Lamar claims third state championship
Southern
Sports & Travel
It’s
not supposed to happen; a freshmen quarterback leading a Class AAA squad to a
state championship is almost unheard of in the modern age of high school
football with intricate offenses and schemes.
On
Saturday night on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton the Lamar
Raiders won the school’s third state championship by defeating fourth ranked
Magnolia Heights 28-21 in an epic battle chalked full of big plays both
offensively and defensively.
Leading
Lamar in that epic state championship battle on Saturday night was 6’0”, 172
lb. freshman quarterback Davis Harrison who went 16/25 for 150 yards and 2
touchdowns while rushing for 43 yards against a Magnolia Heights team that
seemed destined to claim its’ fifth state title.
While
the Raiders had a freshman signal-caller leading the offense, the defense was one
salted with senior experience and when it mattered most they delivered.
“We
talked state championship all year, said Lamar head coach Mac Barnes. “Our guys
believed it.”
Barnes
is no stranger to Mississippi high school football fans. His years at Meridian
High and Lamar have produced multiple state championship trophies but this
season’s squad may be one of the most enjoyable and gratifying for the 61 year
old who just finished his thirteenth season at Lamar.
“I’ve
been fortunate to be a part of some state championship games but I don’t know
if there’s ever been a game that I was more proud of a team for fighting a
really good opponent for 48 minutes,” said Barnes.
Lamar outscored Magnolia Heights 21-7 in a second half that included a momentum changing defensive play from junior linebacker Richard Covington whose pick six with 10:57 remaining in regulation broke a 14-14 tie.
The Lamar lead was short-lived as Magnolia Heights quarterback David Herrington found an opening in the Raider defense and sprinted 75 yards to put the Chiefs back on top at 21-20 with under ten minutes remaining.
Lamar outscored Magnolia Heights 21-7 in a second half that included a momentum changing defensive play from junior linebacker Richard Covington whose pick six with 10:57 remaining in regulation broke a 14-14 tie.
The Lamar lead was short-lived as Magnolia Heights quarterback David Herrington found an opening in the Raider defense and sprinted 75 yards to put the Chiefs back on top at 21-20 with under ten minutes remaining.
With
5:01 remaining in the game Davis Harrison capped that 69 yard, 13 play drive
when he connected with senior Lee Martin for a 5 yard touchdown. Harrison then
converted on a 2-point conversion to give Lamar what would be a final 28-21 victory.
“We
made a lot of plays and beat a really good football team in Magnolia Heights,”
said Mac Barnes.
Heading
into Saturday’s state title game Barnes had concerns about Magnolia Heights and
with just cause. The Chiefs had earlier hammered an Oak Forest team that
defeated Lamar in the regular season finale and Magnolia Heights blasted last
season’s Class AAA Division-II Champion Heritage 47-13, a team Lamar narrowly
defeated just one week prior to Saturday’s title game.
“We
knew our team had a lot of desire and we knew they would bounce back after a
tough playoff game with Heritage,” said Barnes.
Lamar’s
depth paid huge dividends against Magnolia Heights as the Raiders only had a
few players who played on both sides of the football and as the game entered
the second half there was a sense that Lamar was the fresher squad.
“I
think as the game went on Magnolia Heights wore down,” said Barnes.
Three
seniors paced the Lamar defense on Saturday night. Defensive end Jonathan Young (Photo at top of page) and linebacker Shane Blanton each recorded 10 tackles on the night and
linebacker Jesse Seale had 8 stops.
Another
senior wrapped up his playing days with Lamar in deserving fashion. Lee Martin, (Photo left) who is one of the few Raiders relied on to play both ways, had 7 receptions for
58 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 40 yards and a score. Martin recorded
the third most tackles on the team during the season, behind Young and Seale,
and had a team high 10 sacks. On Saturday the defensive back had 3 stops and as
Mac Barnes put it Martin was a calming force on offense during the year to help
keep their freshman quarterback settled.
.
.
Lamar
finished the 2013 season at 11-3 and will open the 2014 campaign as the
defending Class
AAA Division-II State Champions, a phrase that is pleasing to
the ears of head coach Mac Barnes.
Lamar Head Coach Mac Barnes Interview
Photos courtesy of Lamar School
Team photo courtesy of Rives Photography
