Lamar on a roll
For Southern Sports & Travel, By Daniel Balint
The Lamar Raiders hit the road for the 2nd time in as many weeks to take on the Hillcrest Christian Cougars. The Cougs were ready to roll as it was senior night in Jackson. Hillcrest entered 0-7, with a 15 game losing streak on the line. Lamar took the ball to begin the game and managed to put a good drive together but was bitten by the turnover bug as Tyler Harris coughed up the ball for the first big break in the game.The Hillcrest offense was stymied all night long, picking up only 2 first downs and only 91 yards of total offense. The Raiders got the scoring started late in the 1st quarter, with :51 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Tyler Harris hit Charlie Nosco on a play action post route. Chuck raced 25 yards to endzone for only his 2nd touchdown of the season. The Tyler Roberts PAT was good and Lamar leads 7-0. Hillcrest was forced 3 and out on the ensuing drive and Harris and company responded with a 10 play 66 yard drive that ended when J.C. McElroy taking the rock in from 3 yards out. Lamar showed a wrinkle in the offense as they put McElroy in the wildcat formation. Another 3 and out from Hillcrest resulted in another McElroy wildcat touchdown run, this from 11 yards out with 5:10 to play in the opening half. After the Raider defense stopped Hillcrest again, Lamar set up and ran the ball deep into Hillcrest territory but a fumble, and the 2nd turnover of the night, gave Hillcrest the ball back. The Cougs could not score before the half, so we go to the locker rooms with Lamar leading 21-0. The Raiders came out un-focused and not ready to play. That quickly changed when Hillcrest picked up a turnover and a 3 and out on Lamar's first 2 offensive possessions. It should be noted that Lamar was without star DE Will Fulton who had an infected elbow, also Coach Mac Barnes gave the teams leading rusher, Michael Marcello the night off offensively.
The 2nd half started with a Cougar fumble on the opening kick. Lamar recovered and cashed in 2 plays later. Harris found a scrambling Dusty Weisner for 19 yards. The extra point was true and Lamar now opens it up to 28-0 with 11:45 to play in the 3rd. Hillcrest could only manage 6 yards on their next drive and was forced to punt. The Lamar offense marched 75 yards in 5 plays to pay-dirt. The drive highlighted by a Dylan Rivers 43 yard catch and run that set up the Raiders inside the red zone. J.C. McElroy got his 3rd touchdown of the game as he caught a 20 yard pass from Tyler Harris. The Raider lead was stretched to 35-0 with 7:11 to go in the 3rd. Hillcrest finally got on the board on their next possession as Sophomore signal caller Malcolm Hopkins hit senior Preston Haynes for a 12 yard score. The Cougs went for 2 and were good, so the score now is Lamar 35 Hillcrest 8. The Cougar drive was highlighted by a Haynes grab that went deep into Lamar's red zone. On the ensuing drive, the Raiders responded and shut the door on Hillcrest. The Raiders went 9 plays and 84 yards, the drive capped by Harris picking up his 4th passing touchdown of the night and Charlie Nosco getting his 2nd receiving touchdown. The Harris to Nosco connection was good for 23 yards. The Roberts PAT was good and the Raider lead was increased to 42-8 with 10:56 to play.On the next possession for Hillcrest,Hopkins was intercepted by freshman Joseph Marcello, who got a lot of offensive snaps and impressed last week. Marcello raced 34 yards the other way for a pick 6. Tyler Robets PAT was again good and the Raiders lead 49-8 with 4:25 to play. The clock rolled, and with 2:54 to play, senior Kevin Nunn for Hillcrest went out with a bang as he returned the ensuing kick 98 yards to the end zone. That's all the points Hillcrest could muster and they went down to the Lamar Raiders, 49-14. The Raiders rolled up 502 yards of offense and held Hillcrest to only 91 yards. Tyler Harris went 18/22 for 258 yards and 4 touchdowns, he also ran the ball for 79 yards on 7 carries. J.C. McElroy had 3 touchdowns, 2 on the ground, 1 via the air. Lamar is an improving team, and if they could cut out the turnovers, could be dangerous come playoff time. Lamar ups its record to 4-3 and will host Winston next week in a critical game for the Raiders. Lamar finishes out the last three weeks of the season with a 3 game gauntlet, vs Winston, vs Simpson and the season finale at Leake.
The 2nd half started with a Cougar fumble on the opening kick. Lamar recovered and cashed in 2 plays later. Harris found a scrambling Dusty Weisner for 19 yards. The extra point was true and Lamar now opens it up to 28-0 with 11:45 to play in the 3rd. Hillcrest could only manage 6 yards on their next drive and was forced to punt. The Lamar offense marched 75 yards in 5 plays to pay-dirt. The drive highlighted by a Dylan Rivers 43 yard catch and run that set up the Raiders inside the red zone. J.C. McElroy got his 3rd touchdown of the game as he caught a 20 yard pass from Tyler Harris. The Raider lead was stretched to 35-0 with 7:11 to go in the 3rd. Hillcrest finally got on the board on their next possession as Sophomore signal caller Malcolm Hopkins hit senior Preston Haynes for a 12 yard score. The Cougs went for 2 and were good, so the score now is Lamar 35 Hillcrest 8. The Cougar drive was highlighted by a Haynes grab that went deep into Lamar's red zone. On the ensuing drive, the Raiders responded and shut the door on Hillcrest. The Raiders went 9 plays and 84 yards, the drive capped by Harris picking up his 4th passing touchdown of the night and Charlie Nosco getting his 2nd receiving touchdown. The Harris to Nosco connection was good for 23 yards. The Roberts PAT was good and the Raider lead was increased to 42-8 with 10:56 to play.On the next possession for Hillcrest,Hopkins was intercepted by freshman Joseph Marcello, who got a lot of offensive snaps and impressed last week. Marcello raced 34 yards the other way for a pick 6. Tyler Robets PAT was again good and the Raiders lead 49-8 with 4:25 to play. The clock rolled, and with 2:54 to play, senior Kevin Nunn for Hillcrest went out with a bang as he returned the ensuing kick 98 yards to the end zone. That's all the points Hillcrest could muster and they went down to the Lamar Raiders, 49-14. The Raiders rolled up 502 yards of offense and held Hillcrest to only 91 yards. Tyler Harris went 18/22 for 258 yards and 4 touchdowns, he also ran the ball for 79 yards on 7 carries. J.C. McElroy had 3 touchdowns, 2 on the ground, 1 via the air. Lamar is an improving team, and if they could cut out the turnovers, could be dangerous come playoff time. Lamar ups its record to 4-3 and will host Winston next week in a critical game for the Raiders. Lamar finishes out the last three weeks of the season with a 3 game gauntlet, vs Winston, vs Simpson and the season finale at Leake.
