Lamar wins third straight with blowout of Oak Hill
For Southern Sports & Travel, By Daniel Balint
It was business as usual for Lamar as they traveled up Highway 45 North to West Point to take on the Oak Hill Raiders. Lamar scored quick and often as they wasted no time in putting away Oak Hill. Lamar took the ball to begin the game and went 59 yards on 5 plays with the drive being capped by a 5 yard Michael Marcello run to pay-dirt. Tyler Roberts puts the extra point thru and just 2:03 into the opening frame, Lamar leads 7-0. Oak Hill took a touchback and started at their own 20, but the drive was short lived as Lamar forced a 3 and out. The poor punt from OHA Punter Reid Posey and a good return from J.C. McElroy set Lamar up at Oak Hill's 30 yard line. It took the visiting Raiders only 4 plays to find the endzone as Tyler Harris hit Charlie Nosco for 16 yards and a touchdown. Roberts PAT was true and with 6:54 to play in the first, Lamar leads 14-0. On the ensuing drive for Oak Hill, the offense managed to gain a few yards and string some plays together but the drive stalled and OHA was forced to punt. The punt was faked and a completed pass left Oak Hill short by 10 yards of the first down marker. After the fake punt, Lamar took over at Oak Hill's 42 yard line. Again another quick drive for the Raiders in red, white and blue ended in the endzone when J.C. McElroy danced around 22 yards on a speed sweep to find 6. McElroy was in rare form the whole game, doing what he pleased against the OHA defense. He finished the game with 99 total yards and 2 TD's. Roberts put the extra point thru and with 1:19 to play in the 1st, Lamar leads 21-0. Another 3 and out forced by the Lamar defense set up Lamar at Oak Hill's 40 yard line. 4 plays later, Will Dungan found himself in the endzone via a quick screen from Tyler Harris. It was good for 5 yards and another Raider TD. Roberts PAT was good and Lamar is opening up on Oak Hill, leading 28-0 just a minute into the 2nd quarter. Oak Hill started their 4th drive at their own 40 yard line. OHA picked up a 1st down but on the 3rd play of the drive, QB Jeb Stevens was picked off by Chase Davis. Lamar set up shop at their own 36. This time around it took Lamar 6 plays to drive the field. 6 plays and 64 yards later, Tyler Harris hits Tyler Roberts from 16 yards out to make the score Lamar 35, Oak Hill 0 with 7 to play in the opening half. OHA was forced 3 and out and again Lamar set up at Oak Hill's 46. The drive went 46 yards on 6 plays and Michael Marcello capped it off with another 5 yard TD run to make the score Lamar 42, OHA 0 with 3 and a half to play in the first half. The ensuing kick off saw Bo Sanford take the kick back 93 yards to put the Oak Hill on the board at the 2:45 mark of the 2nd quarter. Lamar started their 7th drive of the half at their own 18 yard line. A holding penalty put Lamar back to their 10 yard line. On the next play backup QB Barrett Dudley threw an INT. OHA didn't let this opportunity pass by as Bo Sanford caught a 9 yard TD pass from OHA backup QB Conner Baird. The Reid Posey XP was good and OHA has cut the deficit to 42-14 with 1:47 to play. Lamar did not let up as they scored one more time in the first half for good measure. The visiting Raiders went 5 plays and 59 yards with the drive capped off by a beautiful one handed grab by John Clinton McElroy from 24 yards out. McElroy made a true one handed grab and might be one of the best catches I've ever seen. You'd have to see it to marvel in its beauty. After the XP, Lamar leads 49-14 as we go to the break.
At the start of the 2nd half, Oak Hill took the ball and started at their own 31. 2 plays later a fumble was recovered by Lamar's Harrison Thomas. Lamar took over at Oak Hill's 33 yard line. With the 2nd string offense in for Lamar, Barret Dudley and company moved the ball 12 yards on 9 plays but the drive stalled. For the first time this season, Coach Barnes elected to try a FG. So Tyler Roberts puts his tee down and from 35 yards out, the FG is missed just left. The distance was good but it hooked at the last moment, LACES OUT! Oak Hill took over but was forced 3 and out. This set up Lamar for its final scoring drive of the game as the Raiders in white went 39 yards on 6 plays. The drive was capped off by Dudley hitting All MAIS defensive end and back up tight end Will Fulton for 16 yards. Roberts was true on the point after and Lamar now leads 56-14 with 4:34 to play in the 3rd. From this point on, Lamar played alot of freshman and 2nd and 3rd string. Joseph Marcello started taking snaps and Shane Blaton took over at the running back position. Blanton and Marcello impressed with Blanton running for 49 yards on 8 carries and the younger Marcello going for 27 yards on 2 of 2 passing and running for 58 yards on 7 carries. OHA finished out the scoring via a 93 yard end around as Bo Sanford scampered to the end zone. The Posey XP was good and that gives us the final Lamar 56 Oak Hill 21. Lamar finished with 489 yards and holding Oak Hill to only 6 first downs and 216 yards of total offense. Lamar goes to Hillcrest next week. Lamar improves to 4-3 and Oak Hill falls to 2-5.
At the start of the 2nd half, Oak Hill took the ball and started at their own 31. 2 plays later a fumble was recovered by Lamar's Harrison Thomas. Lamar took over at Oak Hill's 33 yard line. With the 2nd string offense in for Lamar, Barret Dudley and company moved the ball 12 yards on 9 plays but the drive stalled. For the first time this season, Coach Barnes elected to try a FG. So Tyler Roberts puts his tee down and from 35 yards out, the FG is missed just left. The distance was good but it hooked at the last moment, LACES OUT! Oak Hill took over but was forced 3 and out. This set up Lamar for its final scoring drive of the game as the Raiders in white went 39 yards on 6 plays. The drive was capped off by Dudley hitting All MAIS defensive end and back up tight end Will Fulton for 16 yards. Roberts was true on the point after and Lamar now leads 56-14 with 4:34 to play in the 3rd. From this point on, Lamar played alot of freshman and 2nd and 3rd string. Joseph Marcello started taking snaps and Shane Blaton took over at the running back position. Blanton and Marcello impressed with Blanton running for 49 yards on 8 carries and the younger Marcello going for 27 yards on 2 of 2 passing and running for 58 yards on 7 carries. OHA finished out the scoring via a 93 yard end around as Bo Sanford scampered to the end zone. The Posey XP was good and that gives us the final Lamar 56 Oak Hill 21. Lamar finished with 489 yards and holding Oak Hill to only 6 first downs and 216 yards of total offense. Lamar goes to Hillcrest next week. Lamar improves to 4-3 and Oak Hill falls to 2-5.
