Lanett Ends Ariton’s Playoff Run With 34–14 Victory in Round 2
By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The Ariton Purple Cats had a strong and excellent run this season as they headed into the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) football playoffs. The Purple Cats were eliminated from the AHSAA playoffs Friday night, Nov. 14, after falling 34–14 to the Lanett Panthers in the second round. Lanett struck early, building a 7–0 lead in the first quarter. Ariton responded in the second quarter by scoring 14 points, matching Lanett’s 14 scored in the second to send the game into halftime at 21–14. The Purple Cats were held scoreless in the second half as Lanett’s defense made it difficult for Ariton to break through in order to catch up. Lanett added six points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth to secure the win.
Ariton finished the night with 179 yards of total offense, including 105 rushing and 74 passing. Wells Ganey led the rushing attack with 53 yards on 10 carries, followed by Addison Senn with 33 yards on 15 attempts and Jacarrie Hammock with 19 yards on five carries. Through the air, Senn completed 10 of 30 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown. Hayes Hammock was the top target, pulling in six catches for 43 yards. Easton Kilpatrick added two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown, while Brodie Lowrey and Connor Davidson each contributed a seven-yard catch.
Special teams provided one of Ariton’s biggest highlights of the night. Ganey returned two kicks for a combined 139 yards, including a kickoff returned for a touchdown. Senn added four returns of his own, totaling 66 yards.
Defensively, Ariton saw standout efforts across the board. Gabe Jones and Tate Kilcrease each recorded 17 tackles, with Jones adding four tackles for loss and Kilcrease contributing one. Senn finished with 10 tackles, while Hammock tallied nine stops and an interception. Kilpatrick added eight tackles. In the kicking game, Davidson went a perfect 2-for-2 on extra-point attempts.
Despite strong individual performances the entire season and tonight, the Purple Cats were unable to match Lanett’s steady scoring across all four quarters. Ariton’s season comes to a close with the playoff loss, while the Panthers advance to the next round.
Photo: Ariton High took on Lanett High in Lanett, AL, for round 2 of the AHSAA state playoffs on Friday, November 14. Lanett won 34-14 and will move onto round 3 next week. Photo provided as a courtesy by Betsy Jones.
