Lafayette advanced in the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs with ease Friday night, blowing past Gentry 48-7 at William L. Buford Stadium to extend its season for at least another week. The win earned the Commodores a second-round date against Noxubee County next week in Macon.

The Commodores (10-2) scored all but six of their points before halftime and had a five-touchdown lead midway through the second quarter. It was the second straight week Lafayette’s lopsided advantage resulted in a running clock in the second half as the Commodores, who have won back-to-back games by a combined score of 98-15, emptied their bench in the final two quarters.

But Lafayette’s regulars had strong nights before giving way to the reserves.

Senior Tyrell Price had four rushing touchdowns and finished with 122 yards on just 10 carries, leaving him just 29 yards shy of 2,000 for the season. He had 117 of those yards before the first quarter was over and scored runs of 16, 4, 1 and 1 yards, the last putting Lafayette up 35-0 with 6:44 left in the second quarter and well on its way to a matchup between the No. 1- and No. 3-ranked teams in 4A next Friday.

Tay Tay Owens sandwiched a pair of rushing touchdowns around Price’s final score as the Commodores scored on six of their first seven possessions for a 42-0 lead at the half. Quarterback Will Ard went 5 of 8 for 73 yards in one half of action before being relieved by Ross Ingram, who scored Lafayette’s final points on an 11-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Gentry (6-5) avoided the shutout on Marquvius Kirkham’s 23-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Kirkham, who finished with 111 yards on 20 carries, was the Rams’ lone bright spot against a Lafayette defense that allowed just 204 yards and forced three turnovers.

The Commodores also blocked a punt on Gentry’s third possession to set up one of Price’s 1-yard touchdown runs.