PREP FOOTBALL: Ballard clinches playoff spot with winBy: Sonya Lovejoy | For the Opelika-Auburn News Published: October 06, 2012 Updated: October 06, 2012 - 2:31 AM

The Ballard Eagles scored 40 points in the first half alone Friday night to ease past Lafayette Christian, 60-18.

The win places Ballard (6-1, 2-0) in the ICSGA playoffs with a chance to win the South Region with a victory next week against CrossPointe Christian.

Ballard quarterback Braxton Nelson led the Eagles with 169 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns. Running back Jarrett Scott rushed 18 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns.

Ballard rushed for 380 yards with no need to pass.

Ballard suffered its first loss of the season last Friday against Evangel Christian, 47-12.

Eagles head coach Buddy Hammock said that loss motivated his team this week.

“The game last week helped us more than the other five we had played,” he said. “We were able to see a lot of things we were doing. The kids really came back after last week and played a good game.”

With two injured players, 12 of the Ballard Eagles played both sides in Friday night’s game.

While Hammock says the team will work on their passing game, “We are going to continue working on our running game,” as well, he said.

Dustin Bailey added 71 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, while also returning a fumble 42 yards for a score. He racked up 13 tackles as well. Joe Rumfelt also had 13 tackles for the Eagles. Baylor Nichols had 12 tackles.

Matthew Ford added six tackles and a sack.

SCORE BY QUARTER

1 2 3 4 FBallard 16 24 12 8 60Lafayette 6 0 0 12 18

SCORING SUMMARY

1st quarter:

BC: Braxton Nelson 5 run (conversion good), 8:11BC: Nelson 12 run (conversion good), 1:21LF: Matt Brown 10 run (conversion no good)

2nd quarter:

BC: Jarrett Scott 3 run (conversion good), 7:16BC: Dustin Bailey (check yards) 38 run (conversion good), 4:18BC: Scott 16 run (conversion good), 45.7

3rd quarter:

BC: Scott 9 run (conversion no good), 3:45BC: Bailey 25 run (conversion no good), 1:35

4th quarter:

LC: Sam Cooper 9 run (conversion no good), 6:15BC: Nelson 25 run (conversion good), 2:10LC: Cooper 13 run (conversion no good)