LaGrange clinched the District 4-4A title in style, beating Washington-Marion 49-12 in the regular-season finale.

The Gators (6-4, 6-0) were led by running back Markell Hawthorne, who ran for 215 yards and scored four touchdowns Friday night.

W-M (4-6, 3-3) will await its playoff fate when the brackets are announced Sunday. The Charging Indians entered the game 29th in the power ratings. Thirty-two teams qualify for the playoffs. The Charging Indians had been on a three-game winning streak. LaGrange has won six straight.

LaGrange dominated the second quarter, scoring 22 unanswered points, to take a 28-12 halftime lead.

Hawthorne scored on runs of 12 and 21 yards in the quarter and Jeremiah West found Dondal Lewis in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the half.

Jerome Guillory set up the final touchdown of the half with a blocked punt.

The Gators added a trio of third-quarter scores on a 44-yard run by Hawthorne and touchdown passes from West to Devan Jack (21 yards) and Lewis (35 yards).

“We knew coming in they were an explosive team,” said LaGrange head coach Jules Sullen. “Our biggest thing was to stop (W-M receiver) Quajae Boutte on the passes, and they have two really outstanding running backs. We wanted to take away the outside and force them inside. Offensively, we wanted to hit them off the edge. We wanted to wear them down then hit some big plays.

“We feel very good; our guys are starting to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our team,” he said. “They understand the run opens up the pass. West is doing a great job of controlling the team and taking what the defense gives us. Coach Marcus LeBlanc and Bobby Hicks are doing a great job with the defense.”

W-M had taken a 12-6 first-quarter lead thanks to two big punt returns. Jacobi Taylor returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to give W-M a 6-0 lead.

LaGrange answered with a 68 yard TD drive capped off by a Hawthorne 17-yard scoring run.

Chris Edwards returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the LaGrange 20. Rawlin Guillory scored on a 10-yard run to give W-M the lead.

“I thought early in the game our special teams did a great job,” said W-M head coach Freddie Harrison. “We caught them off guard a little. You have to tip your hat to them, they battled back, settled in and played good football. They were more physical than we were.”

Jacobi Taylor led W-M with 67 yards rushing.(Rick Hickman/American Press)