Lamar rules first half
By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
November 22, 2003
CLINTON The Lamar Raiders put away any doubts early in the game at Robinson-Hale Stadium and used a huge first half to put away the Patriots of Madison-Ridgeland Academy in the MPSA Class AAA Division II championship game.
The Raiders, who had beaten MRA 35-7 earlier in the season, jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the first half and cruised to a 48-7 victory. The Raiders outgained MRA 271-to-75 in the first half to set up the win.
Lamar took control of the game from the very beginning as the Raider defense came out and didn't allow a yard in the first possession of the game.
The Raiders took over on their own 34-yard line and established the running game. Senior Lane Rush broke a 10-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and later broke free on a 29-yard run.
Rush continued to run behind great blocking from the offensive line and scored two plays later on a 12-yard touchdown run with 9:17 left in the first quarter.
The first drive of the game swung the momentum to the Raiders as Lamar moved the ball with a very physical running game.
The energized Raiders held the Patriots to just two yards on their next possession and forced another punt.
Lamar took over on its own 46-yard line and continued to run the ball down the field. On third down, the Raiders went to the air, however, and senior quarterback Drew Moffett hit Blake Olmsted with a 24-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-0 with 5:03 left in the first quarter.
The defense stepped up big on the very possession for the Raiders as Swain picked off a pass and returned it to the MRA 18-yard line. Moffett scored on a 16-yard run on the second play for Lamar to make the score 21-0.
The big first quarter was just what the Lamar offense needed after struggling in the last two games.
The Raiders continued to play hard on defense as senior Will Carter picked off a pass in the second quarter to set up a one-yard Rush touchdown.
The special teams also added a big play in the first half as Lamar snuffed out a fake punt by MRA to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Rush to close out the first half with a 34-0 lead.
