Lamar takes close 8-7 win
By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
November 15, 2003
Some would call faking an extra point in the third quarter to take an 8-7 lead gutsy and some would call it crazy, but coach Mac Barnes and the Lamar Raiders called it a victory on Friday night at Grey Cobb Field.
Drew Moffett found Jeremiah Lovett in the end-zone on the fake extra point for a two-point conversion to give the Raiders an 8-7 victory over Lee Academy in the first round of the MPSA Class AAA playoffs.
With the win, Lamar moves into the state championship game in Clinton next Friday afternoon.
The Lamar defense forced four turnovers and held the Colts out of the end zone for the final three quarters to give the Raiders the huge victory.
The Raiders got off to a slow start as Lee Academy came out and spread the field on offense.
The Colts marched down the field on six passes to score on their first possession of the game. Jesse Spinks hit Joshua Clark with a 17-yard touchdown pass to give Lee the early lead and John Landon Ruscoe kicked the PAT to make the score 7-0.
Lamar drove down the field in its first possession but stalled on the 22-yard line and turned the ball over on downs.
In the second quarter, Lee moved the football deep into Lamar territory. After reaching the Lamar 16-yard line, the Colts turned the ball over as Zeb Swain came through with an interception for the Lamar defense.
After a Lamar punt was partially blocked on the ensuing possession, the Colts again threatened to put more points on the board.
Lee moved to the Lamar 13-yard line before Paul Mayfield came up with an interception on an attempted screen pass.
Lamar was unable to do much on offense and trailed 7-0 at halftime.
Lamar drove down the field on its first possession of the second half before turning the ball over on downs at the Lee 22-yard line.
The Raiders finally got on the board with 4:27 left in the third quarter. Moffett faked the option and dropped back to pass on a third-and-one play. He hit Daniel Bennett for a 26-yard touchdown pass.
Barnes and the Raiders then reached in their bag of tricks with the fake extra point to take the lead. Moffett took the snap and rolled to the left to find Lovett for the two points.
Lee Academy threatened in the fourth quarter as it reached the Lamar 45-yard line. After facing second down and just a yard, the Colts were called for a false start and then a delay of game to stall the drive.
Lamar took the ball and was forced to punt with a minute left to play in the game.
The Colts took over at their own 36-yard line and tried to move down the field in the final minute.
After a couple of completions moved the Colts to the Lamar 49-yard line, Swain again came through with a turnover as he recovered a fumble to secure the victory for the Raiders.
Lane Rush carried the ball 28 times and picked up 153 yards on the night to lead Lamar. The Lee Academy offense was led by 235 passing yards from Spinks.
Lamar (10-2) will move on to face Madison-Ridgeland Academy in the state championship on Friday afternoon. MRA defeated Adams Christian 27-19 in the other semifinal Friday.
The Raiders defeated MRA 35-7 in Madison earlier this season.
