Defense beats offense. Lafayette held Tabb to only 120 yards rushing in a dominating 27-6 win at Bailey Field. T.J Ptachick 18-yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter and quarterback Kurt Linkenauger's one-yard run in the second gave Lafayette a 14-0 lead. Tabb's only sustained drive came at the end of the second quarter. The Tigers were stopped inside the 20, but kicker Corey Pike made a 23-yard field goal for Tabb's first points. However, a roughing the kicker penalty on Lafayette gave Tabb a first down that Corey Legister turned into a 3-yard touchdown run. Lafayette scored on their first drive after halftime thanks to a 29-yard touchdown run by Jordan Summers to make the score 21-6. The Rams then ate up seven minutes off the clock at the end of the third quarter to keep the ball away from Tabb's dynamic duo Corey Legister and Mel Jones. Still leading 21-6, Will Hayes blocked a Tabb punt and recovered the ball at the 1-yard line. Linkenauger squeezed by center Jeremy Kennedy for his second touchdown and the final victory margin.

Lafayette RB Garrott Piggott - Smithfield running back Dyrell Roberts gets all the press, but I haven't seen anything Roberts can do that Piggott can't duplicate. He was the workhorse against Tabb with 116 yards rushing and his punt returns kept the Lafayette offense in decent field position. His 18-yard scamper to the one put the Rams in position to score the games first points. Piggott (6-foot-1, 190), a state triple jump winner, is one of the most talented athletes in the district.

Lafayette DE Will Hill - [pictured right] had quarterback sack to go along with two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. "It was great team effort," Hill said about the Rams defense that shut down a Tabb offense averaging over 42 points per game. "We had the right scheme to shut them down, and we accomplish it. We still have room for improvement but this was one of our best defensive efforts of the year."

Lafayette ST William Hayes - was unblockable on special teams with blocked two punts that led to two Linkenauger touchdowns. The second block pretty much ended any comeback hopes the Tigers had. Hayes (5-foot-8, 175) a junior, played offense, defense, and special teams.

Lafayette S T.J Ptachick - despite his name being ms-pronounced on the loudspeaker, Ptachick came up with another fourth quarter interception to seal the Rams win. He was also huge in run support not allowing Legister or Mel Jones to break any long gains. "We knew what was coming ," Ptachick said. "We worked hard this week in practiced on their formations."

Lafayette LB Shane Fetty - every time Tabb had the ball, Shane was somewhere around it. Lafayette's goal was to have as many defenders as possible flying to the ball and Fetty got an A+ for following directions.

Tabb WR Robert Harris - The Tigers didn't have a lot of highlights, whether it was offense, defense, or special teams. Harris did have a good game recovering a fumble and catching two passes for first downs.

- Lafayette scored a touchdown in every quarter, and held Tabb scoreless in the second half for the second straight year.

- The Lafayette also received big games defensively from Tommy Dover, Zach Stillwell, and Taylor Terry. Stillwell had a sack and put pressure on Tabb quarterback Sean case in the second half. Terry had a big third quarter sack and broke up a pass inside the twenty.

- Tabb has trailed in 4 of 5 games this season, but this was the first time they did not win the fourth quarter. "Lafayette coaches do a great job with conditioning," Tabb coach Matt Lawson said. "Their kids are in great shape just like our kids are in great shape."

- watching from the sidelines for Tabb were starters Dominque Jeter, Ottis West, Wade Tolliver, and Chris Parham. Lafayette's Chase Marley had a brace on his arm and said he would be out two weeks.

- the Rams are 3-0 in games where I pick them to lose. Coincidence? Not sure, but if they make the Region playoffs I'm picking the other team

- Hope Mills who has been automatic on extra points this year, could not convert on Tabb's only touchdown.

Wayne Blanchard contributed to this article