Lamar looking to overcome slow start

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
September 22, 2004
The Lamar Raiders football team has battled through an extremely tough early schedule and is prepared to make the stretch run towards the playoffs in division play.
The Raiders have played four teams that competed for their respective state championships last season and have gotten off to a 1-3 start.
"Obviously, any time you are 1-3 you are not happy about it but I knew we had an extremely tough first five games," said Lamar coach Mac Barnes.
The fifth game in the stretch will be against Parklane this Friday at Lamar's Grey Cobb Field at 7:00 p.m.
Lamar opened the season with a 30-20 victory over Heritage Academy in Columbus. The Raiders had to use strong defense in the second half to hold on for the victory against the Patriots.
Lamar then opened division play with a 24-7 loss to Jackson Prep.
The Raiders also lost a 38-14 non-division game with Simpson Academy and fell to Jackson Academy 41-7 last week.
"We've played well in spurts," said Barnes. "We just have to sustain it for 48 minutes. Some of that has to do with who we've played."
The Raiders have lost three games to teams that have a combined record of 11-2 this season.
"All of them in their own ways were better than we expected," said Barnes of the opponents. "We also haven't played as well as I expected, which is a bad combination."
According to Barnes, the team is working hard to develop this season.
"A team has to develop its own personality and we are in that process right now," said Barnes. "In some areas we are ahead and in some areas we are behind. Both the coaches and players have learned a lot about ourselves and I expect to see a vast improvement."
The team is working to learn from mistakes it made in the first four games.
"You want to give your team the best chance to win," said Barnes. "We've seen some areas, mostly in our schemes, where we need changes."
Fortunately for the Raiders, the team has avoided major injuries in the opening stages of this year.
"We have nobody hurt," said Barnes. "We have some little injuries but everybody is practicing. We are still standing and we still have high aspirations."
Lamar will need to be ready heading into more division matchups. After the division game with Parklane, the Raiders will take on Central Private.
After a game with non-division foe Wayne Academy, Lamar will play Presbyterian Christian and Madison Ridgeland in two more big division games.
"This really starts our playoff run," said Barnes.