Lamar rides revamped offense back to state title game

Prior to this season, say the words “Lamar football” and images of a nasty, punishing defense and power running attack immediately came to mind.
But necessity often trumps tradition, and the Silver Foxes faced an identity crisis of sorts at the start of this season — at least offensively.
“We lost our entire offensive line from last season,” Lamar coach J.R. Boyd said. “With the young group we had starting this season, I didn’t think the zone-blocking scheme we ran last year was going to work.”
Instead, the team long synonymous with smash-mouth football used a wide-open, spread formation to become one of the most proficient passing teams in the state.
“We felt it gave us the best chance to be successful,” Boyd said.
At 12-1 and 48 minutes away from a state championship, who can argue?
For the first time since 2004, the Silver Foxes have a shot at winning title No. 4 when they face two-time Class A Division I champion Chesterfield on Friday at 3 p.m. at S.C. State’s Oliver Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.
“It’s a great feeling to play for a championship,” Lamar quarterback Trevor Norris said. “It’s great for the team and for the fans after coming up short the last few years.”
The Silver Foxes finally got over the lower state hump with a 6-4 victory over Hemingway last week (Lamar had lost the previous three).
“It feels really good, especially for the seniors,” defensive back Eric Daney said. “This is the first time in four tries we’ve made it here. It’s how everyone wants to finish their career.”
Despite the new offensive line and the new system, Lamar has had one of its best seasons in recent years. The Silver Foxes outscored opponents 393-132 with the new offense.
“It’s definitely been different,” Norris said. “To go from handing the ball off a lot to dropping back is something you have to get used to. But I like it. I like having more control.”
Norris has followed up a productive junior year with an even better senior outing. He’s thrown for 2,424 yards and 28 touchdowns while being intercepted 10 times.
He’s also used a lot of targets with eight receivers having 100 yards or more.
“It puts a lot more accountably on the shoulders of the receivers and the quarterback,” Daney said of the offense. “You have to run your routes, you have to be where you are supposed to be.
“It was difficult at first, but now that we’re used to it, it’s become a lot more effective.”
The Silver Foxes’ defense hasn’t changed, at least not in the area that counts.
Lamar has given up an average of 10.2 points a game, and has allowed eight points or fewer in six of the last seven games.
“Once they really starting pursuing and getting after people, they turned things around,” Boyd said. “They’ve worked extremely hard this year, all of them have, and I’m glad they finally get this experience. They’ve earned the right to have this opportunity.”
But a state title won’t come easy, especially against the Rams. Chesterfield’s offense and defense rank among the best in the state, regardless of classification. The Rams are scoring 44 points a game compared to giving up an average of just four.
“They give you a lot of different things to prepare for,” Boyd said. “They’re very efficient in the passing game, but they run ball very well, too. They do a good job of mixing things up, keeping a defense from getting too comfortable against one or the other.
“We have to be very disciplined on defense if we want a chance to compete.”
Offensively, the Silver Foxes will have to make sure to get the most out of every play, Boyd said.
“When we catch the ball or find a seam, we have to get upfield quickly, because it won’t be long before someone is there to stop us,” he said.