Raiders get back on track
By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
September 13, 2003
Coming off a tough loss to Jackson Prep last weekend, the Lamar Raiders wanted to come out and get back on track on Friday night. They did that and more on Homecoming night at Grey Cobb Field.
The Raiders jumped all over the visiting Columbia Academy Cougars to take a 42-14 victory.
Lamar scored 28 points in the first quarter and added 14 points in the second quarter to give the Cougars their first loss of the season.
The Raiders used two defensive touchdowns to jump out on the Cougars and secured their first homecoming victory since Barnes took over the program.
The defensive provided 14 points in the first quarter, but it was the offense that got the Raiders out front early.
After forcing Columbia to punt on its first possession, the Raiders scored on just three plays.
Lane Rush rushed for 19 yards, followed by a 26-yard run by Randy Boyd Thompson. Senior quarterback Drew Moffett made a good move inside after reaching the corner on the option and took the ball in for a 17-yard touchdown run. Tommy Edgerton's PAT made the score 7-0 with 6:10 left in the first.
It didn't take long for the Raiders to get back into the endzone. After stopping the Cougars for no gain on their first play of their second possession, Tyler Evans caused a fumble and Travis Raley picked it up and ran it in for the touchdown. Edgerton's kick made the score 14-0.
The Lamar defense set up another score minutes later as Eric Stubbs recovered a Cougar fumble at the 22-yard line.
Four plays later, Rush pounded the ball in from one-yard out to make the score 21-0 with 3:04 left in the first quarter.
The Raider defense found the endzone once again on the next Cougar possession as Thompson picked off a pass and took it back 42 yards for the score. Edgerton's kick made the score 28-0 with 1:42 left in the first quarter.
An interception by Vaughn Waters set up the next touchdown for Lamar. The Raiders took over on the Cougar 35-yard line and scored on their second play from scrimmage.
Moffett threw the ball up to Blake Olmsted in the endzone, who was able to make a great catch off a defender's helmet for a 28-yard touchdown.
Columbia drove the ball down to the Lamar seven-yard line on its next possession before the Raider defense forced a turnover on downs.
Lamar took over at the seven and moved quickly down the field. Moffett broke free for a 47-yard gain to move into Cougar territory and Moffett then found Dustin Rivers for a 25-yard touchdown pass three plays later to make the score 42-0 at half.
The Raiders were able to get in a lot of new faces with the big lead in the second half.
Columbia scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the final score 42-14. Brian Speights carried the ball in from three-yards out and Dusty Pittman finished out the scoring with a seven-yard run.
With the win, Lamar improves to 3-1 on the year. The Raiders will travel to play Madison-Ridgeland Academy next week.
