Tough start ahead for LHS Raiders in 2004

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
May 21, 2004
When Mac Barnes first laid eyes on Lamar School's 2004 football schedule, he could hardly believe what he saw four state title-game participants to open the season and four of five weeks on the road in September and October.
"This is arguably the toughest schedule in the history of Lamar School," Barnes said. "Either the MPSA has got a lot of respect for us, or they don't like us very much."
If the defending Class AAA Division 2 champion Raiders are to repeat, it will not be because of a soft schedule. Lamar, which wrapped up its 20-day spring practice earlier this month, will also have to depend on a host of new faces after several key players graduated.
"We lost 16 seniors, and about 11 of those guys started," Barnes said. "We lost some good speed, but I'm real encouraged by where we are. My feeling is that this team is further along than I thought we would be at this time."
Barnes said that while the Raiders lost standouts like Drew Moffett and Lane Rush, a productive offseason in the weight room has produced something Lamar didn't have a year ago depth.
"We have three or four guys at the wide receiver position and two or three guys at the running back position," Barnes said. "I don't think you'll see somebody like Lane Rush run for 1,300 yards, but you'll see two or three guys step in and help."
Moffett, an All-Star selection in 2003, will likely be replaced by rising senior Scott Owen.
"We lost a guy who started for three years and threw for probably 5,000 or 6,000 yards," Barnes said. "Scott Owen is one of the stronger players on the team. I really feel Scott will win that position, but Nathan Harrison, who will play at wide receiver, is a natural athlete who will back Scott up."
Harrison is not alone. Barnes said the team's conditioning has improved by leaps and bounds.
"Something that surprised me is that we continue to improve physically," Barnes said. "Strength and speed are related. When you get stronger, you're going to get faster, and that's something we've done."
Barnes said he is still waiting to hire a new defensive coordinator before fully implementing the playbook for his defense, although he said the Raiders' defensive scheme would not change. Jud Gartman, who coached the Lamar defense in 2003, left the Raiders to take the head coaching position at Clarkdale High School earlier this year.