Senior quarterback Witt Haggard passed for 196 yards and five touchdowns to lead a balanced Raider offensive attack that totaled 438 yards on the night.
Lamar set the tone early as they took the opening kick-off and drove 79 yards in 20 plays to take an early 7-0 lead when Witt Haggard hit Michael Marcello with a 10 yard touchdown pass. The drive consumed nearly seven minutes of the first quarter.
In what seemed to be a replay of the first meeting back in week ten Simpson answered with a 65 yard drive that culminated on a Kyle Munn 12 yard run around the left end at the 2:08 mark for a score. Justin Griffin added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.
(Above) Lamar's Witt Haggard escapes the Simpson pass rush
On Lamar’s next possession the Raiders put together a balanced drive that featured a 26 yard run from Bo Bidgood down to the Simpson 37 yard line. Simpson’s defense stopped tailback Michael Marcello for a 4 yard loss and incomplete passes on second and third down put Lamar in a 4th down and 13 situation from the Simpson 41 yard line. Witt Haggard hit Jamie Thompson with a 21 yard strike at the Cougar 20 yard line to preserve the drive. Following an off-sides penalty assessed to Simpson, Haggard hit Charlie Nosco for 7 yards to end the quarter at the Cougar 9 yard line and the game knotted up at 7-7.
Lamar opened the second quarter with a minimal two yard gain from Michael Marcello on first down, then on second and goal Haggard hooked up with senior wide-out Bo Bidgood for a 7 yard touchdown pass and catch. Tyler Roberts added the PAT to put the Raiders up 14-7 with 11:15 left in the first half.
On the ensuing kick-off Lamar surprised Simpson with an on-sides kick and the Raiders recovered at the Cougar 47 yard line. Witt Haggard ran 11 yards on second down to the Cougar 36 yard line. On the following play Haggard was hit in the backfield by Simpson linebacker Dee Warren causing a fumble. The Raiders recovered but Simpson was assessed a 15 yard personal foul penalty that moved the football down to the Cougar 25 yard line. Haggard then hit Jamie Thompson for 20 yards to the Simpson 5 yard line on first down. Following an incomplete pass and a loss of three yards on a quarterback keeper, Haggard hit Jamie Thompson on a slant route with a laser pass for an 8 yard touchdown. Roberts’ PAT increased the Lamar lead to 21-7 with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter.
(Above) Lamar's Harrison Thomas (#50) hauls down Simpson's Kyle Munn
In what appeared to have been a huge momentum swing and Simpson down two touchdowns, the Cougars set up shop at their own 34 yard line after the kick-off for only their second possession of the game. Simpson mounted a 10 play, 66 yard drive that included two 4th down conversions. The last resulted in a 38 yard touchdown run from Kyle Munn on 4th and 6 with 4:38 left in the opening half. Justin Griffin added the PAT and the deficit had been reduced to 21-14.
Lamar’s Bo Bidgood returned the ensuing kick-off 62 yards down to the Simpson 33 yard line but the Raiders were unable to capitalize and turned the ball over on downs following a 4th and 5 pass attempt that fell incomplete.
Simpson took over with 2:48 left in the half. Cade Eiland took a direct snap in the wildcat formation and raced 34 yards to the Lamar 35 with 1:14 left. The Cougars managed just five yards on consecutive carries from Munn and Eiland, forcing Simpson to burn their final time-out with 37 seconds remaining in the first half. On 3rd and 5 from the Lamar 30 yard line Kyle Munn dropped back and hit tailback Jacob Busby with a perfectly thrown pass for a 30 yard score that brought a thunderous reaction from the home crowd. Griffin’s PAT tied the game at 21-21 and appeared to have stunned Lamar heading into the locker-room at the halfway point.
(Above) Big crowd on hand in Mendenhall
Simpson’s offense took the field at the Cougar 26 yard line to start the second half but faced a fired up Lamar defense. Cade Eiland managed a 1 yard gain on 1st down, then Kyle Munn’s 7 yard keeper set up a 3rd and 2 from just inside the 26 yard line. Lamar linebacker William Fulton stuffed Munn in the backfield for a 4 yard loss on 3rd down to force the first punt of the game.
Lamar took over at their own 30 yard line following a 39 yard Justin Griffin punt. Lamar’s Michael Marcello hit a hole for a quick 5 yards on 1st down, then the sophomore busted through the middle for a 57 yard gain before finally being pulled down at the Simpson 8 yard line. Three plays later Lamar still hadn’t found pay-dirt but on 4th and goal from the 1 yard line Witt Haggard connected with Jamie Thompson to put the Raiders back on top at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter. Tyler Roberts added the PAT for a 28-21 Raider advantage.
