out there.”
Anderson said cleaning up penalties on offense is the next step.
“We’re getting way too many penalties on the offensive side of the ball,” Anderson said. “If we’re starting off facing first-and-20, there’s no way we’ll be able to overcome that.”
Jalady Winchester struck first with 10:40 left in the opening quarter, ripping a bobbled ball away from a Lady Bulldogs receiver and returning it 23 yards for a score. She added the two-point conversion on the ground for an 8-0 Loachapoka lead.
She wasn’t done in the first. Jalady Winchester broke off a 40-yard TD run with 1:39 to play in the quarter, and although the extra point missed, the Lady Indians led 14-0 after one.
The second quarter turned into a defensive scrap. Jalady Winchester picked off a pass in the end zone with 11:41 left, but LaFayette’s defense answered with a pair of interceptions — Z’niyah Boston near the LaFayette 34 with 7:28 remaining and Tre’Kayla Powell near the 20 in the final minutes before the break.
Boston then put the Lady Bulldogs on the board, racing 45 yards for a TD as the first half expired and running in the extra point to make it 14-7 at halftime.
Loachapoka finally began to pull away in the third. Makayla Roberts raced 52 yards for a score with 8:52 on the clock, and Jaleah Winchester followed with a 12-yard TD run with 3:07 to go.
Destiney Core then closed the game out. She intercepted a pass and returned it to the LaFayette 14 with 6:36 remaining, then punched it in on a 6-yard TD run with 5:03 left to set the final margin.
While there were plenty of noteworthy performances by various Lady Indians, Anderson shared her strongest words for Jalady Winchester, who was recently named the school’s student of the month.
“She’s the person who everybody looks up to,” Anderson said, stressing that she preaches academics first and sports second. “Being a student athlete and student of the month, and then coming out here to sports and taking what she gets in the classroom and bringing it out here, it shows leadership and maturity from someone who’s only in the 10th grade.”
Loachapoka faced Valley High School at home on Tuesday, Sept. 22, but that result was not available by The Observer’s Tuesday press deadline.
The Lady Indians host Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School at home on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m.
