Lamar wins region opener, homecoming, 28-6 vs. C.E. Murray

It wasn’t always a thing of beauty, but the Lamar Silver Foxes came away with what counted, a 28-6 Homecoming night victory, this Friday night in the region opener against C.E. Murray.

Though C.E. Murray didn’t manage much offense, the Mighty War Eagles managed to keep it close into the fourth quarter, despite the lopsided final score. But Head Coach J.R. Boyd’s Silver Foxes (5-1) held off their opponent with a major yardage and time of possession surplus to eventually find the big plays late. The win turned things around after the setback against Marion.

“This [win] is against a good football team,” Boyd said. “They had a big win beating St. James last week. We knew it was going to be tough tonight. This was a big win for seniors on Homecoming night.”

Anthony McAllister started things off for Lamar by picking off a running back pass from the Eagles. But Lamar would stall on a 4-and-1 play when the line generated no push. But soon back on offense, Lamar would take advantage of a 3rd down pass interference penalty, a long scamper by Matthew Mitchell, a 4th down run by quarterback Trevor Norris, and a scurrying run after the catch by Mitchell, by having Jerrod Dargan pound the ball in close. It was 6-0 Lamar, but the Eagles would promptly strike back after a slant pass featured their receiver covering most of the field to set up a score to tie it at 6.

But Lamar was soon back in business, starting a drive at the Eagles’ 29 yard line after a good stand by Lamar’s defense.  What followed was the biggest play of the first half on a 4th and 15. A scrambling Norris (17 for 28, 196 yards) would heave an unbalanced throw into a mass of bodies in the endzone, and somehow B.J. Goodson would fight off the defenders to come down with a 21-yard touchdown reception. Mitchell would then race to the left corner for a two-point conversion to make it 14-6 with 6:52 to go in the second quarter.

Into the second half, Lamar would drive deep several times but stall in the red zone, a problem Coach Boyd has lamented often this young season.

“We had opportunities to put it in and things hurt us; we have to get away from that type of stuff,” Boyd said. “That’s discipline. When you don’t have your chin strap snapped and things like that, [that’s discipline].”

Following a breakout run by Dargan (3 receptions for 60 yards) on a screen pass and nifty 4th down conversion to make it at the 4-yard line, following a snap over Norris’ head and other big setbacks, Lamar would be punting from outside the 40-yard line. In the biggest mental mistake of the night, an Eagles rusher would take out the punter to give Lamar new life. This time the Silver Foxes would deliver, somehow snapping a tipped ball out of the air on 3rd down to drive the ball deep into Eagles territory to set up another Dargan (13 carries for 83 yards) touchdown run. It was 20-6 with little time left.

Chris Peoples would corral an Eagle in their own endzone for a safety, then McAllister would finish them off by returning the after-safety kick for a 55-yard touchdown, for the final 28-6 score.
Coach Boyd said his defense had improved from earlier in the season, and while the offense moved the ball well, needed to execute better in the red zone.

Next up is Scott’s Branch at Lamar at 7:30 Friday night. Scott’s Branch, last year’s state champion in 1A Divison II, is 2-4 so far this season.