(Above) Kyle Munn finds running room with Lamar's Charlie Nosco (#3) closing in
Simpson started their second possession of the half at their own 35 yard line. Kyle Munn rumbled for 14 yards on first down to the Cougar 49 yard line. Three more carries from Munn moved the football to the Lamar 30 and a first down. Cade Eiland went off left tackle for 11 yards to the Raider 19 as the Cougar ground game began to pick up steam. Two more Kyle Munn carries and the Cougars faced a 3rd down and 3 from the Lamar 13 yard line. On the next play Munn broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and scored to cap off a 65 yard drive that consumed just under four minutes and eight plays. Justin Griffin made good on the PAT to tie the battle at 28-28 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
Simpson then forced Lamar to punt after a quick three and out. The Cougars took over at their own 36 yard line following a Bo Bidgood punt. Munn’s keeper up the middle moved the Cougars up to the 45 yard line on first down. Munn chewed up more yardage on a 2nd and 1 carry to the Lamar 44 yard line. They ended the third quarter with a holding infraction that pushed them back to their own 42 yard line followed by Cade Eiland’s 4 yard pick up to the 46 as the quarter expired and the game tied at 28-28.
(Above) Lamar tailback John Clinton McElroy (#31) picking up yardage
Lamar put up a huge defensive stand to begin the final quarter that would ultimately determine which team would play for a state championship next week. With Simpson mounting a drive and go ahead score for the lead the Raider defense stepped up with a big stop that changed the flow of the game. Facing a 4th down and 4 from the Lamar 38 yard line Simpson’s Kyle Munn was hauled down in the backfield by defensive lineman Harrison Thomas for a loss of 4 yards, but more importantly the possession of the football at the Lamar 44 yard line with 10:42 remaining in the contest.
Lamar took over and went 56 yards in 5 plays to take the lead for good as Witt Haggard nailed Jamie Thompson with a 32 yard touchdown pass with 9:12 remaining in the game. Tyler Roberts added his 5th PAT of the night to put Lamar up 35-28.
Simpson moved from their 24 out to the 41 before stalling out with just over seven minutes left. Justin Griffin then delivered a 48 yard punt that backed the Lamar up at their own 12 yard line.
(Above) Lamar's Cameron Melancon (#10) tries to slow down Kyle Munn
Lamar took over what would be the game clinching drive with 6:56 left in the game. Following two short rushing attempts Witt Haggard hit John Clinton McElroy for a 16 yard gain out to the 43 yard line on a critical 3rd down play. Haggard called his own number on the ensuing play and raced around the right end and down the sidelines before stepping out at the Simpson 32 yard line for a 25 yard gain with 5:33 left. Two plays later Bo Bidgood picked up a hard 8 yards on the ground to the Cougar 24. Following a holding penalty Lamar faced a 3rd and 9 from the Simpson 30 yard line. Haggard picked up 8 yards on the ground to set up a 4th and 1 at the Simpson 22 with 4:13 left in the game. Witt Haggard was hit hard on the quarterback keeper by Jacob Busby but not before he picked up 3 yards and a 1st down. Two plays later Bo Bidgood scored on an 18 yard end around sweep with 3:06 on the clock and Tyler Roberts added the PAT to increase the lead to 42-28.
Lamar’s defense pinned their ears back on Simpson’s following possession. Dusty Weisner sacked Simpson’s Sam Cowart for a loss of 5 yards on a 2nd and 10 play. Two plays later Lamar’s William Fulton brought down Cowart in the backfield forcing a fumble that was recovered by Harrison Thomas at the Cougar 48 yard line to nail the door shut.
(Above) Simpson's Kyle Munn stopped by Raider linebacker John Clinton McElroy
Witt Haggard added 59 yards rushing to his passing totals on the night. Senior wide-out Bo Bidgood had 74 yards on the ground (1 td) and 5 receptions (1 td) for 49 yards. Senior wide-out Jamie Thompson pulled in 5 catches for 82 yards and 3 touchdowns, sophomore Michael Marcello ran for 72 yards on 13 carries and fellow sophomore John Clinton McElroy had 5 receptions for 52 yards and 2 carries for 20 yards on the night.
Simpson was led by senior tailback Kyle Munn with 167 yards on 31 carries and 3 touchdowns. Munn also had a 30 yard touchdown pass. Sophomore tailback Cade Eiland ran for 84 yards on 13 carries.
Lamar improved to 12-1 and will face #1 ranked and undefeated Brookhaven for the state AA crown on Friday.
The state title game will pit the best two quarterbacks in the MAIS against each other and the two highest scoring offenses in the MAIS.
Simpson finished a great 2009 season at 11-2.
I asked Coach Barnes to sum up his team’s performance tonight after losing here back in week ten.
“What can you say for our whole team? We were over-rated early in the year because of our schedule, they (Simpson) woke us up in week ten,” said Barnes. “I give credit to Simpson for being a very good and very well coached team. This was one of the best wins that I’ve ever been a part of in beating a very good team in a critical game. I told our kids before the ballgame that, guys I want you to understand, I’m thankful to be coaching you during this season of Thanksgiving, whether we win or not, I’m thankful to be coaching a group of kids like you that will not quit.”
